Philipponnat

Maison Phillipponnat, universally recognized among the most important Champagne houses, was founded in 1522 in Mareuil-sur-Ay. This maison had the privilege of being purveyor to France's King Louis XIV and, over the centuries, has been able to maintain an international leading role. The village of Mareuil, practically a single street dotted with small vignerons, is located in the center of Champagne, at the point where the three major areas into which the region is divided meet: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Cote des Blancs.

Philipponnat owns 20 hectares of vineyards located not only in Mareuil but also in the communes of Ay, Mutigny and Avenay, all magnificently exposed to the south. The excellence of the vineyards is the Clos des Goisses: 5.5 hectares of vineyards so well suited that it is possible to produce a good vintage even in less favorable years. The term "goisses" is the feminine of "gois," which means "very difficult to work," in fact the slope ranging from 30° to 45° makes it impossible to use agricultural machinery, so all the work done in the "clos" is done manually, as in past centuries. From this small vineyard comes a historic label of the maison that became very famous in Italy, being the favorite of Gianni Agnelli. Pierre Philipponnat bought this wonderful vineyard in 1935 from the Visconti d'Ay family and today it is considered a priceless treasure.

Today Charles Philipponnat, heir to this glorious family tradition, with great passion and expertise continues the work of his predecessors to keep the name and prestige of the maison high. The maison's unique and inimitable style is the result of centuries of savoir faire in both the vineyard and the cellar, which includes careful and scrupulous vineyard management, linked to a deep environmental sensitivity, and a vast heritage of reserve wines aged in wood using the solera method. Thus are born Philipponnat Champagnes known throughout the world, among the best interpreters of the type.