Portraits of winemakers

CHAMPAGNE XAVIER LORIOT: FEMININE, MODERN WINES WITH A STRONG CHARACTER

Discover Champagne Xavier Loriot: A Modern Legacy in the Marne Valley

Meet Charlène Loriot: The Fifth Generation of Champagne Excellence

We take you to explore a vineyard nestled in the heart of the Marne Valley: Champagne Xavier Loriot. Here, we meet the winemaker Charlène Loriot.

Young and passionate, Charlène represents the fifth generation of Champagne Xavier Loriot. After completing a professional baccalaureate with a focus on "vine and wine" and an installation internship in Canada, she returned to the family estate in 2004 to assist her father Xavier.

At first, I envisioned a career in international wine. But since my family needed me, I came back, Charlène recounts.

This choice seems to have been the right one for Charlène, as 13 years later, she is still working harmoniously with her father and her sister Marine, who occasionally assists them as a technical advisor.

Champagne Xavier Loriot: An Innovative Spirit

Spanning 10.5 hectares, the Champagne Xavier Loriot vineyard stretches across the slopes of the Marne Valley on clay and limestone soils, in the villages of Binson-et-Orquigny, Villers-sous-Chatillon, and Reuil. The three main Champagne grape varieties are cultivated here: Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir.

Since its founding in 1891, Champagne Xavier Loriot has stood out for its nonconformist and avant-garde spirit, constantly experimenting with new methods. This principle is diligently followed by Charlène and her family, both in the production of their champagnes and in the modern packaging and label design, which are currently undergoing a complete overhaul.

Sugar-Free and Sulfite-Free Options

Champagne Xavier Loriot offers 8 different cuvées. The brand aims for a broad spectrum, starting with the "Collision Brut" cuvée, a 100% Pinot Meunier champagne that reflects all the estate's parcels over two harvest years.

The range also includes a Blanc de Blancs champagne (made exclusively from Chardonnay), a Rosé champagne, a 100% Pinot Noir cuvée, and two vintage champagnes from 2012 and 2013 aged for 10 years.

Our champagnes best reflect our personality: they are feminine, modern, and have a strong character!, Charlène analyzes.

Recently, two new additions joined the collection: "100 S Extra-Brut" and "100 S without Sulfites." The former is aged for 10 years on lees and contains no additional sugar dosage, while the latter has the advantage of being completely sulfite-free.

These limited-edition cuvées, with only 1,000 bottles produced annually, challenge traditional champagne norms to reveal only the essential: wines with authentic aromas, explains Charlène.

Educational Tours in the Vineyard

Throughout the year, Charlène and her family open the doors of Champagne Xavier Loriot to the public for property tours and wine tastings.

We have a large reception hall where we regularly host groups of tourists, Charlène notes.

The winemaker also offers an educational tour of the vineyards, during which visitors learn about all the crucial steps in vine maintenance: pruning, tying, training, etc.