Champagne BARNAUT

Following in the footsteps of five generations of winemakers, I have cultivated my passion by expressing our exceptional terroir, naturally and simply, without artifice or succumbing to trends. Anecdotes from the estate: Around the age of seven or eight, I knew I would be a winemaker when my father let me smell the wine fresh from the vat. It was winter, and the wine was cold. He warmed it on the corner of the stove and then spoke to me, "like an adult," about the aromas he smelled and that I was discovering. I searched so intently for every fragrance that I plunged my nose into the bowl, inhaling a few drops until I coughed and cried. We laughed, we were in communion, and I think that moment marked the entire journey we have undertaken together, me absorbing his experience, him benefiting from my knowledge. I can still smell that wine. That moment is forever etched in my memory, and when I think back on it, I feel her presence, right there beside me. A little history of the estate: I like to demonstrate that, beyond the major brands, Champagne is first and foremost a wine region in its own right, whose diverse terroirs and numerous plots offer a universe of wines that are as different as they are complementary. The pride of the estate: Our family's winemaking history, which dates back to before 1640 for grape production, took an unusual turn for a Champagne winemaker in the mid-19th century: In 1873, Edmond BARNAUT married Apolline GODMÉ-BARANCOURT, a vineyard owner in Bouzy. A winegrower and presser, therefore skilled in winemaking, he decided in 1874 to produce for himself what he had been doing for the well-known merchants of Reims and Epernay, creating his first bottles under his own label. His first cuvée, the Grande Réserve, which made him a pioneering winemaker in the art of blending, is still produced today, based on the principle of "perpetual blending," meaning that each bottle contains a little of every vintage produced since 1874! I have always practiced very sustainable viticulture, as naturally as Monsieur Jourdain spoke prose. It is therefore quite logical that our estate is doubly certified High Environmental Value (HVE) and Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne (VDC), using natural compounds as much as possible, organic fertilizers, spontaneous ground cover in the vineyards, a modern, energy-efficient underground cellar, and photovoltaic roofing for the cellars, allowing for electrical self-sufficiency... This is not These are just a few examples that illustrate our eco-citizen approach.