Rene Fresne

Sermiers is a small village between Reims and Épernay, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. This is where the Fresne family runs its champagne house. The family has worked vines here for many generations, today 8.5 hectares of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Family and history

There are two dates given for the founding. The Guide Hachette gives 1921 as the year the house was founded and says that Bruno Fresne took over the estate in 1969. Another directory gives 1920. The family only began making champagne under its own name later. Since 1982 it has made its own champagne and taken care of everything itself, from the work in the vineyard to pressing and bottling. Gérard, Bernadette and Bruno stood for pride in their heritage and openness to new ideas. Hervé and his wife Céline now run the house together with Bruno.

Working methods and cuvées

In the vineyard the house follows sustainable, controlled viticulture (viticulture raisonnée). Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks, and the white wine cuvées go through malolactic fermentation. The estate also has a cellar and ages wine in oak barrels.

The range includes Carte Blanche (Brut, Demi Sec and Non Dosé), Carte Noire, Carte Rosé, Carte d'Argent, Carte d'Or and the Cuvée du Monastère. There is also a ratafia. The Cuvée du Monastère deserves special attention: it comes from old vines, spends a year in oak barrels and is produced in just 900 bottles. According to the Guide Hachette (2001 edition), the Carte Noire was effectively a blanc de noirs with 5 per cent Chardonnay, the two Pinots in roughly equal parts. That information is dated, so ask on the spot about the current blend.

Visit and tasting

The house welcomes guests in Sermiers. The visit includes a tour of the press house, the fermentation cellar and the barrel cellar, an explanation of the viticulture at an adjoining plot and a tasting of at least two cuvées. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9 to 12 and from 13.30 to 17.30, and Saturday from 10 to 12 and from 14 to 17. On Sundays and public holidays the house receives visitors by appointment only. Address: 20 Rue du Franc Mousset, 51500 Sermiers, telephone +33 3 26 07 72 37.