Thevenet Delouvin

Thévenet-Delouvin is a family estate in Passy-Grigny, in the western part of the Vallée de la Marne. The estate came about through the union of two families and two vineyards: the right bank of the Marne (Passy-Grigny) and the left bank (Cerseuil). The families have been growers for five generations and champagne producers for three. In 1989 Xavier Thévenet took over the family estate, which then covered 5 hectares. Isabelle Thévenet joined the estate in 2005, and since then the two have run it together.

Vineyards, grape varieties and cellar

Today the estate farms around 9 hectares across the two terroirs, 7 of them planted with Pinot Meunier. All three champagne grape varieties are grown: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. After the hand harvest, the grapes are pressed in pneumatic presses with a capacity of 4,000 kg. Vinification is carried out plot by plot, in stainless steel tanks or in barrel. For the cuvées, plots, vintages, grape varieties and reserve wines are blended, in part with wines from oak barrels.

“In 1989 Xavier Thévenet took over the family estate, which then covered 5 hectares.

The cuvées

• Carte Noire: This stands for the house style, with a fine mousse, fruitiness and freshness. The most recent version comes from 2019 and 2018, with 65% Meunier, Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Noir.
• Réserve: According to the growers, it is made up of 60% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay from both banks of the Marne. The Brut Réserve won silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2020.
• Infini: An Extra Brut made from a perpetual reserve (Réserve Perpétuelle) begun in 2010.
• Insolite: A range with unconventional vinification that harks back to the origins of champagne. The Insolite Meunier Extra Brut, for example, was matured entirely in barrel at the time of the 2013 tasting.
• Chardonnay Extra Brut: A blanc de blancs made in just 3,000 bottles, aged at least 30 months on the lees in bottle and dosed at 4 g/L.

New Coteaux champenois cuvées were added in 2023.

Champagner Glas

Sustainability, visits and accommodation

Since March 2016 the estate has been certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (level 3) and Viticulture Durable en Champagne. By their own account, they have been working their vineyards responsibly for more than 30 years.

Visitors are welcome in the press house and the tank room. You get a practical introduction to how champagne is made and taste two cuvées, by prior appointment only. You can reach the estate by phone on +33 3 26 52 91 64. Anyone who wants to stay longer will find a gîte on the estate, as well as accommodation in a renovated vineyard hut. The growers call their holiday cottage 'La Loge du Coteau'.