Bernard Tornay

Bernard Tornay is a récoltant-manipulant, that is, a grower who makes his own champagne from his own grapes. The house is in Bouzy, in the middle of the Montagne de Reims. Bouzy is rated 100 per cent grand cru and is also known for its red wine. The address is Rue du Haut Petit Chemin.

Family and history

Nathalie Tornay-Hutasse runs the estate in the fifth generation. By its own account, the family business was founded at the start of the 19th century. According to Tastingbook, the house under the name Bernard Tornay goes back to 1950, when Bernard Tornay took over the business from his father-in-law Gaston Barnaut. Nathalie has run the house since her father's death in 2014. Together with her husband Rudy Hutasse, she brought together the estates of their two families. The cuvées of both families stayed in the range: Bernard Tornay and Fernand Hutasse.

Vineyards and wines

Accounts of the vineyard area differ. The house itself cites 21 hectares in some of the best-known crus of Champagne. The Hachette wine guide speaks of 21 hectares, mostly rated grand cru. Elsewhere the same guide gives 11 hectares as the area the estate farms. Bouzy is regarded as a grand cru of the Montagne de Reims, known for its pinot noir.

Pinot noir accordingly takes centre stage. The Cuvée Tradition combines 60 per cent pinot noir and 40 per cent chardonnay. Vivino lists, among others, a blanc de noirs from pure pinot noir, a rosé, an extra brut, a vieille réserve and a vintage champagne. According to the house, it focuses on limited production and on crus with a purity index of 95 to 100 per cent. According to Tastingbook, the grapes are picked by hand.

Visiting and tasting

The estate welcomes visitors. The Champagne directory gives opening hours of Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 12 noon in the morning and 1:30 pm to 5 pm in the afternoon. Other directories give slightly different afternoon times. It is therefore worth phoning ahead on +33 3 26 57 08 58. One guest on Tripadvisor reported a personal, free tour of the estate and a tasting of a vintage and a non-vintage champagne.