Our Terroir
he existence of vineyards in Champagne goes back over 2,000 years and an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) has prescribed its boundaries since 1927.
Its northerly geographical position, difficult climatic conditions, particularities of the subsoil and hillside plantings makes Champagne a unique and special terroir, one which gives Champagne wines their inimitable characteristic.
The nature of the subsoil serves as a guide to selecting three grape varieties of Champagne : Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, and Chardonnay, the only white grape in Champagne.
The Champagne vineyards are divided into three large viticulture regions : Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs and each with a favoured grape variety. The Vallée de la Marne has clay soil which is particularly suited for Pinot Meunier. The Montagne de Reims has a deep limestone layer and is therefore perfect for Pinot Noir. The Côte des Blancs has a shallow layer of limestone and is planted exclusively with Chardonnay grapes.
