Pierre Pinard

Champagne Pierre Pinard is a family estate in Sézanne, in the heart of the Côte de Sézanne. As a récoltant-manipulant, the family looks after its champagne from vine to bottle. How long the Pinards have lived in Sézanne is given differently depending on the source: the house itself cites the 16th century, Gault&Millau the 17th, and a regional directory the 18th. The Vignerons Indépendants de Champagne list Brigitte, Hélène, Olivier and Catherine Pinard as running the estate.

Vineyards and methods

According to consistent sources, the estate farms around 14 hectares of vines (one source gives about 13 hectares). The vineyards are certified Haute Valeur Environnementale and Viticulture Durable en Champagne. The soils consist of Campanian chalk and Sparnacian clays. Chardonnay dominates the plantings at around 80 per cent, with Pinot Noir making up roughly 20 per cent. One trade directory also lists Pinot Meunier. Annual production is estimated at around 27,000 bottles.

The champagnes

The range is compact, running from the Brut Tradition through a Blanc de Blancs and a Rosé to the Cuvée de Réserve and a Cuvée Fût de Chêne. There are also the Cuvée Cité des Mails and the Cuvée Grande Guerre, as well as a Tradition Demi-Sec. According to Gault&Millau, the non-vintage Brut Tradition is based on the 2015 harvest, blended with a reserve perpétuelle drawn from the last 30 years. The guide awarded it 88 points out of 100. At the Vignerons Indépendants competition, the Brut Millésime 2012 won a gold medal in 2018.

Visit and tasting

The house welcomes visitors by appointment at 29 Rue Gaston Laplatte. Among the options is a tour with an introductory film about champagne and a blind tasting. Tastings take place in the cellar. For children there are winemaker costumes and quiz games. Groups of up to 45 people are possible, and English is spoken. The house also takes part in the Vignerons Indépendants programme "Vendangeur d'un jour" (grape-picker for a day). For current offers and bookings, see the house's website.

• Address: 29 Rue Gaston Laplatte, 51120 Sézanne
• Telephone: +33 3 26 80 58 81
• Web: champagne-pinard.com