Far from Reims and Épernay, the Côte des Bar reveals a vineyard of character. Discover why the Champagne houses in Aube are worth the detour.

The essentials

  • Aube is home to the Côte des Bar, the second largest Champagne vineyard by planted area, in the south of the region.
  • Its clay-limestone terroir gives Pinot Noir a dominant place, very different from the vineyards of the Marne.
  • Champagne Philippe Fourrier has been established in Baroville since 1847, over five generations.

The Côte des Bar, the Champagne vineyard of Aube

When we think of Champagne, we often imagine Marne, Reims or Épernay. However, Aube accounts for a significant share of the Champagne vineyards: the Côte des Bar, to the south of the appellation, around a hundred kilometers from the big houses of Reims and Épernay. It is a unique region, less known to the general public, and supported by a great diversity of winegrowers, cooperatives and négociant-manipulants.

A terroir of Pinot Noir

The soil of the Côte des Bar is clay-limestone, geologically closer to neighboring Burgundy than to the chalky terroirs of the Marne. This difference in soil, combined with a slightly more continental climate, favors Pinot Noir, which finds particularly favorable conditions there. It is for this reason that the vast majority of Aube winegrowers produce Champagnes in which this grape variety largely dominates, providing structure, red fruit and generosity on the palate.

Traditional winegrowing village surrounded by vineyards in the Côte des Bar, Champagne Philippe Fourrier

Baroville, winegrowing village of the Côte des Bar

At the heart of this Côte des Bar is Baroville, a winegrowers’ village where several family estates have been cultivating their own vines for generations. This is where Champagne Philippe Fourrier was founded in 1847. Now led by the fifth generation, the family cultivates 25 hectares of vines on the hillsides of the village, facing south and southwest, bringing together Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and the very rare Pinot Blanc.

Visit a Champagne house in Aube

Discovering a Côte des Bar estate means meeting those who know the vineyard and craft their cuvées on site. It is also an opportunity to taste Champagnes where Pinot Noir is fully expressed and to understand the diversity of the region’s blends. Champagne Philippe Fourrier welcomes visitors in Baroville for an estate tour and a tasting of its cuvées, to be found on our Champagne range. To organize your visit, contact us.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Champagne in Aube?

There is no universal answer: each Côte des Bar estate expresses its terroir and its style through its cuvées. The best choice depends above all on individual tastes, the desired style, the grape varieties and the expression of the Pinot Noir in the region.

Where can you visit a Champagne house in Aube?

Many Côte des Bar estates, including Baroville, welcome visitors for a vineyard tour and tasting, usually by appointment. This is the case of Champagne Philippe Fourrier, who welcomes guests to the estate all year round.