Champagne François Heucq
Champagne house in Fleury-la-Rivière, Vallée de la Marne.
- Village
- Fleury-la-Rivière
- Region
- Vallée de la Marne
- Type of house
- RM · Récoltant Manipulant
- Cuvées in the guide
- 7
Champagne François Heucq is a family business in Fleury-la-Rivière (Marne valley) that has combined winegrowing and vinification for four generations. The current business, also known as MG Heucq under the leadership of Guillaume and Mélody Heucq (since 2019), is certified under the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) standards.
History and Family
The history goes back to Robert and Paulette Heucq, who laid the foundations with small plots. Their son François Heucq set up his own pressing centre in 1978, turning the business from a supplier into a récoltant-manipulant (a winegrower who makes and bottles his own wine). Since 2019 Guillaume and Mélody have run the 5-hectare estate, introducing innovative methods such as partial vinification in barrels and sustainable farming.
Vineyards and Terroir
The vineyards lie about 10 km from Épernay and benefit from a soil richness that is 45 million years old, formerly a tropical sea, resulting in limestone-rich soils with fossil shells. The average age of the vines is 30 to 35 years. The grape varieties are the three classic Champagne varieties: Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, grown on sandy, limestone and loamy soils.
Winemaking
The winemakers emphasise control over the entire process, from pruning and harvesting to bottling. They opt for hand harvesting and vinification in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels (tonneaux) to develop complex aromas. This hybrid approach combines traditional precision with modern innovations such as partial vinification and ecologically responsible practices.
Champagnes
The range includes both accessible and premium cuvées:
- Brut Réserve: A harmonious blend of Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, fresh and fruity taste, price < €20.
- Brut Rosé: A lively, fruity blended rosé, price < €20.
- Émotion: A refined Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay), price €20–30.
- Rosé de Saigne: A premium rosé made by maceration, price €20–30.
- Millésime: A Blanc de Noirs (100% black grapes) from a specific harvest year (e.g. 2014), price €20–30.
Visitors can visit the cellar by appointment (9am–6pm Thu–Fri, 9am–12pm Sat). Contact: [email protected] or via www.champagneheucq.fr.
Cuvées by François Heucq
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