Verzenay

Verzenay lies on the northern slope of the Montagne de Reims, 12.5 km southeast of Reims, between Mailly-Champagne and Verzy, in the terroir that the UMC calls Grande Montagne de Reims: a village halfway up the slope, surrounded by vineyards except to the south, where the forest crowns it. Its inhabitants are called «Bouquins», after the bouquet of flowers that accompanied payment of the tax to the lord in the Middle Ages.

The vineyard is extensive: 418.4 ha and 201 winegrowers. The plots rise from 108 to 195 meters, with an average slope of 7%, and face north, northeast, and northwest. Pinot Noir covers 87%, Chardonnay 13%, and Meunier less than 1%: according to the Comité Champagne, the Montagne’s dominant grape variety produces full-bodied, structured wines. L'UMC lists vineyards belonging to Billecart-Salmon, Bollinger, Louis Roederer, Moët & Chandon, Mumm & Cie, Perrier Jouët, and Veuve Clicquot.

In 1718, Jean Godinot included it among the «vins de Montagne», and in 1816 André Jullien placed its reds in the first class. In the first échelle des crus, in 1911, it was among the 11 cru rated 100%, for black grapes only; the regulations confirm its status as Grand Cru. Among the rows of vines stand the 1818 windmill on Mont-Bœuf, a historic monument and an observation post during the two world wars, and the 1909 lighthouse, built for advertising purposes by wine merchant Joseph Goulet: since 1999, it has housed the Vineyard Museum. The First World War was devastating: 257 bombardments, 95 ha of vineyards destroyed, and only four houses left intact.

The Champagne wines from STELT that also come from vineyards in Verzenay are listed below; the village is marked on the Champagne map.