Champagne Pierre Launay
The Pierre Launay Champagne House is a family property founded in 1967 by Pierre Launay. It is located at Barbonne-Fayel in the Sézannais, in the south of the Côte des Blancs. The vineyard currently covers 14 hectares divided between Barbonne Fayel, Broyes and Loches-sur-Ource (Côte des Bar).
“My family came to Barbonne-Fayel in 1920. In the 60’s viticulture around the village came back into fashion spurred in particular by many Epernay winemakers who were looking for land to plant. Following the phylloxera crisis many farmers in the region, like my grandfather, did not want to hear about vines. He was a grain farmer and a breeder.
In 1967 when my father announced that he wanted to plant vines on the family estate he did not believe in his project. He agreed to cede some land but refused to help in the work of the vines. He learned the trade from the village elder. Over the years he found other plots to buy or to rent
In 1968 he bought the first strattle tractor in the village. Subsequently many winemakers of the region came to ask him to work for them with this machine. He was a pioneer in many things in 1972 he acquired his first press.
In 1973 he began his first vintage bottled. ” (Laurent Launay)
Focus on Laurent Launay, co-owner of the House of Champagne Pierre Launay
“I was born here but I have not always worked on the family property. For a long time I was attracted to another sector; IT.
I studied computer science and I worked in this sector for some large companies such as TF1 (French TV Chanel). In 2005, after several years in Paris I realized that I was missing the family property. So I decided to return there to work. I learned the trade on the job thanks to the advice of my brothers, my father and by reading.
Currently I am working on the property with my two brothers. I take care of all the marketing part, exporting and administrative work. Jerome (one of my brothers) manages the vines and Lionel (the second brother) manages pressings and winemaking.” (Laurent Launay)
If you had to describe your passion for Champagne in a few words, what would you say?
“First of all the word ‘passion’ although initially I was not into this work. I would also say it is a ‘festive product’. This is the image of Champagne! ” (Laurent Launay)
What is the notable about Champagne Pierre Launay ? What is special about your wines?
“These are very correct Champagnes, very fine with perfectly adapted dosages. We work a lot on dosages. We want our dosed Champagnes at their correct values. Each vintage should have it’s own. In principle they are not very heavy. On average it is 8 grams/liter with some vintages at 7/6 gr.
The soil is also an important concept for us. Our Champagne reflect its terroir (mainly limestone chalk and some clays).
At harvest time we wait for the correct sugars. But it is not too favorable to push ripeness. It is preferred to harvest at 9.5 percent potential alcohol to keep good acidity. We want our Champagnes have a nice acid frame, ensuring good structure and good aging potential. ” (Laurent Launay)
side project
“We are interested in the sustainable viticulture guidelines set up by the Union of Champagne wines. It would be certified because here we always practice_ what is recommended. We take care of our soil, biodiversity and people who work here. We do not use chemical fertilizers but only organic fertilizers. Our plots are 50% grass. The only thing that’s left to do is administrative procedures.” (Laurent Launay)
Anecdote side
La Maison Pierre Launay, combined with 11 other producers based on the Coteaux du Sézannais created in 2014 the association “Secraie“.
The name of this association is born from a play on words between “Secret” (it will be soon …) and “chalk” important component of Local Sézannais soil.
“We created this association to promote our wines and our terroirs that produce a racy Chardonnay, different from those found on the Côte des Blancs. ”
Thanks to Laurent Launay for his welcome
Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan
Champagne Pierre Launay
11 rue Saint Antoine,
51120 Barbonne-Fayel (France)
+33(0)3 26 80 20 03
