De Sousa

A Portuguese family story in Avize

The story of Champagne De Sousa begins with Manuel De Sousa, a Portuguese soldier who fought alongside France in the First World War and settled in Avize afterwards. His son Antoine married Zoémie Bonville, the daughter of a local growing family. Together they founded the house, at some point between 1948 and the 1950s, depending on the source. In 1986 their son Erick took over the estate with his wife Michelle.

Erick De Sousa was among the pioneers of a more ecological Champagne. He died in January 2023, aged 59. His three children, Charlotte, Julie and Valentin, now run the house, and according to the family have been in charge since 2020. Julie looks after the vines.

Sites, vines and way of working

Figures for the vineyard area vary between 9.5 and 11 hectares, spread over roughly 42 parcels. The sites lie in the grand cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Chardonnay is at the heart of it. Added to that are Pinot Noir, among others from Aÿ and Ambonnay, as well as Meunier. The vines are on average more than 45 years old.

The family has worked biodynamically since 1999. Organic certification followed in 2010, the Demeter seal in 2013. Two draught horses, Vidoc and Capucine, are part of the estate. In the cellar, fermentation is carried out with natural yeasts. Oak barrels are used with restraint, and only about 5 per cent of them are new. The disgorgement date is printed on the bottles.

Well-known cuvées

• Cuvée des Caudalies: a blanc de blancs grand cru from old vines. A réserve perpétuelle has accompanied it since 1995.
• Cuvée 3A: half Chardonnay, half Pinot Noir from Ambonnay, Aÿ and Avize, with three reserve wines and a dosage of 3 g/l.
• Mycorhize: Chardonnay from old vines in Avize and Oger, aged in 225-litre barrels.
• Umami: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from several grands crus, matured in oak.

Enquiries should be addressed to the estate: 12 Place Léon Bourgeois, 51190 Avize, contact@champagnedesousa.com.