Remy Massin & Fils

Family and history

Rémy Massin & Fils is a family-run grower estate in Ville-sur-Arce in the Côte des Bar. Louis-Aristide, born in 1865, was the first in the family to work the vines. His son Marius enlarged the family vineyard, even though growing grapes brought in little at the time. In 1974 Rémy took over the family property and turned it into a récoltant-manipulant, making champagne from the estate's own grapes. Today the fifth generation works in the cellar and in the vineyard.

Rémy was joined by his children: first Sylvère, a technician in viticulture and oenology, then Florence, who looks after administration, shipping and export. Cédric arrived in 2002 and has given up herbicides entirely, developing working methods that stay as close to nature as possible. Marion joined in 2017.

Vineyards and cuvées

The house farms 22 hectares in Ville-sur-Arce and Landreville. The plantings are 75 per cent Pinot Noir, 20 per cent Chardonnay and 5 per cent Pinot Blanc. The vineyards lie on the slopes around the village, mostly on Upper Kimmeridgian limestone soils containing tiny fossilised oyster shells (Exogyra virgula). The estate has worked without herbicides for several decades, using cover crops, soil cultivation and tailored pest control to preserve biodiversity. The HVE 3 and Viticulture Durable en Champagne certifications are listed on the estate's website.

The range reflects the focus on Pinot Noir. It includes the vintage cuvées Spécial Club Pinot Noir (Extra Brut) and Spécial Club Pinot Blanc (blanc de blancs) 2017, as well as Tradition, Intégrale, Blanc de Noirs Nature, L'Inattendue, Louis Aristide and a rosé d'assemblage. The Louis Aristide cuvée is named after the family's first vine grower.

Côte des Blancs

Visits and tastings

On the cellar tour, visitors see the cuverie and the press, then taste in the tasting room. The tour includes a sample of the vins clairs of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A lunch among the vines, prepared by the restaurant Le Val Moret to go with four champagnes, can be arranged by reservation.

The estate is open Monday to Friday, and at weekends in odd-numbered weeks by reservation. You can reach the house by telephone on +33 3 25 38 74 09.