Alain Vesselle

Champagne Alain Vesselle is one of the branches of the Vesselle family, which has been based in Bouzy since 1885, a grand cru village on the southern slope of the Montagne de Reims. The name is so common there that Hachette advises paying attention to the first name when ordering. This house means Alain. It is not Maurice Vesselle, who first put his own first name on a label in 1955 and runs a separate house of his own.

Family and vineyards

Alain Vesselle's forebears planted the vineyard in 1885, and today it covers 18 hectares. Alain was followed by Éloi, and now the three brothers Guillaume, Antoine and Thibaud run the estate. The plots are spread across the Montagne de Reims (9 ha) and the Côte des Bar. Éloi Vesselle ran the estate from 1989. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are grown, and the house is a récoltant-manipulant, a member of the Vignerons Indépendants and certified with the Haute Valeur Environnementale label.

The wines

Bouzy is also known for its red still wines. The house makes a Bouzy Rouge, a red still wine from Pinot Noir. 5,500 bottles were produced of the current version, aged in tank and oak barrel. Among the champagnes, Hachette mentions the Cuvée Saint-Eloi, among others. There is also the Cuvée Thibaud: it is dosed extra brut and comes entirely from Pinot Noir grown in Bouzy. The Guide Hachette 2025 awarded the house a “coup de coeur”.

Visiting and tasting

The estate welcomes visitors at 15 Rue de Louvois in Bouzy. The tour takes you through the vines, presses, cuverie, cellars, gyropalettes and the disgorgement line. A guided tasting follows. The programme also includes the history of the family and the oenotheque. Tastings for individual visitors start at €7. Booking is advisable, by phone on +33 3 26 57 00 88.