Claude Perrard

The champagne house of Claude Perrard is based in Rouvres-les-Vignes, a small village in the Aube département. The estate lies not far from Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, Bar-sur-Aube and Troyes. It belongs to the Côte des Bar, the southern part of Champagne. Legally it is an EARL, in other words a family-run farming business.

Family and history

The story of the house has been passed down from father to son since 1911. The earlier generations first made still wine. The Hachette wine guide names Jean-Pierre and Frédéric Perrard, who took over the estate in 2014 from three generations of growers. The estate itself speaks of four generations working the vineyard. On its website it names Frédéric and Jean-Pierre Perrard as the ones carrying this tradition forward.

Vines and way of working

The estate grows Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Pinot Noir dominates the blends. The plots lie around the village of Rouvres-les-Vignes. The grapes therefore have only a short journey to the press, which keeps their quality steady. For the Blanc de Blancs, the estate points to clay-limestone soils (argilo-calcaire) as the foundation.

“The Hachette wine guide names Jean-Pierre and Frédéric Perrard, who took over the estate in 2014 from three generations of growers.

The vineyard is certified under Viticulture Durable en Champagne (VDC) and as Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE). By its own account, the estate has won 36 awards in wine guides and competitions since 2017. In the cellar the emphasis is on assemblage. Still wines from different vintages are blended into the desired cuvée, and the house describes this step as its signature.

The cuvées

The range includes a Brut Tradition, a Blanc de Blancs, a Blanc de Noirs and a Brut Rosé, among others. There is also a Ratafia de Champagne. The Brut Tradition is a blend of all three grape varieties. The estate gives the share of Pinot Noir as 69 and 70 per cent in different places. The Hachette wine guide describes the Blanc de Blancs as pale gold, with mineral finesse, notes of white blossom, exotic fruit, citrus and brioche, delicate and lively on the palate.

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Visiting and tasting

The estate welcomes guests in Rouvres-les-Vignes. According to Mappy, a cellar visit is possible by prior appointment, and a tasting is offered. The Hachette wine guide also lists tasting and sales at the estate. The opening hours given are Monday to Saturday from 9am to 7pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. It is better to call briefly before you visit, as these times come from a directory and not from the estate itself.