Champagne Famille Penet
Champagne house in Verzy, Montagne de Reims.
- Village
- Verzy (Grand Cru)
- Region
- Montagne de Reims
- Cuvées in the guide
- 6
Famille Penet is a historic champagne house based in Verzy (Grand Cru) in the Montagne de Reims, with a winegrowing tradition going back to the 17th century. The current management is in the hands of Alexandre Penet, the fifth generation, who manages the heritage together with his wife Martine.
History
The Penet and Chardonnet families merged in 1967 to form Maison Penet-Chardonnet. The Chardonnet family already owned vineyards in Verzenay in the 17th century, while the Penet family acquired their first vineyards in Verzy during the French Revolution. In the 1940s Emile Penet bought a 19th-century mansion with vaulted cellars, the current premises. In the 1980s a modern winery was built to fully control the process from grape to bottle.
Vineyards and Approach
The estate owns 6 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards, spread over 30 plots in Verzy and Verzenay. The grape varieties are mainly Pinot Noir (70%) and Chardonnay. The viticulture is sustainable and "raisonnée", without the use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides or insecticides. The approach is characterised by:
- Low dosage: All champagnes have an extremely low sugar content to preserve the authenticity of the terroir.
- Long ageing: Wines are left on the lees for a long time, with a minimum of 5 years for the exclusive ranges.
- Oak barrels: Partial ageing in oak barrels gives the champagnes roundness and structure.
Champagnes
The portfolio is divided into three main lines, focused on authenticity and low dosage:
- Signature Range (Penet-Chardonnet Grand Cru): Includes the Hypothesis (blend), Epitome (micro-blends with perpetual reserve), Lieu-Dit (single vineyard, labelled) and Prestige Mono Cru (single village, vintage only). Well-known cuvées are Les Fervins and Les Épinettes.
- Premium Luxury Range (Ex Ante by Alexandre Penet): An exclusive line that emphasises the essence of the terroir.
- Festive Range: Accessible champagnes for every occasion, such as the Alexandre Penet and Terroir & Sens.
Cuvées by Famille Penet
All producers in the interactive guide · All Champagne houses