10 Wineries & Vineyards in Picardy That You Shouldn't Miss

Based in Charly-sur-Marne to the west of the Champagne producing region, the Fallet family comes from a long line of winegrowers cultivating grapes since 1610. Driven by a shared passion for their 'terroir' and the vine, Gaston Fallet and Geneviève Dart, created the brand "Champagne Fallet-Dart" in the 70s. Today Independent Winegrowers, their descendants Daniel and Gérard Fallet and their sons Paul and Adrien work their 18 hectares (45 acres) of vines using integrated vine growing methods, harvest their grapes with care, create, bottle and sell their champagnes themselves on their estate.This results in authentic and distinguished champagnes, whose excellence is recognized each year in France and abroad by numerous awards.

Vigneron Indépendant realisant sont champagne de A à Z. La philosophie de la maison, travailler dans le sens de la culture raisonnée et intégrer au maximum des méthodes d’agriculture biologique.

MEUNIER EXPERTISE Olivier, who is an oenologist by trade, is immersed in growing the “Meunier”, this typical and unpredictable grape variety of the Marne river Valley. They treasure their old vineyards that express so well the personality and the earthy touch of their 17 plots. They look after them with regular hoeing and a natural green cover. Vineyard zoning The harvest and the grapes pressing are mastered while respecting each kind of soil: clay, tuff, sand, and silt. The complexity of each Champagne blend shows this variety. In the cellar, the champagne batches come mainly from “Meunier”. The wine making process takes place in small stainless steel vats with temperature control and also in barrels. Signature blends Olivier produce six original batches, including “Bel Instant” (90 % Meunier), “Bleu Chic” (Meunier highlighted by Chardonnay) and “Clair Obscur” (perfect harmony between Pinot and Meunier sublimated thanks to a wine-making process in barrels).