Vindey

Location

Vindey lies in the Marne département, in the Grand Est region, about 42 kilometres south-west of Épernay and roughly 95 kilometres east of Paris. Its neighbours are Sézanne, Saudoy and Mœurs-Verdey. The village belongs to the Côte de Sézanne, the south-western outpost of the Champagne region. Vindey carries no classification as grand cru or premier cru.

The commune covers 7.9 square kilometres and had 105 inhabitants in 2023. The Grand Morin flows through it, and not far away lie the state forest of the Traconne and the Natura 2000 site of the heaths and ponds of Sézanne and Vindey. Arable land (45%) and woodland (36%) shape the landscape, while permanent crops, mainly vines, make up about 13.5%.

Viticulture

The village economy is largely shaped by wine. As early as 1845, a much-praised white wine was made here, at that time still without any sparkling wine production. In the Côte de Sézanne today, chardonnay plays the leading role, and the wines are often considered approachable and fruit-driven. If you are looking for champagne beyond the famous names, you will find growers here away from the main tourist crowds.

“Vindey carries no classification as grand cru or premier cru.The commune covers 7.9 square kilometres and had 105 inhabitants in 2023.

One interpretation of the village name fits this well: the Gaulish word vindo means "white" and may refer to the pale chalk soils on which the vines grow. This derivation is not certain, however, as a personal name as the origin is also considered possible.

History

According to older tradition, the vines of Vindey were planted by Roman legions. In the early 13th century, Blanche de Castille regularly passed through the village on her way from the priory of Val Dieu to the royal château at Lachy. In 1547 the Morel de Vindé family had a château built. On 5 and 6 June 1944, a Resistance group derailed a train in the Vindey tunnel.

Vranken Champagner Keller

Things to see

• Château de Vindey: Built in 1811 in the park of the older Morel de Vindé château. Underground passages are said to lead as far as Mont Aimé.
• Bottle fountain: A fountain in the shape of a champagne bottle, also dating from 1811, built with stones from the demolished dovecote of the old château. Its location is said to mark the boundary between Brie and Champagne. It is fed by the Cuchots spring on the wooded slope above the village.
• Lavoir: The 19th-century wash house was supplied by the same spring.
• Mairie-école: Built in 1883 in the typical regional style and restored in 2011. It has not taken pupils since the 1970s.
• Church of Saint-Médard: The village church is one of the listed sights.

Vindey makes a quiet stop when you are exploring the Côte de Sézanne. It is best to plan a visit to a grower in the area and combine it with a walk to the bottle fountain.