R.Gerbaux

The house of R. Gerbaux is based in Crouttes-sur-Marne, in the far west of Champagne, in a very small village. Politically, the village belongs to the Aisne département. The family story begins in 1920, and the estate recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Four generations

It all starts with Solange, great-granddaughter of winegrowers, and her husband Raymond Gerbaux. At first they grew grapes to sell to the big champagne houses. Raymond, however, began early on to make a white wine of his own and to sell it himself. Later he experimented with bottle fermentation, which made him one of the pioneers in the area. After the Second World War, he and his son Roger dug a cellar designed specifically for ageing champagne. Today Régis passes on his passion for viticulture and oenology to his daughter Juliette and son-in-law Pieter, the fourth generation.

Vines and way of working

The estate covers 10.7 hectares, planted with 56 per cent Pinot Meunier, 25 per cent Chardonnay and 19 per cent Pinot Noir. According to a retailer's profile, the soils consist of clay, sand and limestone. The house works as a récoltant-manipulant: vine care, harvest, pressing, vinification and sales all stay within the estate. Gerbaux calls its approach reasoned viticulture, that is, considered management that takes the whole ecosystem into account. Since 2016 the emphasis has been more on soil work and cover crops, and the use of herbicides is limited. The estate has received HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) Level 3 certification.

The range comprises six different champagnes. They include the L'Épicurien Brut, which according to a Dutch retailer is a cuvée of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier that ages for five years on the lees. An Extra Brut is made from Meunier, the typical grape of the Marne valley.

Visits and tastings

The house welcomes visitors to its cellar and cuverie. The website gives opening hours of Monday to Friday, 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm. Saturday and Sunday are by appointment only. It is closed on public holidays. Booking ahead is advisable, telephone: +33 3 23 82 15 01. The address is 15 Rue de Bézu le Guéry, 02310 Crouttes-sur-Marne.