The Champagne Region of France

For centuries, the Champagne region, located in Northeast France has been the most well-known source for high-quality sparkling wines made using the méthode champenoise process.

Climate: The cool climate in Northern France, coupled with its long summer days makes it ideal to grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier with great complexity and finesse.

Soils: The vineyards of champagne are located on chalky or limestone soils. These porous, well-drained soils hold moisture and release it over long period of time – thereby playing an important role in the flavors and aging potential of Champagne wines.

The Champagne Region of France

For centuries, the Champagne region, located in Northeast France has been the most well-known source for high-quality sparkling wines made using the Methode Champenoise process.

Climate: The cool climate in Northern France, coupled with its long summer days makes it ideal to grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier with great complexity and finesse.

Soils: The vineyards of champagne are located on chalky or limestone soils. These porous, well-drained soils hold moisture and release it over long period of time – thereby playing an important role in the flavors and aging potential of Champagne wines.

Champagne is crafted using the traditional méthode champenoise, a precise and time-honored technique that imparts its distinctive effervescence and layered complexity.

It begins with harvesting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, typically by hand to preserve quality. The grapes are gently pressed, and the first fermentation produces a still, acidic base wine. Next, winemakers blend different base wines, often from multiple years, to ensure consistency and balance.

The liqueur de tirage, a mixture of yeast and sugar, is then added before bottling, initiating the second fermentation inside the bottle. This process creates carbon dioxide, forming Champagne’s fine bubbles. The bottles are stored horizontally for aging on lees (dead yeast cells), which enhances texture and flavor.

After aging, bottles undergo riddling, where they are gradually tilted and rotated to collect sediment in the neck. The disgorgement step removes this sediment, and a dosage (a mixture of wine and sugar) is added to adjust sweetness levels. Finally, the bottle is corked, labeled, and aged further before release.

This complex process, unique to Champagne, results in a sparkling wine of exceptional elegance, celebrated worldwide for its finesse, depth, and vivacity.

Vineyards and Grape Varieties

Our Michel Foch Champagnes have been produced from the Champagne region of France, which has specialized in perfecting winegrowing and the méthode champenoise process for the last 300 years.

Michel Foch Champagnes utilize the three classic grape varieties of Champagne:

• Pinot Noir – Pinot Noir is mostly planted on the slopes of the Montagne de Reims, located between Epernay and Reims.
• Chardonnay – This white grape variety is grown in the Côte de Blancs, located south of Epernay as well as the Montagne de Reims.
• Pinot Meunier – Cultivated in the western part of the Marne Valley.

Our wines are sourced throughout the Champagne region, including the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, and were cellared, aged, and produced to our specifications in Reims, France.

Vineyards and Grape Varieties

Our five Michel Foch Champagnes have been produced from the Champagne region of France, which has specialized in perfecting winegrowing and the méthode champenoise process for the last 300 years.

Michel Foch Champagnes utilize the three classic grape varieties of Champagne:

• Pinot Noir – Pinot Noir is mostly planted on the slopes of the Montagne de Reims, located between Epernay and Reims.
• Chardonnay – This white grape variety is grown in the Côte de Blancs, located south of Epernay as well as the Montagne de Reims.
• Pinot Meunier – Cultivated in the western part of the Marne Valley.

Our wines are sourced throughout the Champagne region, including the Cotes des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, and were cellared, aged, and produced to our specifications in Reims, France.