Sanchez Le Guedard

The champagne house Sanchez Le Guédard is based in Cumières, on the Rue Gaston Poittevin. The village lies close to Épernay on the right bank of the Marne. The estate was founded in 1953 by Bernard Le Guédard, a vineyard worker. He leased a few plots, bought land and cleared it. Some sources give 1950 or 1954, but most agree on 1953.

Family and vineyards

Thirty years later, Bernard Le Guédard handed the estate over to his daughter Patricia and his son-in-law José Sanchez. Their son Sébastien joined them later. Sébastien's daughter Flore now helps out as well, and one cuvée carries her name.

The five hectares of vines are spread across Damery, Cumières (Premier Cru) and Oger (Grand Cru) in the Côte des Blancs. The plantings are 60 per cent Pinot Noir, 20 per cent Meunier and 20 per cent Chardonnay.

Working methods

The cover cropping that the grower himself mentions is well documented: the family ploughs the soil and works with cover crops. The estate has been certified organic since 2016. According to Generation Champagne, the conversion had already been under way since 2013. Sanchez Le Guédard belongs to the Club Trésors de Champagne, whose members must make their champagnes entirely from their own grapes.

In the cellar, the house relies on handwork. There is a traditional press, partial ageing in oak barrels, and all the cuvées are riddled by hand on pupitres. Annual production is around 45,000 bottles.

Cuvées, visits and tasting

• Sélection Brut: Pinot Noir (60 per cent) and Pinot Meunier (40 per cent), aged three years in the cellar, fruity and light.
• Rosé de Saignée: A rosé made by maceration, deep in colour, aged two years in the cellar. It won a silver medal in 2023.
• Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs: 100 per cent Chardonnay from Oger, bottled after five years of ageing.
• Special Club: A blanc de noirs, currently the 2014 vintage.

Visits to the estate are possible by appointment. To enquire, call 03 26 51 66 39 or email champagne.sanchezleguedard@orange.fr.