What are the main regions of the Champagne region?
The regions of the Champagne region
Champagne wines are renowned throughout the world, but the land from which they come is little known. The vineyards of Champagne date back to the beginning of the Common Era, and in 1927 an appellation d’origine contrôlée established the boundaries of the vineyards.
The Champagne region of France is situated in the north; it has challenging climatic conditions, is set on hillsides and has a unique subsoil. These factors combine to create a unique terroir, which contributes to the distinctive character of Champagne wines.
Champagne is known for its four main terroir regions.
There are four main regions:
The Reims mountain is a mountain near the city of Reims, France
The Marne Valley is a wine-growing region which – surprise, surprise – is situated on the banks of the Marne! From Château-Thierry and Charly-sur-Marne to Épernay and Aÿ, Pinot Meunier is grown here. So what distinctive characteristics does it offer? Very powerful wines, but they lack dynamism and lightness.
This is because Pinot Meunier is not known for being a particularly refined or subtle grape variety. That is why it is often included in a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, or used to add colour to rosés. Some white wines can also be found.
Champagne from the Marne Valley
The Marne Valley is a wine-growing region which – surprise, surprise – is situated on the banks of the Marne! From Château-Thierry and Charly-sur-Marne to Épernay and Aÿ, Pinot Meunier is grown here. So what distinctive characteristics does it offer? Very powerful wines, but they lack dynamism and lightness.
This is because Pinot Meunier is not known for being a particularly refined or subtle grape variety. That is why it is often included in a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, or used to give colour to rosés. Some white wines can also be found here .
The Côte des Blancs and the Côte de Sézanne
The Côte des Blancs and the Côte de Sézanne are undoubtedly the most beautiful parts of the Champagne vineyards. Indeed, this region produces Champagne’s finest grape variety – and also the least widespread: Chardonnay. The only entirely white grape variety in Champagne thrives from the northof Avize to Villeneuve-la-Grande, south-west of Sézanne. The only exception to Chardonnay’s undisputed dominance? The Vertus region, right in the middle, which produces the most sought-after Pinot Noirs in Champagne.
Even without having studied geology for very long, one quickly realises that the soil of the Côte des Blancs and the Côte de Sézanne is very deep, forcing the vines’ roots to reach deep into the soil in search of nutrients. This results in white grapes with tremendous potential, offering great complexity and finesse.
Final stop: the Côte des Bar
The final stop on our long journey through the Champagne regions (well, without leaving our screens, of course, but a long journey all the same) is the Côte des Bar! With vineyards planted mainly with Pinot Noir, the Côte des Bar is situated between Bar-sur-Seine and Bar-sur-Aube. Yes, in the Champagne region, we’re generally not very original when it comes to names.
The Champagne region of France lies at a northern latitude and has a dual climate, featuring both oceanic and continental influences. This distinctive terroir is what makes Champagne unique, and is the benchmark against which many other wines are often compared.
Champagne has a dual climate, which helps the grapes to thrive. The weather is mostly windy, but there are also long periods of sunshine and light rainfall.
The Champagne region has a limestone subsoil that provides the vines with constant natural irrigation. This is one of the defining characteristics of the region’s terroir.
The Champagne region of France boasts a unique combination of subsoil, terrain and climate for each vineyard plot. These variations create an infinite number of combinations, making the region highly diverse.
