Franck Bonville

Franck Bonville is a grower champagne (Récoltant-Manipulant) from Avize in the heart of the Côte des Blancs. The estate is based at 9 Rue Pasteur and works exclusively with Chardonnay. The family has owned vineyards since 1889 and has been making its own champagne since 1946.

Four generations in Avize

Alfred Bonville bought vineyard land at the start of the 20th century, a few years after the phylloxera crisis. In 1936, together with his son Franck, he acquired a winemaker's house in Avize. Other sources give 1937. After the war the first bottles appeared as "Bonville Père et Fils", and from the 1959 vintage under the name "Franck Bonville". Gilles Bonville and his wife Ingrid modernised production in the 1970s. Today Olivier Bonville runs the estate. He studied viticulture and oenology in Reims and joined the family business in 1997. He runs the house together with Ferdinand Ruelle-Dudel.

Sites and approach

The estate covers 15 hectares in 77 plots, all classified as grand cru and all planted with Chardonnay. They are spread across Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. One source adds a good two hectares in Cramant, right on the border with Avize. The acreage figures vary depending on the source. Olivier Bonville keeps older vines even at the cost of higher yields. The estate holds the HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) environmental certification.

“In 1936, together with his son Franck, he acquired a winemaker's house in Avize.

The Brut Grand Cru is made in stainless steel tanks, with both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. It ages for two years on the lees, and part of the reserve wines rests in oak foudres and demi-muids.

The cuvées

• Brut Grand Cru: This is considered the cuvée that best shows the house style. It comes from Avize, Oger and Cramant, and the dosage is 4.2 g/l.
• Unisson: It blends harvests from Avize and Oger and ages for four to five years on the lees.
• Pur Avize, Pur Oger, Pur Mesnil: Each comes from just two or three plots and shows the character of its village.
• Les Belles Voyes: This top cuvée comes from a single plot in Oger with vines planted in the late 1920s or early 1930s. It is made only in great years and fermented in 13 barrels, which gives around 3,000 bottles.

You can buy the wines directly from the grower in Avize. Before a visit, it is best to ask about tasting appointments through the website.