Côte des Whites
As the name suggests, mainly white grape varieties, especially Chardonnay, are planted in this Champagne region. Of the 17 Champagne villages with the highest possible Grand Cru status, six are within the Côte des Blancs: Chandelier, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oiry. Vineyards that face predominantly east benefit from the morning sun, which promotes the ripening of the grapes.
The calcareous soils of the Côte des Blancs create an ideal balance between water drainage when there is a lot of rain and water storage during dry periods, which is especially beneficial in hot years like 2022. Côte des Blancs champagne is said to have an above-average aroma intensity and longevity.
Cote de Sezanne
This region lies southwest of the Côte des Blancs and is mainly distinguished by a different soil composition. Here you will find predominantly clayey and muddy soils, as well as a few chalky sections. The vineyards in this region are mainly oriented towards the southeast. Maximum exposure to the sun results in more mature, fruitier grapes than those in the Côte des Blancs, but are generally classified as slightly lower in quality.
Cote des Bar
The southernmost growing region of Champagne is almost entirely planted with Pinot Noir due to slightly warmer growing conditions. The vineyards of the Côte des Bar are also slightly better protected against frost due to the slightly higher temperatures. As in the Côte de Sézanne, there is no Grand Cru village in the Côte des Bar.
Mount Reims
This parade district in Champagne is home to ten villages, all classified as Grand Cru: Ambonnay, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Bouzy, Louvois, Mailly, Puisieux, Sillery, Verzenay, Verzy, and Tours-sur-Marne. The lion’s share of plantings are the darker varieties Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which tend to have higher acid levels due to the colder climate in Champagne.
In particular, all of the Grand Cru sites are equipped with calcareous soils. In addition to Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay is also grown in the Montagne de Reims region. Due to its northern location and vineyards, some of which face north, some areas are very frost sensitive.
Vallee de la Marne
In this Champagne region, especially the dark grape variety Pinot Meunier grows on loamy, marly and sandy soils and can give champagne a distinctive fruity note. Pinot Meunier’s advantage over Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is that the grape variety buds later and matures earlier, making it a good fit for this frost-prone valley. In Vallée de la Marne, Aÿ is also the last of the 17 Grand Cru villages within Champagne.