Henri Giraud

Four centuries in Aÿ

The Giraud-Hémart family has been working vines in Aÿ since 1625, which makes Henri Giraud one of the oldest champagne houses still owned by its founding family. At the start of the 20th century, Léon Giraud married Madeleine Hémart and replanted the entire vineyard. In the early 2000s, Claude Giraud, son of Henri Giraud, took over the running of the house, and with him the twelfth generation of the family is at the helm. The cellar master since 2004 has been Sébastien Le Golvet, who married into the family.

Aÿ Grand Cru, Pinot Noir and oak from the Argonne

The estate owns around 10 hectares in and around Aÿ, spread across 35 parcels. In addition, it buys in grapes, mostly from family and friends. Pinot Noir is at the centre of everything. The entire vineyard is farmed sustainably and carries the HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification. In 2018, Henri Giraud became the first champagne house to be independently tested for pesticide residues, with no traces found.

“In 2016 it gave up stainless steel tanks and has since relied on small oak barrels from the Argonne forest.

What defines the house is wood. In 2016 it gave up stainless steel tanks and has since relied on small oak barrels from the Argonne forest. Claude Giraud had picked up this old tradition again from 1990 onwards. In 2013, the house launched a project with the forestry authority ONF to protect the Argonne forest.

• Fût de Chêne MV: a Pinot Noir-dominated blend built on a reserve perpétuelle and aged entirely in Argonne oak.
• Code Noir: a blanc de noirs from 100 per cent Pinot Noir, aged in small Argonne oak barrels.
• Argonne: the Argonne cuvées now sit at the top of the range.
• Hommage à François Hémart: the grapes come entirely from Aÿ.

Visits and tastings

The house is at 71 Boulevard Charles de Gaulle in Aÿ-Champagne. Visits and tastings are by reservation only. The "Initiation" lasts 90 minutes at most and costs from €115. It includes a tour of the domaine and four cuvées, each with a little something to eat. The "Table Expérience" lasts up to three hours, takes you through the cellar and pairs food and wines at the chef's table. It costs €290 per person. If you would like to stay longer, the neighbouring Manoir Henri Giraud has a handful of rooms. Prices come from tourism portals and may change.