The most prestigious of beverages, the “wine of kings and king of wines”, is the fruit of a remarkable combination of soil and know-how. In the Côte des Bar area, most of the winegrowers are producer-merchants: they harvest, make and sell their champagne.

Remarkable climate and soil

Côte des Bar’s vines hug the hillsides and are exposed to the sun and sheltered from the cold wind. The vines are planted on soil that stores the water necessary for good growth of the leaves and releases heat, the key to the proper ripening of grapes for a good harvest.

Champagne’s three types of grape

The secret of its delicate bubbles, its wonderful liveliness, its lightness and its incomparable aromas lies in its assembly. Three types of grape are used in its composition: Pinot noir, Pinot meunier and Chardonnay. Each makes its contribution.And from this harmony orchestrated in the cellar, in the crushing and pressing, are born as many champagnes as there are wine growers, or so they say.

Strict rules

The rigour imposed on the profession is the guarantee of consistent quality. The law of 22 July 1927 marks out the geographical area of the champagne appellation. It comprises 35 rules: limitation to the 3 permitted types of vine, limitation of the yield per hectare and as a result of pressing, pruning of the vines, spacing, hand picking, a minimum period of ageing…  Wine growers will talk at great length about the famous champagne method!