Philippe Thevenin

The house of Philippe Thévenin is in Ville-sur-Arce near Troyes, in the far south of Champagne, in the Côte des Bar. It is a family estate run by the fourth generation, not the third, as is often written. The house works as a récoltant-manipulant and has sold its own bottles since 1992. Philippe Thévenin and his daughter Axelle combine craft with modern ideas. Axelle Thévenin has been registered as managing director since January 2012.

South-facing vineyards

The vines grow on south-facing slopes right at the entrance to Ville-sur-Arce. The estate covers 6 hectares, planted with 81% Pinot Noir, 16% Chardonnay and 3% Pinot Meunier. The soils are mostly limestone and clay. If you enjoy champagne from the Côte des Bar, you will find a house style here that is clearly shaped by Pinot Noir.

Cuvées and ageing

The cuvées are made from the wine of the year and reserve wine, and the bottles age for three to five years on the lees. Part of the wines are aged in oak barrels and half-muids, which broadens the range. The line-up includes a Brut Tradition, Brut and Brut Nature, as well as an Extra Brut, a Blanc de Blancs, a Blanc de Noirs and a ratafia. By its own account, the family has stayed close to nature. We could not verify an organic certification.

Visiting and tasting

The estate welcomes visitors Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, and at weekends by appointment. It offers cellar tours explaining the grape varieties and bottle ageing, as well as rides through the vineyards in a Rosalie, a pedal-powered vehicle. A tasting rounds off the visit. A stop here fits nicely into a tour of the Côte des Bar. Because of the weekend arrangement, it is best to book ahead.