Champagne

A veritable mosaic of micro-terroirs, some more than 200 km apart, the Champagne vineyards are criss-crossed by rivers and dotted with hills known as côteaux. This majestic vineyard extends over five départements: Marne, Aube, Aisne, Haute-Marne and Seine-et-Marne. It is divided into four main production areas: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar. Each has distinct soils, histories and cultures, from the marl and clay soils of the Vallée de la Marne to the chalk of the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims.
Three main grape varieties share the majority of the vineyards: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Chardonnay produces “Blanc de Blancs” champagnes with taut profiles, while Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier bring vinosity and depth to “Blanc de Noirs” champagnes. A fine example is Domaine Bichery's Les Meuniers cuvée in the Aube region, which highlights the natural elegance of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
At the same time, a new generation of winemakers is reviving old, forgotten grape varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier. As for still wines, known as Côteaux Champenois, they reveal the region's Burgundian influence and offer elegant, racy natural cuvées.
To discover a wider selection of Champagnes Naturels, visit Marée Haute.