Champagne Premier Cru

Premier Cru Champagnes are produced exclusively from grapes coming from one or more Champagne villages classified as Premier Cru. The classification identifies areas recognized for the quality of their grapes and is an important indication of a Champagne’s origin and winegrowing identity.

Today, 44 villages retain the Premier Cru classification, found mainly across the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs. Among the best-known names are Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Cumières, Dizy, Rilly-la-Montagne, Ludes, Chigny-les-Roses, Écueil, Vrigny, Cuis, Vertus, Bergères-lès-Vertus, Pierry and Villers-Marmery. Each village expresses its own characteristics linked to soils, exposure, microclimate and the grape varieties grown.

A Premier Cru Champagne can be produced with grapes from a single Premier Cru village, highlighting its identity and terroir characteristics, or from several Premier Cru villages. Blending different origins allows the producer to combine distinct traits and seek balance, complexity and stylistic consistency in the cuvée.

It is important to distinguish between the ‘Premier Cru’ indication and the village name shown on the label. The classification indicates that the grapes come from Premier Cru areas, while any village name helps pinpoint more precisely the place or places of origin. Not all Premier Cru cuvées necessarily highlight the name of a specific village.

Across the different areas, there are particularly interesting expressions for individual grape varieties. Cuis, in the Côte des Blancs, is known for Chardonnay; Vrigny and Écueil, in the Montagne de Reims, are appreciated for expressions of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Hautvillers, famed for its history linked to the birth of Champagne, and Cumières, in the Vallée de la Marne, are other highly recognizable names among enthusiasts.

The Premier Cru classification does not define a single Champagne style: each producer can interpret the grapes and the terroir according to their own philosophy, through different choices of winemaking, blending and ageing. For this reason, comparing Premier Cru Champagnes from different villages makes it possible to grasp the nuances of the denomination’s various terroirs.

Discovering Premier Cru Champagnes therefore means exploring 44 villages with a strong winegrowing identity and getting to know the different expressions that can arise from their vineyards. From the precision of Chardonnay in the Côte des Blancs to the structure of Pinot Noir in the Montagne de Reims, and the personality of Meunier in the Vallée de la Marne, each area offers its own interpretation of the champenois terroir.

In this selection you will find Premier Cru Champagnes from some of the most interesting areas of Champagne, with bottles that allow you to delve deeper into the character of individual villages and the style of the producers who showcase them.