The
French Champagne industry has long been a world dominated by men,
but Carol Duval-Leroy, 46, is breaking that tradition with high
style, a big heart and a no-nonsense approach to making fine champagne.
For the first time ever, Americans can now enjoy a full line of
her crisp and delicate Chardonnay-based Duval-Leroy wines. While
at it, they might want to learn about the powerhouse Femme behind
the cuvées.
Carol Duval-Leroy has brought a firm
but feminine touch to the legendary brand entrusted to her stewardship.
Since 1991, following the sudden death of her husband, Jean-Charles
Duval-Leroy, Carol took over the family business and began learning
the art of fine winemaking. This energetic entrepreneur upgraded
the winery's technology, boosted production to 600,000 bottles
a month, and improved her wines' already considerable quality
to the point that England's Decanter magazine raves: "No
other house can beat it for consistency and style - not even the
greatest of the great."
"The art of Champagne is vital
to France, and beloved the world over," says Madame Duval-Leroy.
"It was my solemn duty to keep the tradition of Champagne
Duval-Leroy alive, and to keep it within the family. There could
be no other way." No wonder the Times of London called her
"A modern-day successor to Widow Clicquot and Madame Lily
Bollinger."
She even introduced her own, limited-edition
vintage to the family: Duval-Leroy Femme 1990, a unique tribute
to both Champagne and women, handcrafted by Carol herself and
sold in a seductive gift-bag she also designed. "The flavor
is mature and wonderfully fresh, with a powerful finish,"
she notes, with great pride.
The mother of three children, Carol
Duval-Leroy is an avid wine collector and talented flower arranger.
She loves cooking "in the French way," and summers every
year in Corsica. A close friend of Leroy Nieman, she has commissioned
two paintings by the artist.
Duval-Leroy, at 140 hectares, is the ninth largest vineyard in Champagne, producing 500,000 bottles a month. The business has been handed down from generation to generation, resisting the industry trend of selling the family interest to larger corporations. Six cuvées are now available in select stores. Suggested retail prices range from $24.99 to 59.99.e
Duval-Leroy is imported by R.S. Danis Imports, LLC, 50 Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Suite 400, Uniondale, NY 11553. (516) 229-2700.
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