Avenay-Val-d'Or

Avenay-Val-d'Or lies on the southern slope of the Montagne de Reims, in the valley carved by the Livre, 7 km northeast of Épernay and 21 km from Reims, within the Montagne de Reims regional nature park. The land rises from 73 meters at the confluence of the Livre and the Marne to 256 meters on the wooded plateau; southeast of the valley, chalk hills such as Mont Aigu (210 m) overlook the Champagne crayeuse. The vineyards, covering 236.3 ha and tended by 174 winegrowers according to the UMC, lie between 104 and 170 meters, on steep slopes (average gradient 12%) facing mainly east and southeast.

Pinot Noir covers 78% of the vineyard and produces wines with body and structure; it is followed by Chardonnay (12%) and Meunier (10%). Avenay is Premier Cru, rated 93% on the échelle des crus: in 1816, André Jullien placed its red wines in the third class, and in the cru ranking the village rose from 80 to 85% in 1920. According to the UMC, Bollinger, Henriot, Moët & Chandon, Mumm, Philipponnat and Veuve Clicquot have vineyards in the commune.

The town's history is linked to the abbey of Saint-Pierre, founded around 660 by Saint Berthe and Saint Gombert and destroyed during the Revolution; there was a Roman camp on Mont Aigu, the «camp de César». The 13th-century church of Saint-Trésain is a historic monument. The commune was called Avenay: the name Avenay-Val-d'Or, chosen to distinguish it from the village of the same name in Calvados, has been in use since 1951.

Below are the Champagne wines available from STELT that include grapes from Avenay-Val-d'Or; the village is shown on the Champagne map, between Mutigny and Bisseuil.