Champagne L’Éloquente Brut, NV - Jean de la Fontaine

More about this wine: The wine is made up of 65% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Noir. Sustainability is key to their ethos and they have proudly achieved their Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne and High Environmental Value (HEV) certifications, of which they were amongst the first in the region to do so. The grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the winery to be vinified separately in order to maintain integrity of the different varieties, before blending post fermentation. L'Eloquente Brut is NV (non-vintage), meaning it is a blend of wine from multiple years of harvests, rather than vintage wines which come from one specific year. This is the most common style of Champagne, which is released yearly as the ‘house style’ by growers and Champagne houses. This French sparkling wine is made according to the traditional method, also known as méthode champenoise, in which the wine goes through a secondary ferment in bottle. It is then aged in their cellars for 3 to 4 years before release.

More about this vineyard: Located in the picturesque commune of Charly-sur-Marne, Jean de la Fontaine is a family run winery. Established in 1946 under Albert and Beatrice, the 55 hectare estate consists of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir. As governed by the Appellation rules in Champagne, all the grapes are hand harvested and carefully transported to the winery where each variety is vinified separately and if destined for a blend, blended according to taste. They have invested in cutting edge equipment which allows them to work with minimal intervention in order to express best their terroir.

Since it was founded, the Champagne House has passed down through three generations, and is currently managed by sisters Aline, Claire, and Lise Baron. Aline has her BA in biochemistry, MA in microbiology, and her National Diploma in Oenology; Lise has a degree in Biology and her National Diploma in Oenology. Together, they oversee the estate from viticulture to vinification. On the business side, Claire earned her MA in Applied Foreign Languages in Business and Trade and uses those skills in her position as Sales Manager.

Continuing with their Grandfather Albert Baron’s vision, the sisters work aims to pass on a healthy earth to future generations. They have been selected as one of few in Champagne to gain their ‘Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne’ certification and ‘High Value Environmental’ awards.