Gp Wafflart & Fils

Champagne G.P. Wafflart & Fils is a family estate in Bouilly, in the Massif de la Montagne de Reims, between Reims and Épernay. The house is a Récoltant-Manipulant: every step in the vineyard and the cellar is in the family's hands, and only with their own production. The Marne, and not the Aube as some wine guides wrongly state, is the estate's home.

From Sacy to Bouilly

Pierre and Cécile Wafflart-Bailly founded the house in 1952 in Sacy, near Reims. The G in the name stands for Guy, their son, the P for his father Pierre. They worked in Sacy until 1970, when the parents retired and Guy and his wife Jacqueline took over. They set up the business in Bouilly, in the former farmstead of Jacqueline's parents. Today, according to the commercial register, Samuele Wafflart and Rachel Niedostatek run the business, and Guy Wafflart remains a partner.

Vines and cuvées

The vineyard covers about 6 hectares in some 30 parcels, spread across six villages in the western Montagne de Reims: Bouilly, Jouy-lès-Reims, Courmas, Villedommange, Sacy and Sainte-Euphraise. Each parcel carries the grape variety best suited to its soil and exposure to the sun. Pinot Noir makes up 49 per cent, Pinot Meunier 29 per cent and Chardonnay 22 per cent. This gives the house all three champagne grape varieties to work with for its blends.

According to the website, the range comprises Origine, Saint Caprais, Rosé Prestige, Subtil, Millésime, 100% Pinot Noir, Pôle Nord and Bulle et Or. The Origine cuvée is a blanc de noirs made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The Saint Caprais brings together all three grape varieties. The Rosé Prestige is made from the three varieties plus a red wine under the Champagne appellation. Unusual is the Pôle Nord cuvée, a champagne meant to be drunk with ice cubes. The website also lists a Cuvée Prestige Boisée.

Visiting

The house is on Rue Saint-Caprais in Bouilly. Visits are by appointment only, and the telephone number is +33 6 61 85 54 80. The estate is also a member of the Vignerons Indépendants.