Ployez Jacquemart

Ployez-Jacquemart is a family house founded in 1930 in Ludes, a premier cru village in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. Marcel Ployez met Yvonne Jacquemart, who had inherited a few hectares of vines. Together they founded the house and joined their two names. In 1947 the business moved to its present site.

Three generations, one signature

The founding couple were followed from 1950 to 2000 by Gérard Ployez and his wife Claude. Since 1988 Laurence Ployez, the founders' granddaughter, has been the cellar master of the house. Born in 1963 as the eldest daughter of Gérard and Claude, she studied applied biology with a focus on agronomy and returned to the estate after some detours. Her first passion was cooking, and she began by working in renowned restaurants. After her father's death in 2002 she ran the estate together with Christophe Prieux, with whom the collaboration began in 2004. Today the owner is the Prieux Group, while the house continues to be run by Laurence Ployez.

Vines and cuvées

The house farms 3 hectares of premier cru and grand cru sites in Ludes, Ville-Dommange, Mailly-Champagne and Vertus, working with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Around 100,000 bottles are produced each year.

“Ployez-Jacquemart is a family house founded in 1930 in Ludes, a premier cru village in the heart of the Montagne de Reims.

The tête de cuvée is the Liesse d'Harbonville. It is aged for eight months in neutral oak barrels, the first fermentation takes place in the barrel, and malolactic fermentation is blocked. The dosage of the 2005 version is 3 g/l. For the 90th anniversary the Cuvée Granite was created, a blend of three grape varieties and more than twelve vintages, including 1976, 1982 and 2013. There is also a vintage Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, the 2012 made entirely from Chardonnay.

Visit and tasting

The tour takes in the traditional press, the stainless steel tanks, the room with barrels and foudres, the old cellars on two levels, the dégorgement room and the vines next to the estate. It lasts 120 minutes on average and is held in English or French. With two champagnes it costs 25 euros, with three champagnes 33 euros per person. There is also the bar "Au Jardin", open Thursday to Sunday, 11 am to 6.30 pm. If you would like to stay longer, the house also has bed and breakfast rooms. Booking in advance is recommended. According to its Facebook page, the house can only be reached by email.