Champagne Billecart-Salmon

Champagne house in Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne.

Village

Aÿ (Grand Cru)

Region

Vallée de la Marne

Founded

1818

Cuvées in the guide

26

Billecart-Salmon​‌​ is an independent champagne house, founded in 1818 in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ through the marriage of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. The house is still in the hands of the family, currently led by the seventh generation, Mathieu Roland-Billecart. The name Aÿ is often associated with the location, although the head office is in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, close to Épernay.

History and Ownership

• The champagne house is one of the few large houses to have remained family-owned since its founding in 1818.
• Jean Roland-Billecart revolutionised quality in the 1950s by introducing low-temperature fermentation and cold settling (débouillage à froid), which results in the house's fresh, fine style.
• In 1999 the cuvée Nicolas François 1959 was named "Champagne of the Millennium".
• In 2018 the house celebrated its 200th anniversary with a limited edition of 1818 numbered magnum bottles.

Vineyards and Terroir

• The estate's own vineyards cover 100 hectares, divided over 40 crus in the Champagne region.
• The grape varieties are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, planted in prestigious areas such as the Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs and the Vallée de la Marne.
• In addition to its own vineyards, wine is purchased from contract growers within a radius of 20 km around Épernay, for a total vineyard area of approximately 300 hectares.
• The house applies sustainable farming practices, recognised by certificates such as Viticulture Durable Champagne and HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale).

Approach and Vinification

• The must is fermented plot by plot in small stainless steel tanks at low temperatures (around 13-15°C) to preserve fruitiness and freshness.
• A unique feature is the ageing of part of the wines in oak barrels (casks and foudres), which adds complexity and structure, especially in the Brut Sous Bois and vintage cuvées.
• The champagnes undergo a minimum ageing of 3 years on the cap (sur lie), which contributes to the softness of the mousse and the integration of the bubbles.

Well-known Champagnes

• Brut Rosé: An iconic cuvée known for its fine, salmon-pink colour and refined taste; represents a large part of turnover.
• Grande Cuvée: The non-vintage base composition, characterised by balance and finesse, often with a high proportion of Pinot Meunier.
• Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart: The prestige cuvée, composed of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Grand Cru grapes, produced only in exceptional years.
• Clos Saint-Hilaire: An exclusive Blanc de Noirs from a walled vineyard (clos) of 0.94 hectares in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, with limited volumes per year.
• Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru: Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes from Grand Cru municipalities such as Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Cramant.

Cuvées by Billecart-Salmon

Importers

Billecart-Salmon is imported by: Best of Wines, Gall & Gall, L'Atelier du Champagne, Perfecte Wijn B.V..

Where it is sold

Shops and wholesalers carrying Billecart-Salmon: Barts Wijnkoperij, Best of Wines, Bottle Hero, Cavissima, Gall & Gall, L'Atelier du Champagne, Perfecte Wijn B.V., Vinify, Wijnkoperij Van den Hoogen.

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