Sample Itinerary

• 09:30 - Vineyard Visit and tasting at Philipponnat
• 12:00 - Immersive Grand Cru Pinot Noir Vineyard with Paired Lunch
• 14:30 - Cellar Visit and Tasting at Veuve Clicquot

Famous Pinot Noir Brands

Each brand's distinct approach to champagne production highlights the adaptability and elegance of Pinot Noir, offering a range of styles that cater to various palates and preferences.

Each brand's distinct approach to champagne production highlights the adaptability and elegance of Pinot Noir, offering a range of styles that cater to various palates and preferences.

Veuve Clicquot : is celebrated for its rich, full-bodied style of champagne, predominantly using Pinot Noir. This contributes to the champagne's structured and powerful profile, with a complexity that evolves beautifully over time.

Bollinger:  utilizes a high percentage of Pinot Noir in their blends, contributing to their robust and structured character.

Louis Roederer:  champions the use of Pinot Noir in many of its cuvées, including the prestigious Cristal. Pinot Noir lends these champagnes a body and firmness that is balanced with remarkable finesse and freshness, capturing the essence of their terroir with precision.

Cristal:  is a flagship cuvée of Louis Roederer, known for its precise balance, extraordinary texture, and complexity. Pinot Noir plays a crucial role in providing structure and depth, which complements the brightness and acidity from Chardonnay, resulting in a champagne of exceptional quality.

Pinot Noir in Champagne

The vineyards of the Montagne de Reims lie between the Reims Mountain Regional Natural Park and the agricultural plain and extends between the city of Reims and Epernay. It contains 9 Grands Crus villages. Its soils are chalk-based, with clay, sand, and silt. Pinot Noir is the main grape cultivated. It is the predominant grape variety on the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Bar where the cool, chalky terrain suit it perfectly.

The Montagne de Reims stands out as a significant area for Pinot Noir cultivation, particularly in the village of Bouzy. This village is not only a center for the production of still red wines that are crucial for creating Rosé Champagne but is also renowned for its Grand Cru status. The vineyards here, primarily located on the southern slopes, span 380 hectares predominantly planted with Pinot Noir, dedicating around 10% of this area to producing the distinguished Bouzy Rouge. There are two primary methods for producing Rosé Champagne:

The Blending Method : involves blending white Champagne with still Pinot Noir AOC wines, achieving a balance of color and complexity.

The Saignee Method:  also known as "bleeding," this technique allows the grape musts to macerate with the skins for several hours during pressing, imparting a natural pink hue and a richer flavor profile.

Characteristics of Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir grapes are notable for their dark purple hue and pine cone-shaped clusters, from which they derive their name—"pinot" meaning pine and "noir" indicating black in French. This grape is particularly sensitive to varying production methods, making it a true mirror of its terroir, reflecting the unique environmental and climatic conditions of its cultivation site. 100% Pinot Noir Champagnes are often referred to as Blancs de Noir however, Blancs de Noir can include Pinot Meunier.

Pinot Noir in the World

This variety, also famously cultivated in Burgundy, is appreciated worldwide from the vineyards of Oregon to those in Argentina. For those intrigued by the allure of Burgundy, our team can facilitate bespoke visits to explore the acclaimed Côte d'Or region.