Jm Gobillard & Fils

Anyone visiting the abbey in Hautvillers, where the cellarer Dom Pérignon worked, is only a few steps from J.-M. Gobillard & Fils. The tasting cellar is at 38 Rue de l'Église, directly opposite the abbey. The house is a family business and one of the larger addresses in the village.

From Gervais to the fourth generation

The story begins with Gervais Gobillard. He bought his first hectare of vines in the 1930s and founded his own estate in 1933. His son Jean-Marie built up the holdings and launched the family's own champagne in 1955. Jean-Marie Gobillard died in an accident when he was only 46. His sons Jean-François and Thierry were very young when they took over in 1982. Today the fourth generation runs the house. Sources count the generations differently: Reims Tourisme speaks of five generations in the négoce.

Vineyards and cuvées

The estate farms around 25 hectares, mainly in the premier cru site of Hautvillers. Reims Tourisme gives more than 30 hectares. The house also buys in grapes from growers in the surrounding area, and is classed as a Négociant Manipulant. Production stands at over 1.6 million bottles a year, 52 per cent of which are exported.

The range is broad. It runs from Tradition and Grande Réserve Premier Cru through Blanc de Blancs, a Blanc de Noirs from pure Pinot Noir and Brut Rosé, to the Cuvée Prestige. "Éloge du Chardonnay" is a pure Chardonnay, which the house introduced with the 2009 vintage. In 2016 came Cuvée 5, a tribute to the family's forebears. "Les Coutures" is a single-parcel cuvée from old vines in Dizy, a premier cru village. According to the house, the family has always been committed to sustainable viticulture.

Visit and tasting

Visitors can take a tour of the estate followed by a tasting. The caveau is open daily from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 5:30 pm. Opening hours can change with the season, so ask before you visit. The caveau has a terrace. The offices and cellars are in Dizy.