Wine · Vertus, Champagne
Larmandier-Bernier
Biodynamic, chalk-driven grower Champagne from a family estate in Vertus.
- Founded
- 1971
- Founded by
- Philippe Larmandier, Elisabeth Bernier
- Based in
- Vertus, Champagne
Making it since
1971
Their story
Champagne Larmandier-Bernier is a family house in Vertus, at the southern end of the Côte des Blancs. The Larmandier and Bernier families have tended vines in the area since the 18th century, and in 1971 Philippe Larmandier and his wife Elisabeth Bernier joined their holdings and built a cellar in the village.
Their son Pierre and his wife Sophie took over in 1988 and steadily changed how the estate worked: no herbicides from 1992, full biodynamic farming and native yeasts from 1999. Their sons Arthur and Georges joined in 2017 and 2021, and the family keeps adding cellar space so the wines can age longer.
How it's made
The family farms about 19 hectares, mostly Chardonnay, across Grand Cru sites in Cramant, Avize and Oger and Premier Cru land in Vertus, and buys no outside grapes. Fermentations rely on native yeasts, the wines rest on their lees in casks and large foudres, and they are bottled unfined and unfiltered with little or no dosage.
Why we carry them
We reach for Larmandier-Bernier when we want Champagne that tastes of chalk and place rather than a house style. It is a great introduction to grower Champagne and a fine partner for oysters or a simple roast chicken.
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