Perron Beauvineau

The champagne house of Perron-Beauvineau is a family estate that has been based in Meurville for eight generations. The village lies in the Côte des Bar, in the Aube département in the south of Champagne. The family works as a grower-producer, selling directly. They describe their roots as an old winegrowing tradition that links Burgundy and Champagne.

Family and generations

Jean-Claude Perron, a member of the 7th generation, ran the house until 1999. After his death, his wife Marilyne carried on the business. Today Fabrice Perron (8th generation) runs things, with his wife Marie-Gabrielle at his side. He holds a doctorate in economic history and looks after sales and cellar work. His approach is to make cuvées with great maturity. In 2010 he built up the house's export business.

Vineyards and cuvées

The vines stand on the land of Meurville and Couvignon. They grow on well-exposed slopes on clay and limestone soils. The family has owned some plots outright for five generations. Others were bought by Marilyne and Jean-Claude Perron in the 1980s and replanted and reshaped by them. We could not find a figure for the total vineyard area.

Maturity is the hallmark of the house. All the cuvées spend at least five years on the lees before disgorgement. Depending on the source, the range includes 13 or 14 champagnes, among them several vintage and rosé cuvées. Two examples:

• Haubette: a blanc de noirs with no dosage, made from 100 per cent Pinot Noir.
• Cuvée Abraham, Vieilles Vignes, vintage 2004: a plot selection from vines 46.5 years old, at least ten years on the lees. The Guide des vins gives one third each of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.

Visiting and tasting

The house offers a choice of tasting formats, for example gastronomic, playful or blind. According to a tourist office listing, visits are possible by appointment seven days a week. Bottles you order can be collected in Meurville or Bar-sur-Aube. Since 2008 there has also been an unusual place to stay on the property, the Colline aux fustes.

Address: 5 Rue de Spoy, 10200 Meurville.