Vrayet Daniel

The Vrayet family has been making its champagne since 1932 at the foot of the hills shaped by the Marne. The estate is based in Passy-sur-Marne in the Aisne département, in the western part of the Vallée de la Marne. The house works as a Récoltant-Manipulant, so it sells champagne made from its own grapes.

Family and vineyards

Daniel Vrayet comes from an old winegrowing family and took over his parents' estate in 2002. His son helps him, and together they farm 5.5 hectares of vines. They grow the three classic champagne grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. The grower describes their roles like this: Meunier brings fruit, Pinot Noir brings power and Chardonnay brings finesse. The proportions of the blend give rise to the individual cuvées, which also vary according to ageing time.

According to a wine database, the soils consist of varying proportions of chalk, limestone, marl, clay and loam. Malolactic fermentation is carried out for the white wine cuvées. On Instagram the estate states that it holds HVE certification (Haute Valeur Environnementale).

Winemaking on the estate

The estate has built new facilities in Passy-sur-Marne so that as much of its production as possible can be processed on site. These include a new press. According to the family, this allows them to follow their champagnes more closely.

The range includes Brut Tradition, Brut Prestige, Brut Rosé, Cuvée Excellence and Cuvée Garance. There is also a Ratafia de Champagne. Brut Prestige is available in half bottles, magnums and jeroboams. The Guide Hachette mentions citrus and toasted notes for one of the Bruts. It praises the balance of freshness and roundness as well as the gourmand fruit.

Bergères-lès-Vertus

Visiting and tasting

Tours and tastings are possible. Booking before your visit is recommended. Details of opening hours differ depending on the source. One directory lists the estate as open in the mornings and afternoons, and closed in August. It is therefore best to call ahead: +33 3 23 70 32 07. The address is 60 Route du Champagne, 02850 Passy-sur-Marne. Orders are taken directly by the house through its website.