The Vines

Vines in Cramant

Isabelle, Arnaud and Jacques Diebolt

The Diebolt-Vallois champagne vineyards cover 11 hectares (26 acres) of which the great majority are in Cramant and Cuis, two villages which are classed as Grand Cru (Great Growth) and Premier Cru (First Growth) respectively.

Other plots are at Chouilly (another Grand Cru village) and on the hillsides at Epernay (vineyards called Les Toulettes and Les Hautes Justices). All of these are planted entirely in Chardonnay, the grape used to make blanc de blancs champagne. Some vines on the Montagne de Reims and the Côte de Bar complete the estate's holdings, and these are planted in pinot noir and pinot meunier.

Cramant is the first 100% Grand Cru village you come to when you enter the Cote des Blancs from the direction of Epernay. The Diebolt-Vallois champagne vines are mainly to be found in the southern part of Cramant, on the way to the village of Avize.

The soil consists of a layer of light earth over a chalk subsoil. The East-South-East facing slopes suit the Chardonnay particularly well, and it gives champagnes which at one and the same time show fruit, power and rich texture.

Vines in Cuis

The village of Cuis is next door to Cramant. Depending upon the plots they are growing in, the estates' vines benefit from chalky slopes that face either North-West or fully South. Their grapes bring minerality and delicacy with good acidity which must of course be allowed to mellow. The vines from the Epernay slopes give wines that are balanced, round and fat - generally attractive.

The vineyards are managed using traditional methods, with a minimum of treatment. The plots which will benefit from it are being progressively grassed over.