Location and landscape
Balnot-sur-Laignes is a commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of France. The commune, which covers an area of around 10.1 km², lies at an elevation between 195 and 280 metres and belongs to Champagne.
Vine growing in the Côte des Bars
The winery Champagne Gremillet is located in Balnot-sur-Laignes in the Côte des Bars. Its vineyards comprise 48 hectares and extend over steep, sunny slopes. The soils consist of limestone with clayey marl and are described as Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soil.
Grape varieties and wine style
Around 85 percent of the winery’s vineyard area is planted with Pinot Noir, and the rest with Chardonnay. The sunny sites and the Pinot Noir are associated with powerful, fruit-forward wines, while Chardonnay stands for finesse and freshness.
Champagne and local history
Wines from Balnot-sur-Laignes are subject to the requirements of the Champagne AOC, including bottle fermentation, regulated yields and vine-pruning methods. The prescribed cellar ageing is at least 15 months for non-vintage wines and 36 months for vintage wines. During the French Revolution, the commune, which at the time was called Balnot-le-Châtel or Balnot-le-Croc, changed its name to Balnot-sur-Laigne.
