About Champagne Adrien Renoir

“The young Adrien Renoir took over this four-hectare domaine in Verzy working exclusively with estate fruit. In the cellar he started out with one or two barrels and appreciating the results now vinifies everything in barrel maturing his reserve wines in oak foudres. Winemaking here is artisanal with ambient yeast fermentations lees stirring and no temperature control. After visiting last spring I waited to look at a few bottles in my US office before publishing these notes and those bottles confirmed the decidedly positive impression I formed at the estate. It’s clear that Renoir is well-worth following and I encourage readers to acquaint themselves with his vinous but incisive Champagnes.” – Wine Advocate

The Renoir family’s dedication to their vineyards is a testament to their rich legacy of wine production in the Champagne region, spanning four generations. Vincent and Adrien Renoir, father and son, are Vignerons of Verzy, a village on the northern edge of the Montagne de Reims. Their 7 hectares of vineyards are classified as 100% Grand Cru. Adrien Renoir assumed control in 2014 after his father, Vincent Renoir, retired. The two worked hand-in-hand through Adrien’s initial two vintages, after which he took full charge in 2016.

Adrien is not just continuing the family tradition but also carving out a remarkable place for himself in the Champagne wine landscape. He has implemented significant changes at the Domaine, catalyzing a shift to organic farming practices while introducing more oak into the cellar for fermentation and aging processes. Additionally, he has enriched the selection of bottlings, showcasing the distinct terroirs his family has nurtured over the decades.

Organic and Biodynamic farming

Adrien’s ambitious vision for cleaner, organic farming, which is difficult in Champagne’s northern climate, occurred gradually. The transition to organic vineyards, managed with extreme care and sensitivity, ensures the healthiest and most highly qualitative harvesting. This shift enhances the quality of the wine and contributes to a healthier environment. By 2016, the entire estate had been fully transitioned to organic practices, receiving official certification after the 2017 harvest. Adrien also embraces biodynamic practices.

Grand Cru Vineyards

The Renoir family tends to approximately 7 hectares of vines—6 located in the picturesque Verzy, with the remaining hectare spread across Tours-sur-Marne and Berru. For their own domaine bottlings, they meticulously hand-select fruit exclusively from their five finest hectares in Verzy, selling the rest to Champagne houses. Adrien has cultivated three prized lieu dits of venerable massale selection vines planted between 1961 and 1971, each showcasing the unique terroirs his family has nurtured over the decades, starting with the “Les Montants” parcel and expanding this selection with “Les Epinettes” and “Les Vignes Goisses.”

In the Cellar

Adrien has initiated an evolution in winemaking techniques in the cellar, moving away from stainless steel and increasingly favoring oak for fermentation and aging. The wines then rest in the cellars, mainly in steel, for several years. A lengthy aging process in the cellars gives their champagnes their superb style and structure. All wines produced from the 2017 harvest onward have been crafted exclusively in neutral oak before undergoing a lengthy maturation in bottle on the lees.