Collard Picard

Two grower families, one house since 1996

Collard-Picard was founded in 1996, when Olivier Collard and Caroline Picard joined forces. Both come from grower families that have existed since the end of the 19th century: the Collards in Villers-sous-Châtillon, the Picards in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The couple did not build their champagne house as the heirs of an existing estate, but from the ground up. It began in Villers-sous-Châtillon with 2.5 hectares of vines, and today the estate has 16 hectares. Since the 2024 harvest their son Alexandre has been working alongside them. He holds an OIV master's degree in Wine Management, and the house counts him as the sixth generation.

Sites, vines and cellar

The 16 hectares are spread over 52 parcels between the right bank of the Marne and the Côte des Blancs. Chardonnay comes from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger and Vertus, among others, while Pinot Noir and Meunier come from Villers-sous-Châtillon, Reuil and Binson & Orquigny. The idea behind the house: to combine the power and roundness of the Pinots from the Marne valley with the finesse and purity of the Chardonnays from the Côte des Blancs.

“Two grower families, one house since 1996Collard-Picard was founded in 1996, when Olivier Collard and Caroline Picard joined forces.

In the vineyard, the estate relies on organic fertilisation and compost. The soil is worked only on the surface and under the vine rows, with natural grass cover growing in between. The cellar in Villers-sous-Châtillon was built in 2006 and is still the production site today. Some of the wines are also aged in large oak foudres. The Cuvée Prestige is made up of 50% Chardonnay and 25% each of Pinot Noir and Meunier. It ages without malolactic fermentation, on average for 12 to 15 months in oak foudres.

Cuvées and visits

The range comprises around ten cuvées, including Sélection, Rosé, Racines, Dom. Picard, Essentiel, Archives, Synesthésie and Terre de Meunier. With the Cuvée des Merveilles, the house was named one of the Jeunes Talents du Champagne in the rosé category in 2019 and also won the public prize.

Visits in Villers-sous-Châtillon are possible from Monday to Friday by appointment. Olivier and/or Alexandre Collard then lead you through the vineyard and cellar, followed by tastings with nibbles. Since 2013 the house has also had an address in Épernay. It is at 15 Avenue de Champagne and is run by Caroline Collard and her team.