Investing in Grower Champagne: Why You Should, Best Bottles To Buy

What is Grower Champagne, and which bottles should you invest in?

Grower Champagne is a class of Champagne crafted by independent producers who grow and harvest their own grapes instead of sourcing them from multiple farmers. You can identify a Grower Champagne by the RM (Recoltant Manipulant ) initials on the label.

The bigger Maison Champagne houses buy grapes from different cultivators for large-scale wine production.

Grower Champagnes are increasingly being preferred for their terroir-driven flavors and stellar investment potential. 

Let’s explore why you should consider investing in Grower Champagne and 10 Grower Champagne bottles to buy in 2023. We’ll also discuss how you can invest in leading Grower Champagne wines through Vinovest.

Why You Should Invest in Grower Champagne

Here are the top reasons why investing in Grower Champagne is a great way to diversify your wine portfolio:

• Market Growth
• Price Appreciation and Auction Performance
• Terroir Focus and High Quality
• Scarcity
• Brand Value
• Ethical Winemaking Practices

1. Market Growth

Grower Champagne wines have performed exceptionally well in the wine investment market. They had a stellar run when the Champagne 50 Liv-ex index suffered a downturn and even outperformed the big brand Maison Champagne labels in 2019. 

While the Champagne 50 wines delivered modest annual returns of 2.3% that year, Grower Champagnes had almost a four-fold profit of 8%. 

During the last five years, the big houses from the Champagne region have furnished yearly returns ranging from 2.3% to 23.8%. In contrast, Grower Champagne from the wine region has remained stable, with annual returns of 8% to 16%.

2. Price Appreciation and Auction Performance

Here are some examples of the high annual returns of Grower Champagne.

Between 2020 and 2022:

• The price of a bottle of the 2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut increased by over 74%, from $242 to $421.
• A bottle of the 1997 Salon Cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut appreciated by over 89% in value from $697 to $1,318.

These bottles have also performed exceptionally at several auction events. For instance:

• A bottle of the Jacques Selosse Substance Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut was sold for $850 at a WineBid auction in March 2022.
• At a Sotheby’s auction in May 2021, two bottles of the 1996 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut and a bottle of 1997 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut were sold for $1,050.

3. Terroir Focus and High Quality

Celebrated wine importer Terry Theise called Grower Champagne “Burgundy at a higher octave” due to its enhanced terroir specificity.

Big brand Grand Marques labels like Dom Pérignon, Pol Roger, and Veuve Clicquot are produced with grapes from numerous sites with multiple terroir influences. 

In contrast, the Grower Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier), sourced from the producer’s vineyard, yield wines with more focused terroir expressions. 

4. Scarcity

Of the 19,000 independent winegrowers in the Champagne region, only 5,000 make wines (including Grand Cru and Premier Cru labels) using their own Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes.

So naturally, the supply of Grower Champagne is limited depending on the vineyard yields of these grapes. 

And since production is scarce, there’s tough competition to meet the increasing demand for Grower Champagne.

The spiraling demand for these non-vintage and vintage Champagne cult wines is also evident in the Comité Champagne report (stating increased imports into the US, UK, and Australia before the COVID-19 pandemic.)

5. Brand Value

The best Grower Champagnes are produced by a handful of winemakers in the Champagne region. Artisanal houses like Cédric Bouchard and Champagne Telmont come with huge brand loyalty, boosting the wines’ investment potential.

Fun Fact: The Champagne Telmont producer even boasts high-profile investor partners like actor Leonardo DiCaprio, elevating its star status. 

Other popular Grower Champagne brands include:

• Jacques Selosse in Avize
• Le Mesnil in Côte des Blancs
• Louis Roederer in Reims
• Pierre Péters in Côte des Blancs
• Ulysse Collin in Congy
• Pierre Gimonnet in  Côte des Blancs

6. Ethical Winemaking Practices

Grower Champagne producers are usually family-run businesses that share a close connection with the vineyard and understand its nuances - a refreshing change from the bigger Champagne producers like Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, or Pol Roger. 

These small Champagne house growers are often favored for their ethical practices and value-driven business models over the Grand Marques or big houses. 

When you invest in Grower Champagne cult wines, you also support eco-friendly winemaking practices.

10 Exceptional Grower Champagne Wines to Buy in 2023

Here are ten outstanding vintage and non-vintage Grower Champagne bottles for wine drinkers to buy:

1. 2008 Jacques Selosse Millesime ($4,201)
2. 2008 Salon Cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut ($3,048)
3. 1996 Louis Roederer Cristal Vinotheque Edition Brut Rose Millesime ($2,307)
4. Pierre Péters Heritage Blanc de Blancs ($1,750)
5. 2010 Cédric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne 'CER-Le Creux d'Enfer' Rose de Saignee ($1,165)
6. Ulysse Collin 'Les Roises' Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut ($559)
7. Jerome Prevost La Closerie Fac-Simile Extra Brut Rose ($538)
8. Dhondt-Grellet 'Le Bateau' Cramant Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Extra Brut ($221)
9. 2017 Chartogne-Taillet Les Barres Extra Brut ($191)
10. 2012 Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Cramant Grand Cru Special Club ($131)

How to Invest in Grower Champagne

You can invest in Grower Champagne bottles in three ways:

1. Using a Professional Wine Investment Platform Like Vinovest

A reliable wine investment platform like Vinovest helps you build a profitable portfolio of Grower Champagne and other collectible wines. This AI-based website lets you buy, store, and sell fine wine including sparkling wine from around the world with just a few mouse clicks.

Vinovest simplifies wine investment and helps wine investors quickly build a portfolio on the platform. All you have to do is:

• Sign up with Vinovest.
• Answer a few easy questions for Vinovest to determine your investment goals. 
• Add at least $1,000 to your account.
• Once you complete your profile setup, Vinovest’s Master Sommeliers will use advanced quantitative investment models to build your portfolio.

2. Using a Wine Portfolio Manager

Some wine investment companies offer you the services of a dedicated wine portfolio manager. The manager chooses wines on your behalf based on your investment goals, similar to a private banker or wealth manager.

If you prefer personal attention, this might suit you. But keep in mind that this it could get quite expensive (your initial investment can easily reach thousands of dollars.)   

3. Buying Your Own Wines 

Alternatively, you can buy your own sparkling wine bottles through a wine merchant.

This approach gives you complete control over your portfolio and removes budgetary constraints. 

But, remember, wine sellers do not usually offer in-depth wine investment insights, so you’ll have to do all the time-consuming research on your own.

Ready to pick a grower sparkler for your portfolio?

Grower Champagne: An Excellent Investment-Grade Bubbly

Grower Champagne is coveted by wine drinkers from around the world. The terroir-focused winemaking and ethical business practices also make Grower Champagne an attractive collectible for discerning wine investors.  

If you want to diversify your wine portfolio with Grower Champagne, English sparkling wine, and more, simply sign up with Vinovest today!