Sendron Destouches

The champagne house Sendron-Destouches is in Le Breuil, in the Vallée de la Marne wine region. To be more precise, it sits in the Surmelin valley, where the black grape varieties take centre stage. The estate is registered as a Récoltant-Manipulant. That means it works with grapes from its own vineyards and makes the champagne itself.

Family and generations

The house was founded in 1964 by Ghislaine and Raymond Sendron. Dominique Sendron took over the estate in 1996, followed by Laurie Couilliet in 2023. The Guide Véron points to values handed down from generation to generation since the beginning of the 19th century.

Vines and cuvées

The estate farms 3.6 hectares on the south-facing slopes of Le Breuil. The vineyards are planted with Meunier (85%), Pinot Noir (10%) and Chardonnay (5%). The champagnes themselves, however, are made only from Meunier (90%) and Pinot Noir (10%), which is why the cuvées carry the Blanc de Noirs designation. In 2019 the Guide Véron gave an annual production of around 14,000 bottles. The house is certified "Haute Valeur Environnementale" and belongs to "Champagne de Vignerons". Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks, and the white wine cuvées go through malolactic fermentation. They are then filtered but not fined.

• Cuvée Tradition (Brut and Demi-Sec), Cuvée de Réserve Brut, Rosé Brut, Millésimé Brut
• L'Authentique Brut Nature: This non-dosed cuvée is made from 90% Meunier and 10% Pinot Noir. The Guide Véron describes notes of caramel, cocoa and roasted coffee beans, which it attributes to six years of ageing in the bottle.

Visit and tasting

The house is open daily, preferably by appointment. You can tour the cellar and the vineyards. Visit and tasting cost 13 euros for individual guests. The tour lasts 90 minutes. The house also has two gîtes, Le Gîte du Parapet and Le Gîte Le Pétillant, so if you would like to explore the Surmelin valley, you can stay the night here too.