Champagne Alfred Gratien
Champagne house in Épernay, Vallée de la Marne.
- Village
- Épernay
- Region
- Vallée de la Marne
- Founded
- 1864
- Cuvées in the guide
- 10
Alfred Gratien is a champagne house founded in Épernay in 1864, currently owned by Henkel & Co. Sektkellerei KG but run by the fourth generation of the Jaeger family, with Nicolas Jaeger as cellar master. Production remains small, with a voluntary limit of 300,000 bottles per year, to guarantee high quality.
Approach and characteristics
- Vinification: Unique to the house is the fermentation and ageing in small oak barrels of 228 litres, which contributes to complexity and fruity aromas.
- Malolactic fermentation: The house completely blocks this fermentation, resulting in a fresher, more acidic profile with more freshness.
- Selection: Strict selection of grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier) from the best vineyards in the region.
Well-known champagnes
- Cuvée Paradis Brut: The flagship and the house's most prestigious cuvée.
- Brut Classique: The standard non-vintage champagne.
- Millésimé: Vintage champagnes, such as the 2016, which age in the bottle under natural cork.
- Rosé: Available in both standard and Paradis versions.
Visit The house offers tours of the 18-metre-deep chalk cellars, where almost a million bottles are stored. Options range from a basic "Ontdekking" (Discovery) visit (approx. €35) with a tasting of two cuvées, to the more expensive "Empreinte" visit (approx. €60) with four cuvées, including three vintages. Booking is required at 30 Rue Maurice Cerveaux, 51200 Épernay.
Cuvées by Alfred Gratien
Importers
Alfred Gratien is imported by: Neerlands Wijnhuis.
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