Baron-Fuente

The house of Baron-Fuenté is based in Charly-sur-Marne, in the west of Champagne, on the Coteaux de la Vallée de la Marne. Since 1993 it has been run by the siblings Sophie and Ignace Baron. The Baron family has farmed land in Charly-sur-Marne since the 17th century.

From one hectare to a family estate

For his wedding to Dolores Fuenté, Gabriel Baron's father gave him a hectare of vineyard in 1961. Dolores came from Andalusia. In 1967 the couple named their business Champagne Baron-Fuenté, as a sign of their union. The first bottles went straight to private customers and local restaurants.

The second generation joined in the 1980s and 1990s. Sophie took charge of the vineyard, while Ignace was drawn to vinification. Ignace earned a diploma in oenology in Avize. He shapes the house style and is also the managing director.

Vineyards and style

The figures for the vineyard area vary. The house itself states 40 hectares, while other sources speak of 38 hectares. Around 96 per cent of the grapes come from the estate's own plots, with the rest supplied by growers on long-term contracts. The clay and limestone soil is particularly well suited to Pinot Meunier, the leading grape of this terroir. It also dominates the style of the cuvées, bringing fruit and finesse. Alcoholic fermentation runs at 16 °C in stainless steel tanks, which helps keep the cuvées fresh.

The wines include the Grande Réserve. It is made up of 60 per cent Pinot Meunier, 30 per cent Chardonnay and 10 per cent Pinot Noir, and ages for three years in the cellar. The Brut of the Quinconce line, formerly Esprit, is a blend of equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. The Blanc de Blancs in this line comes from the Chantemanche plot in Saacy, perhaps the westernmost vineyard in the whole region. A US importer highlights the long ageing and the good value for money.

Visiting and tasting

The house welcomes visitors for tours and tastings. The address is 21 Avenue Fernand Drouet, 02310 Charly-sur-Marne. It is best to book an appointment in advance, by phone on +33 3 23 82 01 97 or by email at accueil@baronfuente.com.