Gilmaire Etienne

Champagne Gilmaire-Etienne is a family-run grower estate in the village of Binson-et-Orquigny in the Marne Valley, around 15 km from Épernay. Since 2023 the village has been part of the new commune of Cœur-de-la-Vallée. What sets the house apart: here you can not only taste the champagne but also stay the night on the spot.

The estate

The business is an Exploitation agricole à responsabilité limitée (EARL), a French farming company with limited liability, registered on 1 March 1994. Muriel Gilmaire is listed as manager. According to the commercial register, its activity covers viticulture, production and marketing of its own wines. We have no verified information on vineyard area, plots or winemaking.

The champagnes

The shop website lists ten products, including Brut, Grande Réserve Brut, Prestige Brut, Brut Rosé, Demi-Sec, Demi Brut, Blanc de Blancs, a magnum and the cuvées Vieilles Vignes 1920 and Symphonie Chêne 2015. The emphasis is clearly on Pinot Meunier, which is widely planted in the Marne Valley.

• Brut: 80% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay; the house describes notes of pineapple and grapefruit. Price at the estate: €16.80.
• Grande Réserve Brut: 70% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, with aromas of praline, pear, peach and fresh mirabelle plum.
• Symphonie 2015: a vintage Brut (Brut Millésimé) made from 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Meunier.

Staying at the estate

The estate has guest rooms. The website names seven rooms: La Capitainerie, L'Indonésie, La Prairie, Le Ryad, La Chinoiserie, L'Appentis and La Boiserie. Booking portals speak of five rooms. Three of them are decorated in an exotic style, and breakfast is served in the Salle Égyptienne. There is also a heated indoor pool, a garden and free parking. One portal states that only adults are accepted.

Guests should plan their arrival: check-in is between 4.30 and 6.30 pm, and there is no check-in on Sundays. The address is 7 Rue Blanche, 51700 Binson-et-Orquigny. You can reach reception on 03 26 58 33 24 (from the UK or US, dial +33 3 26 58 33 24). It is best to ask there about a tasting too.