Hamm & Fils

Champagne Hamm is a family house in Aÿ, about three kilometres north-east of Épernay. It was founded in 1910. According to the Guide Hachette, Henri Hamm was the founder: he worked as a manipulant from 1910 and gave the house négociant status in 1930. On its website and labels it appears as E. Hamm & Fils.

Family and house

The house was most recently run by Michel and Brigitte Hamm, descendants of the founder. Their brother Claude died in 2019. They see themselves as Maîtres Assembleurs, masters of blending. At the end of 2024, Maison Emile Hamm became part of the Iconic Nectars group, which is backed by the Renaud Cointreau family and Odilon de Varine.

Approach and cuvées

Hamm works as a négociant-manipulant. That means the house buys in grapes from various crus and makes its wines from them itself. The sources do not mention any vineyards of its own. According to the house, every cuvée since 1910 has been built on a blend of the three champagne grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Ageing in the traditional cellar lasts at least four years for the non-vintage cuvées and more than ten years for the vintage champagnes.

The range includes, among others:

• Signature, a brut with equal parts of 33 per cent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (Gault&Millau: 87 out of 100 points)
• La Preuve par Trois Extra Brut, with 40 per cent each of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (88 points)
• Millésime 2012, with 58 per cent Pinot Noir and 42 per cent Chardonnay (92 points)
• Réserve 1er Cru and Dessert

Visiting and tasting

The house welcomes visitors at 16 Rue Nicolas Philipponnat. The tour takes in the cellar, the dégorgement room and the labelling and dispatch departments. According to the Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park, a tasting costs from 5 euros. A visit with a tasting of three cuvées is listed there at 25 euros. According to the Comité Champagne, the house is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30. On Wednesdays and Saturdays it receives visitors by appointment only. French and English are spoken. The telephone number is +33 3 26 55 44 19. Please have prices and opening times confirmed in advance.