Guy De Forez

Guy de Forez is a family estate in Les Riceys, at the very southern end of the Côte des Bar. The vines are planted exclusively in Les Riceys, the largest terroir in Champagne at 866 hectares. The village is also the only one in Champagne allowed to produce the still wine Rosé des Riceys.

Family and history

It all began with a small plot of land bought by Roland Wenner. Through hard work and perseverance, the estate then grew year by year. The founding year is given as 1959. The family began making its own wine in the 1980s and then built up its sales. Today around 60,000 bottles are produced a year. Sylvie and Francis Wenner ran the house as its second generation. Francis is now handing over the management to his sons Sébastien and Vincent. Francis found the name of the house in the municipal library in Troyes. It belonged to a Count of Champagne.

Vines and way of working

Pinot Noir dominates across roughly eleven hectares, with small shares of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Depending on the source, the share of Pinot Noir is given as a little over 90 per cent (ACME Fine Wines) up to 97 per cent (Halo Wines). All the plots lie close to the cellar, on Kimmeridgian clay and limestone. The harvest is by hand, with selective picking of the grapes.

“In the 1990s it was among the pioneers of sustainable viticulture, and in 2008 it joined the national DEPHY network.

The house was early to take environmental protection seriously. In the 1990s it was among the pioneers of sustainable viticulture, and in 2008 it joined the national DEPHY network. It has been certified by Terra Vitis since 2012, and also holds HVE level 3. The house does not allow malolactic fermentation in any of its wines, in order to preserve freshness. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks, and pressing is done with a traditional Coquard press.

Viticulture

The wines and your visit

The calling card is the Brut Tradition. It is 100 per cent Pinot Noir and seems delicate, yet has fullness on the palate. The Cuvée Brut Réserve contains 33 per cent Chardonnay from small plots near the cellar. There is also a rosé, a vintage champagne and the Cuvée Le Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes from vines over 25 years old. About a tenth of the vineyard area was once devoted to Rosé des Riceys.

The 17th-century house holds vaulted cellars, while the estate also works with modern technology. If you visit the estate in the Rue du Général Leclerc, you can see these cellars. Please arrange an appointment beforehand by telephone on +33 3 25 29 98 73.