H. Billiot & Fils

The house of H. Billiot & Fils sits in the heart of the medieval village of Ambonnay, at 1 Place de la Fontaine. Ambonnay is one of the five great grand cru villages of Champagne, on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims. Every cuvée the house makes comes exclusively from this site.

One family, four or five generations

The story begins with Eugène Billiot, a miller from Ambonnay, who bought vineyards when electricity arrived in the village and saw prosperity in them for his descendants. Sources give different dates for this (1870 or 1896). Louis Billiot founded the Billiot brand in 1937, more as a sideline. After the war his son Henri founded the house of H. Billiot & Fils on the Place de la Fontaine. Several sources give 1960 as the founding year of the house in its present form. Today Laetitia Billiot runs the estate. Whether she represents the fourth or the fifth generation is counted differently depending on the source.

Vineyard and cellar

The vineyard area is given as 4.7 to 5 hectares. It is spread over eighteen parcels in the village, all with a good southern exposure. Around 75 per cent Pinot Noir and 25 per cent Chardonnay are grown. The winemaking follows a clear pattern: the wines ferment in enamelled steel tanks, without malolactic fermentation, fining or filtration. They then age in barrel for 18 to 24 months, depending on the vintage.

“Several sources give 1960 as the founding year of the house in its present form.

The range includes a Brut Réserve, a Brut Rosé, a vintage champagne and the Cuvée Laetitia, among others. The Cuvée Laetitia is made from 60 per cent Chardonnay and 40 per cent Pinot Noir. The Cuvée Essence of Billiot is a pure Pinot Noir from Ambonnay with no dosage, aged for several months in barrel. Production is small: around 32,000 bottles a year, and the family does the work itself.

Weinberge Champagne

Visit and tasting

The house welcomes visitors in the village centre. The tour takes in historic chalk cellars, vaulted cellars, the cuverie and the barrel ageing. The family explains their craft and the history of the house along the way. You should book an appointment in advance. A visit with a tasting is offered through a booking platform for 18 euros. The house is also a partner of the Passeport Gourmand de la Marne. For current opening hours and prices, it is best to ask the house directly.