Beyond its namesake, Champagne is a captivating region nestled a mere 100 miles east of Paris. Within its borders lie a constellation of villages, each the beating heart of Champagne production. These unique sites boast distinct soils, sub-soils, weather patterns, and vineyard management techniques, all harmonizing to create the world’s most celebrated sparkling wine.
To truly witness the magic of Champagne, consider visiting during harvest, as advised by our global brand ambassador, Sarah Durand: “If you want to experience the most dynamic period of the year, when the fruits of our labors in the vineyard are literally being collected, then it is best to visit in late August and September, when the harvest is usually happening.”
Sarah Durand adds, “However, if you want to see the vines awakening, the grapes developing and the beautiful green colors, you should come between April and July. This season also provides the opportunity to see some of the work we do in the vineyard like debudding, lifting, trellising, and trimming.”
The Champagne region is a tapestry of vineyards, boasting a staggering 280,000 individual plots across 85,000 acres.
“To complement our own plots, Lallier partners with approximately 150 growers, whose parcels contribute to the intricate tapestry of our wines,” says our revered vineyard manager, Mathieu Pingret. “We select these partners based on their unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, meticulous vineyard care, and exceptional grape quality.”
By forging these alliances with passionate growers who share our values, we ensure that every bottle of Champagne Lallier embodies the essence of our remarkable region and winemaking philosophy.
As you explore the Champagne region, you’ll uncover the secrets behind our exceptional wines and experience firsthand the passion and dedication that goes into each bottle.
“Each cru is specific, and inside each cru, parcels are also unique. For example, Aÿ, which is one of the most well-known Grand Crus, is a patchwork of different exposures and micro-climates. Then, depending on where the parcel is situated, the resulting wines are different,” explains Mathieu Pingret.
“A parcel in the middle of the slope will ripen earlier than a parcel on the top of the hill. Our expertise lies in understanding and following the vines to make sure the picking of the grapes is done at the peak of quality.”
Terroir
Terroir, a concept deeply rooted in French winemaking, encapsulates the intricate interplay of climate, soil, geology, topographical elevation and viticulture. It encompasses the entire natural environment where a wine is born, influencing its character, quality, and its essence.
”René Lallier’s founding vision for our Maison in 1906 was rooted in a deep respect for nature,” reflects Dominique Demarville, our esteemed Chef de Caves and general manager. “He believed in nurturing the land, fostering strong relationships with neighboring communities, and ultimately, allowing the earth to express its unique character, terroir, through the wines we produce.”
At Champagne Lallier, we capture four atmospheres in our signature style: Purity, Freshness, Intensity and Depth, a style that we believe truly respects the Champagne terroir and aims to highlight its nuances.
As you savor each bottle of Champagne Lallier , you are experiencing the culmination of centuries of tradition, a testament to our dedication to the land and its extraordinary ability to produce wines of unparalleled elegance and complexity.
Popular Sub-regions of Champagne
The Champagne region, with its boundaries established by French law in 1927, encompasses a vast expanse of 319 villages, each known as a “cru”. These crus are not individual vineyards, but rather the villages themselves, each contributing to the unique character of Champagne.
Nearly 280,000 vineyards within these crus are meticulously tended by 16,000 dedicated grape growers, cultivating the grapes that make Champagne renowned worldwide. Four main sub-regions form the backbone of Champagne, serving as the lifeblood of this exceptional wine region: Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar.
Each of these sub-regions boasts its own distinct terroir, contributing key characteristics to the grapes and their resulting Champagne wines. Exploring these diverse terroirs is key to understanding the nuanced flavors and aromas found in every bottle of Champagne.
“Champagne Lallier has always recognized and honored nature’s distinct influence on our wines,” emphasizes Mathieu Pingret. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to respecting the environment, honoring the land we cultivate, and valuing our customers who share our dedication to prioritizing environmental responsibility.”
Vallée de la Marne
Vallée de la Marne is a tapestry of vineyards where Meunier is the dominant grape variety. However, Pinot Noir has a presence in the eastern part of the valley. From Tours-sur-Marne to Saâcy-sur-Marne, this sub-region is home to several notable villages and cities, including Épernay, renowned for being the capital of Champagne; Château-Thierry, where famous French poet Jean de la Fontaine was born; Hautvillers, a cornerstone in the birth of Champagne wines in the late 1600s; and, of course, our home village, Aÿ, the only Grand Cru of the Vallée de la Marne.
And it is this famous Grand Cru, Aÿ that holds a special place in our hearts. Here, within its hallowed grounds, some of Lallier’s historic Pinot Noir vines flourish, imparting their signature spice notes to our exquisite Champagne.
“While Chardonnay is not typically cultivated in this region, we are lucky to own some Chardonnay plots in this beautiful terroir,” says our global brand ambassador, Sarah Durand. “Chardonnay from Aÿ ”pinote”, as we say in French, meaning their wines will have more body and intensity.”
Montagne de Reims
The soils of Montagne de Reims are predominantly composed of cretaceous chalk and impart a distinct minerality to the region’s wines.
For Lallier, Montagne de Reims (with its prized vineyards of Grand Crus villages, Verzenay and Verzy) is a significant source of our intensely flavored Pinot Noir.
“Montagne de Reims is also home to a famous village, Bouzy, known for producing still red wines that are used to create Rosé Champagne. At Lallier, our Rosé is made of 7% red wines from Bouzy, bringing beautiful color as well as delicate red fruit aromas and a light, enjoyable bitterness” says Sarah Durand.
Nestled within the Montagne de Reims, the Massif de Saint-Thierry is a distinctive terroir known for its unique geological composition and cooler climate. Primarily planted with Pinot Noir and Meunier, this area produces wines with delicate fruit flavors, bright acidity, and a subtle earthiness.
As a side note for travelers: Reims, the biggest city of the Champagne region, is home to the majestic Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, an architectural marvel intertwined with the history of sparkling wine, and the nation’s historical location for crowning its kings.
Côte des Blancs
The Côte des Blancs, aptly named “The Hill of Whites,” reigns as the epicenter of Chardonnay production within Champagne. Despite its mere nine-mile length, its chalky soils and eastern exposure are perfectly suited to cultivating Chardonnay grapes. A remarkable 97% of the vineyards in the Côte des Blancs are devoted to this noble variety.
For Lallier, the villages of Avize, Oger, Grauves, and Bergères-lès-Vertus are the revered homelands of our Chardonnay, with the Grand Cru village of Oger serving as the crown jewel of this sub-region. The chalky soils of Oger, combined with its optimal microclimate, consistently produce Chardonnay grapes of exceptional quality, renowned for their purity, finesse, and minerality. These prized grapes form the backbone of our exquisite Blanc de Blancs Champagne, blended with some Chardonnay from Aÿ, the addition of which is a specificity of Lallier Blanc de Blancs.
Nestled south of the renowned Côte des Blancs, the Côte de Sézanne, basks in southeast-facing sunshine, ideal for cultivating Chardonnay grapes, which account for roughly three-quarters of its vineyards.
Côte des Bar
The Côte des Bar, a captivating region where the verdant vine-covered hills of Champagne meet the expanse of Burgundy, is a haven for Pinot Noir, accounting for between 80-85% of its plantings. The soil here, a unique blend of ancient limestone and clay, lends a distinct minerality to the wines.
Within the Côte des Bar, diverse terroirs emerge, shaped by specific soil types, local climate nuances, vineyard hill plantings, and site-specific orientations that create individual microclimates. It is in this dynamic landscape that Lallier’s vineyards in Gyé-sur-Seine and Fontette flourish, nurturing Pinot Noir grapes that contribute richness and depth to our exquisite Champagnes.
Our Terroir Guide
Take the opportunity to explore the unique terroirs that define each sub-region, from the rolling hills of the Montagne de Reims to the slopes of the Côte des Bar.
As you journey through the captivating Champagne region, you’ll witness firsthand the fruits of our dedication to sustainability and responsible viticulture, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the exceptional Champagnes that have made this region an icon.