Jiles's Blog

Who Am I?

17 years spent living and working in Champagne has allowed Jiles to build up a vast amount of knowledge about all things bubbly as well as a very extensive network of contacts, especially amongst the smaller and less well-known champagne makers whose champagnes will probably amaze you with their quality and diversity.

A job as area manager for Asia and Australia with Moët et Chandon was what first drew Jiles to Champagne after completing an MBA in Luxury Brand Management at ESSEC, a prestigious business school just outside Paris.

After nearly 9 years at Moët Jiles moved back to the UK where he started one of the first online businesses promoting and selling grower champagnes,

However the draw of ‘The King of Wines and the Wine of Kings’ once again proved irresistible and another 8 year stay in Champagne was the result. During this second stay in Champagne Jiles worked with the Syndicat Général des Vignerons de Champagne as an accedited consultant for small, independent champagne makers before setting up his own consultancy.

Jiles now spends his time between England and Champagne.and puts his knowledge and contacts to work helping wine lovers everywhere learn more about champagne and helping businesses and individuals to create their own private champagne brand.

He is the author of two books on champagne, several concise guides to champagne  and is the creator of an online champagne study course called My Champagne Expert

 

 

How To Organise A Champagne Harvest

Jiles Halling

Well, the dates of this year's harvest in Champagne are finally due to be announced today, August 17th, by the CIVC, the governing body of the industry. But many champagne makers had to make important decisions weeks ago about when to start picking. To discover why here's a brief insight into what needs to be done to organise a harvest.

Forecasting this year's harvest in Champagne has been a real roller-coaster ride with umpteen theories doing the rounds for months now.

After a long and snowy winter the sun finally came out in April and as if to compensate for all the snow, it stayed out for weeks and the bright blue skies brought almost no rain at all. The vines burst into life and just kept on growing and growing; before long they were way ahead of where they would have been in a 'normal' year

Rosé Champagne - How To Find The One You Love

Jiles Halling

Are you a fan of pink champagne?

If you are, then you’re not alone. Over the past few years, demand for the pink stuff has just gone through the roof .

How To Choose Champagne - Part 4

Jiles Halling

So what's the last remaining thing you need to know before you buy a bottle champagne?

How To Choose Champagne - Part 3

Jiles Halling

 In parts 1 and 2 of this series we looked at two things that affect the style and quality of a champagne. They were

    the proportion in which the different grape varieties are blended together and
    the quality of those grapes

The third factor that has a crucial influence on the champagne is the length of time it’s aged.

How To Chose Champagne - Part 2

Jiles Halling

Here’s part 2 of my 4 part series about how to tell what a champagne is like before you buy the bottle

 Lots of people are unsure about how to choose one bottle of champagne over another and simply buy a name they know.