What does it actually feel like to sit at a table with the family running three of Champagne’s most exciting houses? Day 5 of Journey to Champagne 2026, and my first day with the Godin family
I’m Darryl Sanders. I’m a Champagne specialist, an importer, a Champagne broker, and the Brand Ambassador for the Americas at Glass of Bubbly, the leading international platform for Champagne and sparkling wine.
Today I sat down at a table with three sisters and watched a family put me into their world.
Day 5 of the trip. First day with the Godin family
We walked the vines. Toured the winery. The press, the cuverie, the co-op cellar holding 750,000 aging bottles. I had pâté de foie gras for the first time in my life. Asked for seconds. The family laughed.
In the cellar with the chef de cave, we tasted still wines being blended right now, before bottling. The magic before the magic.
In this episode:
– Walking the Godin family vineyards
– Inside the Godin winery, presses, cuverie, co-op cellar
– The pâté de foie gras I asked for seconds of (and the family that fed me)
– Tasting still wines pre-bottling with the chef de cave
– Three sisters, three houses, and what that means for American buyers
– Why I think this is one of the best stories I’ll ever bring to the US
Three sisters. Three houses. One of the best stories I’ve ever been asked to bring to America.
Three of the six houses I import are female-led. That isn’t an accident.
Tomorrow: morning with Francis Orban. Afternoon with Élise Godin at her own estate.
Champagne Everyday. Poured Differently.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Meeting the Godin family
0:45 Walking the vines
1:30 Inside the winery
2:30 Lunch
3:30 Tasting with the chef de cave
4:30 The 2026 plan
5:15 What’s next
LINKS
Le Champagne Company: lechampagneco.com
Glass of Bubbly: glassofbubbly.com
Producers seeking US distribution: dsanders@lechampagneco.com
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