It’s all in the name at Billecart-Salmon, the Champagne house founded in 1818 by newlyweds Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. Originally assisted by her oenologist brother, the couple passed the legacy on and, despite the tumults of history, it is continued today by seventh generation Mathieu.
The family is most proud of its pristine garden surrounding the main house in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, both of which were redesigned in the 1920s, but there is plenty to be seen both underground and out in the vineyards, too. Not least the enclosed ‘Clos Saint Hilaire,’ a prestigious one-hectare plot planted purely to Pinot Noir that produces its own, hugely sought-after Blanc de Noirs cuvée (each bottle is numbered individually). This patch epitomises Billecart-Salmon’s commitment to environmental sustainability and, with most of their practices now certified as organic or sustainable, they hope to attain certification for 100% of their land by 2025. This attentiveness to terroirs also helps to produce the pure and graceful wines for which the house has become known.