A Sulfite-Free Champagne: Is It Possible?

The Champagne house Béatrix de Gimbres proved it with their first sulfite-free cuvée in 2019. Behind this complex technical feat is Béatrice Fagot’s son, who has been working alongside her for the past two years. Drawing inspiration from his mother’s commitment to close connection with the terroir, Barthélemy Fagot pushes this practice further each year. Aiming to add only minimal products to allow the "true" nature of the wine to shine through, he focuses daily on the meticulous care required for each task. His goal: to find the perfect balance necessary for crafting such sensitive cuvées. The house of Béatrix de Gimbres is nestled in the heart of the rolling landscape of the Montagne de Reims.

The Story of the Estate

Since the mid-19th century, the house has devotedly cultivated 70 Premier Cru parcels around the village of Rilly-la-Montagne. Béatrice Fagot has been working the vines for over 30 years, alongside her husband Hubert Fagot. Naturally, their son Barthélemy fell in love with wine and its terroir. Certified HVE-VDC, they share a common vision: to produce a Champagne of terroir.

Increasingly focused on this direction, Barthélemy aims to reduce the use of products and employ organic solutions. Aware that a wine without additives or sulfites is more delicate, he uses specialized pumps to handle the wine gently and takes renewed pleasure every day in the tasks of both the vineyard and the cellar.

Transforming Terroir into Emotions

When asked about his motivation and desire to push the boundaries, Barthélemy answered simply: why need motivation when you love what you do? From vine pruning to vinification, he enjoys living with the vine, and each task inspires him to get up in the morning. For him and his mother, Champagne is fundamentally a reflection of terroir, and they seek to honor the rhythm of this terroir and elevate its taste.

Champagne is, above all, an integral part of the French art of living, and their motto is that tasting a terroir is sharing an emotion.

For them, Champagne embodies celebration, a sparkling spirit, and sharing that should highlight the terroir.

The house of Béatrix de Gimbres is committed to sustainable viticulture in Champagne. Discover their cuvées on Avenuedesvins and experience a terroir with minimal additives.