Jean-Pierre Lalouelle

Jean-Pierre Lalouelle runs a family récoltant-manipulant house in Saint-Martin-d'Ablois. The village lies in the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, south of the town of Épernay. Together with Véronique Lalouelle he works as a vigneron indépendant. The estate is one of those growers who make and sell their own champagne.

History and vineyards

The origins of the house go back to 1879. At first the estate supplied grapes to the big champagne houses, and in 1979 it began making wines of its own. Jean-Pierre Lalouelle took over the family estate and built his own press house, a cuverie and cellars for bottle ageing. He is a signatory of the quality charter of the Vignerons Indépendants.

According to an importer, he farms 6.63 hectares. The plots lie around Saint-Martin-d'Ablois, Vinay, Mussy and Chavot-Courcourt, and according to the same source in Cramant as well. The grapes grown are Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Older sources give 70 per cent Pinot Meunier and 30 per cent Chardonnay. For the Brut, the composition is now stated differently, with Pinot Noir as the largest share, for example. The importer's profile describes the viticulture as strict lutte raisonnée. On the website of the Vignerons Indépendants association, a certification as a farm of high environmental value (HVE) is recorded under the name Domaine Lalouelle. The entries give the same address.

“The estate is one of those growers who make and sell their own champagne.History and vineyardsThe origins of the house go back to 1879.

In the cellar and in the bottle

For the cuvée “Too Much”, a product sheet mentions 20 plots, hand harvesting, pneumatic pressing and malolactic fermentation. Vinification takes place in stainless steel and enamelled tanks, and the bottles rest on the lees for 24 months. The range includes a Brut, a Brut Rosé, a Blanc de Noirs and a Blanc de Blancs Brut vintage 2018. Annual production is given as 30,000 to 40,000 bottles, depending on the source. The commune mentions exports to Belgium, Germany, Italy, the USA and China.

Visiting

The house is at 50 route de Vinay. The growers of the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay offer a free tasting. It is advisable to book by telephone (+33 6 07 59 42 34) or by email (jp.lalouelle@wanadoo.fr). According to the tourist office, Domaine Lalouelle also takes part in the “Afters de l'été” run by the growers' association.