Andre Bergere

From Fèrebrianges to the Côte des Blancs

The Bergère family has owned vineyards in Fèrebrianges, in the heart of the Petit-Morin valley, since 1848. The village lies about 30 minutes from Épernay. Albert Bergère began making his own champagne in 1949 and founded the A. Bergère brand. His youngest son André took over the estate in 1986 with his wife Brigitte. The house counts André as the third generation. The children are now involved too: Adrien joined in 2014 and is responsible for winemaking. His sister Annaëlle runs the boutique in Épernay.

André extended the holdings in the Petit-Morin valley, in the home village as well as in Étoges and Congy, and later added plots in the Côte des Blancs and the Sézannais. This raised above all the share of Chardonnay.

Plot by plot, as naturally as possible

The estate describes its approach as being as natural as possible. Adrien works 139 plots, each vinified separately before blending. The wines are aged in stainless steel tanks, oak barrels or foudres, then rest on the lees for as long as possible. The blending takes place without chilling, fining or filtration. André had already bought the first wooden barrels, convinced of the benefits of ageing in wood.

“Albert Bergère began making his own champagne in 1949 and founded the A.

The grape varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. For the reserve wines, one merchant cites a blend of 50 per cent Chardonnay, 30 per cent Pinot Noir and 20 per cent Pinot Meunier. The sources contradict each other on the vineyard area (45 and 65 hectares), so we do not give a figure here.

Cuvées, visits and tasting

The range runs from cuvées such as Origine, Terres Blanches and Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru to single-plot wines. Les Clos is a pure Meunier Extra Brut from vines planted in 1970, limited to 2,100 bottles. The Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is a blend from the best terroirs of the Côte des Blancs.

Billy-le-Grand

Visitors can book a guided tour. It includes a drive through the vineyards, a look around the domaine and cellar, and a tasting of three champagnes in the tasting cellar beneath the Avenue de Champagne. The boutique and the guest rooms are at 38-40 Avenue de Champagne in Épernay. The office in Fèrebrianges, 57 Grande Rue, is staffed on weekdays from 8 am to 12 noon and from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm. The house names respect for tradition, family independence, generosity and straightforwardness as its values.