Maison Bereche

Bérêche & Fils is based in Le Craon de Ludes on the Route de Louvois, on the northern slope of the Montagne de Reims, roughly halfway between Épernay and Reims. The family house was founded in 1847 and is now run by the fifth generation. Raphaël Bérêche joined his father Jean-Pierre in 2004, and his brother Vincent followed in 2008. Vincent looks after the vineyards, Raphaël the cellar.

Sites and vines

Depending on the source, the vineyard area is given as 9 to 11.5 hectares, most often around 10 hectares. The parcels lie in Ludes, Ormes, Trépail, Mailly and Rilly. To these is added the area around Mareuil-le-Port on the left bank of the Marne. The varieties grown are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. In Ormes there are vines planted in 1955 on soil with sand at the surface and chalk beneath. For the Chardonnay Les Beaux Regards there is a core parcel planted in 1902 by Raphaël's great-grandfather.

Working in the vineyard and the cellar

The brothers have replaced pesticides and herbicides with biodynamic methods. In the cellar they rely on native yeasts and wood. Wild fermentation is the rule, and around three quarters of the wines are vinified in 350-litre barrels. Because of the low pH and high acidity, the wines mostly do not go through malolactic conversion. According to the house, artificial cooling is also avoided. A quarter of production is bottled under natural cork rather than crown cap. Disgorgement is still done entirely by hand.

Cuvées and visiting

According to Vine Trail, the Brut Réserve is made up of 35% Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. Le Cran is a Ludes Premier Cru of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, first produced in 2004. Rive Gauche is pure Meunier from 45-year-old vines in Mareuil-le-Port. The rosé Campania Remensis comes from Ormes and is shaped by Pinot Noir. Reflet d'Antan is a perpetual blend of all three varieties, begun in 1985 and aged in 600-litre demi-muids. Under the Raphaël et Vincent Bérêche label there is also a négociant line called Crus Sélectionnés, whose first wines appeared in 2014.

If you would like to visit and taste, please enquire in advance via the website bereche.com.