Joseph Desruets

The family business was founded in Hautvillers in 1888, in the village where Dom Pérignon is said to have worked. Edmond Alexandre and Laure Vautrin-Gillet pressed grapes and sold still wines to the big champagne houses. Today Matthias Eun and Thomas Kim Desruets run the house in its sixth generation. Both were born in Seoul and adopted by a winegrowing couple from Champagne. They learned their passion for champagne from their adoptive parents. The house works as an independent grower.

Vineyard and approach

The vineyard covers 2.2 hectares in Hautvillers, in the Grande Vallée de la Marne, Premier Cru. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier are grown here. Since 2010 the house has avoided synthetic products, herbicides and insecticides in the vineyard. The information on organic status varies: the house itself says it is certified organic, whereas Reims Tourisme speaks of a conversion to organic farming since 2020. When you visit, it is best to ask directly about the current position.

One special feature is the press. The grapes are still pressed with the wooden "Darcq-Flamain" press, which has been in the family's hands and in use since 1888 and holds 4,000 kg. The Champagne information body describes it as the oldest champagne press still in operation.

“The family business was founded in Hautvillers in 1888, in the village where Dom Pérignon is said to have worked.

The cuvées

Since 2012 the house has been ageing micro-cuvées in Burgundy barrels (228 litres) and champagne barrels (205 litres). The range includes a Cuvée de Réserve, a rosé, a blanc de blancs and the blanc de noirs "Coeur de Pinots". The latter won bronze at the IWSC (2018 vintage, awarded in 2022). The Cuvée Sybarite was created in 2016 at the suggestion of Thomas Desruets and is made entirely from Pinot Noir. Only 936 bottles were produced.

A la volée Werkzeug

Visit and tasting

The house receives visitors from March to October, Monday to Saturday, by reservation only. It is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Welcome in French and English. A tour with tasting costs 60 euros per adult via a booking platform, lasts 1.5 hours and is designed for 2 to 15 people. For groups there is the "Atelier du Vigneron", where you work with machines that have been used here for generations. You can also stay overnight with the house, in Hautvillers or in Épernay.

• Address: 85 Rue de Bacchus, 51160 Hautvillers
• Telephone: +33 3 26 59 40 13