Vincelles

Vincelles lies on the right bank of the Marne, opposite Dormans, on the border with Aisne: it is the westernmost village on the right bank in the Marne department, 24 km west of Épernay and 18 km from Château-Thierry, in the Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite terroir. The village, at 75 to 100 meters, lies between the river and the vine-covered slopes; above, the Tardenois plateau, over 200 meters, is wooded. The name, recorded as Vincella in 886, comes, according to Auguste Longnon, from vini cella, “wine cellar.”

According to the UMC, vineyards cover 150.7 ha and are tended by 76 winegrowers: Meunier 70%, Chardonnay 17%, Pinot Noir 13%. Vincelles is among the “other crus” of Champagne, without Grand Cru or Premier Cru designation; in 1816, André Jullien placed its reds in the fourth class. The village is among the oldest in the canton of Dormans and was part of the pagus of Omois; the 1575 Battle of Dormans took place partly on its territory. Destroyed in the 1918 Battle of Château-Thierry, it received the Croix de guerre in 1921. The church is dedicated to Saint-Timothée.

Below are the Champagne wines from Vincelles available from STELT, including wines by Jérôme Blin, who is based in the village, and a single-vineyard cuvée; the location is on the map of Champagne, next to Verneuil.