Harlin Père & Fils

The estate sits in the Port-à-Binson district of Mareuil-le-Port, in the heart of the Vallée de la Marne. It was founded in 1884 and fully renovated in 2006 with respect for the original construction. The champagne house of Harlin Père & Fils in its present form is more recent and goes back to the Harlin family.

Three generations, one family business

Guy Harlin planted his first vines in Épernay in 1969. In 1980 his son Dominique joined him, and the family took over the vineyard of great-uncle Daniel Harlin in Tours-sur-Marne, a grand cru site. In 1985 Monique and Guy founded the company "Champagne Harlin Père & Fils" with their sons Dominique, Raynald and Bruno. In 2012 the grandsons Maxime and Guillaume took over, and they have worked ever since alongside their father Dominique.

Vineyard sites, grape varieties and methods

The 9.5-hectare vineyard lies in Mareuil-le-Port, Épernay and Tours-sur-Marne (grand cru). All three champagne grape varieties grow here: Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Meunier has traditionally carried great weight at the house.

In the vineyard the family relies on practices that encourage biodiversity and on plant-based preparations for soil care. The estate holds two environmental certifications for this: Viticulture Durable en Champagne and Haute Valeur Environnementale. Organic certification is not documented.

The cuvées

The current range includes "les sentes de Mareuil", "les chemins de traverse", "à contre-courant" as a Meunier and as a rosé, and "détour par l'alambic". Added to these are "l'escapade" and "une longue escapade". For "Les Chemins de Traverse" the house states vinification entirely in oak barrels (100 per cent) with malolactic fermentation. The soil is made up of 60 per cent clay and 40 per cent sand. Earlier vintages included cuvées such as Tradition, Gouttes d'Or and Pur Meunier.

Visits and tastings

Visits to the estate are possible by appointment. Guillaume and Maxime offer everything from a simple tasting to a discovery tour of the vineyard. The address is 8 Rue de la Fontaine, 51700 Mareuil-le-Port. Current opening hours can be found on the estate's website.