Guy Charbaut

In Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the Charbaut family has been growing champagne since 1936, passing the estate from generation to generation. The house sits in the middle of this premier cru village in the Grande Vallée de la Marne, seven kilometres from Épernay. The name Guy Charbaut stands for a family estate with long ageing and a clear style of its own.

Family and vineyards

In 1936, André Charbaut, previously an accountant and agent for a wine merchant, bought his first parcels in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. In 1946 he acquired the annexe of the Château Montebello, where he set up offices and new presses. His son Guy founded the family's own brand, "Champagne Guy Charbaut", in 1995 together with his family. Today Guy's son Xavier and his wife Nathalie run the estate, supported by their daughter Hélène.

The vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay. Figures for the area vary depending on the source, but the most frequently quoted is around 20 hectares. Most of it lies in the premier cru villages of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Bisseuil and Avenay, with the rest in Viviers-sur-Artaut and Landreville in the Aube. The house holds HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification.

“In Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the Charbaut family has been growing champagne since 1936, passing the estate from generation to generation.

The cuvées

The Cuvée Sélection is a brut made from all three grape varieties. It ages for three years in the cellar and receives 8 g of dosage. The Cuvée de Réserve Vieilles Vignes Premier Cru combines Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with up to 30 per cent reserve wine. The Bruit Blanc is an extra brut, a premier cru blanc de blancs made from pure Chardonnay. There is also a rosé, vintage champagne and a blanc de noirs, among others.

Since 2020, Hélène Charbaut, the fourth generation, has also been making champagnes of her own. For this she separated out three hectares of family parcels in Bisseuil, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, all premier cru. They include La Charbauterie, La Crayère, Les Pinailleuses, La Meunière and La Pirouette.

Visiting and tasting

The cellars lie beneath 25 metres of chalk, run for roughly 1.5 kilometres and hold three million bottles. The house welcomes visitors, and tastings start at 12 euros per person. Xavier and Nathalie have converted part of the former farmhouse into guest rooms. Address: 12 Rue du Pont, 51160 Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.