CHAMPAGNE DEMILLY DE BAERE

Gerard welcomes you in the courtyard of a beautiful U-shaped building, full of big trees including a nice chestnut tree. This wine-maker, descended from a family which settled in Bligny in 1624, will take you into his tasting cellar, built in the style of Bernard de Clairvaux, on the ruins of the ancient castle of which only old bridges and moats remain. A lover of stone construction, he has rebuilt the vaults supported by strong, plain “laurel leaf” pillars typical of Cistercian architecture. At one end, an unusual bar stand and counter are lodged in an enormous half-barrel.

The property stretches all the way to the banks of the Landion, a large stream which passes through Bligny. Ever since he was 6, Gerard thought about the vineyards, and dreamt about one day becoming a real wine-maker. In 1975, he bought a vineyard and, with his wife Françoise, set to work on his dream : the respect of the integrity of the wine and natural methods to preserve the most flavours possible. A richly colourful character who adores jokes, he has a nice selection including a Brut Zero dosage (no liqueur added).

Visit and tasting.
The Range of wines : Champagnes Blancs and Rosés.