Champagne was an important element of family celebrations while Sally Hillman was growing up, so her enthusiasm for this intriguing and diverse French wine was embedded from an early age. This early appreciation and love of champagne – especially grower champagne – became a life-long passion and led Sally on a mission to share the irresistible magic and sophistication of these artisanal champagnes with others. Combine this early indoctrination with the fact that Sally shares her birthday with Saint Vincent, the patron saint of winegrowers, whose feast day is taken very seriously in Champagne, and it is easy to see that champagne was always going to feature in Sally’s destiny.

Grower champagnes are France’s best-kept secret. They are produced by the grape growers themselves (also called grower-producers), from grapes that are their own. Houses are family-owned and operated, and vine holdings are modest, passed down from generation to generation. Their aim is to craft champagnes from sustainable farming practices and natural, low-intervention processes with minimal added sugar so that each cuvée evokes a strong sense of place (‘terroir’).

This is in contrast to the Grandes Marques (the ‘Great Brands’ of Champagne), who produce champagnes blended from multiple vintages and as many as 50 plots, with higher levels of sugar, to create a consistent champagne style and flavour each year. Though production is limited and on a much smaller scale than the Grandes Marques, grower champagnes represent the best value when it comes to providing an authentic, enlightening and profoundly enjoyable champagne experience.

The Sally Hillman company celebrates grower champagne with memorable and bespoke food and wine matching experiences for corporate clients and private guests, as well as offering special occasion and corporate gifting services all year round.

In her online store, ‘Le Shop,’ Sally offers over 28+ Houses and 115+ cuvées available for purchase and direct shipping nationwide. Be tempted by a range of luxurious and specialised accessories, including handmade French glassware by Lehmann Glass, Sally Hillman’s signature Champagne cartography, and much more.

Sally is not only the founder of her company, but also a renowned champagne educator and presenter. Her deep understanding of grower-producer champagne and her passion for it were recognized in 2018 when she was selected as a finalist in the prestigious Vin de Champagne Awards, organised by the Australian Bureau du Champagne. After a COVID-induced hiatus, Sally will be hosting an intimate multi-day tour of Champagne in 2023, offering unique insight into a handpicked selection of world-class Estates and prestigious grower-producers.

With Sally as your guide, you’ll learn why champagne is a wine for all seasons and become an advocate for celebrating champagne at every opportunity. Whether it’s through a bespoke wine and food matching experience, a corporate or special occasion gifting service, or simply browsing her online store for the perfect bottle, Sally Hillman is dedicated to making your champagne experience truly unforgettable.