The winery
Étienne Calsac
Grower-producer of Champagne based in Avize (Côte des Blancs), known for its mineral Blanc de Blancs and for replanting and promoting historic grape varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbane.
- Champagne (Côte des Blancs) · Francia
- Since 2010
- 2 products
The story
Étienne Calsac established his own estate by taking over the family vineyards in 2010 and settling in Avize. Originally the family leased their grapes to major négociants; Étienne chose to vinify them himself, showcasing different parcels and introducing heritage grape varieties, replanting them on some plots.
Production philosophy
The work is focused on the vineyard: agronomic practices aimed at soil and vine health, a transition to organic/biodynamic farming, and low‑intervention winemaking. Fermentations are often spontaneous; wood is used and, for certain blends, cork closures are employed, with the aim of precisely expressing the terroir.
Terroir and vineyards
Headquartered in Avize; vineyards spread across the Côte des Blancs, the Grande Vallée de la Marne, the Côte de Sézanne and the Côte des Bars. Soils are mainly calcareous-clay and, in the Sézanne parcels, sandier with a limestone subsoil.
Characteristics
- Grape varieties
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Blanc
- Petit Meslier
- Arbane
- Pinot Noir
What makes it distinctive
- A grower-producer based in Avize, with a strong focus on the terroir of the Côte des Blancs.
- Producer renowned for taut, mineral Blanc de Blancs.
- Replanted and revived Champagne's "forgotten" grape varieties: Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbane.
- Viticulture focused on biodiversity and organic/biodynamic practices; spontaneous fermentations, partly in wood.
- Limited production and parcel-by-parcel: many cuvées are vinified separately and aged for extended periods on the lees.