The family estate
Champagne of the winegrower's kind
Our ancesters were winegrowers in Bouzy for decades before us, they cultivated the vines and sold the grapes.
In 1930, Alfred Tritant, a precursor in his time, decided to produce his own wines and sell them directly. He then became a "Récoltant-Manipulant", namely a wine producer harvesting his own grapes. He would go through each stage of champagne making himself, from vineyard cultivation to bottling. And so the brand Alfred Tritant was created.
His daughter, Dominique Weber-Tritant, also dedicated her life to wine making.
She first worked with her father, then with her sister too, then alone finally, attached just as much to her vines and wines as to her clients. If you pay us a visit, she will passionately tell you about her profession.
In 2000, Jean-Luc Weber-Tritant followed in his mother's and grandfather's traditional steps while adapting to the new realities of the profession.
Our champagne family estate produces a range of Grand Cru champagnes which has been earning recognition since 1935, the year when we obtained our first award.
Since then, our champagnes have continuously been receiving awards.
You will find the medals won by the wines currently on sale on the wines presentation sheets.
We also produce a gentle kind of red wine, called Bouzy Rouge, in the greatest respect of quality traditions. This AOC Coteau Champenois is made from Pinot Noir grapes selected from old vines from our best parcels in Bouzy, solely half way up the slopes, so as to develop a more intense aroma.
Bouzy, a Grand Cru terroir
It is here in Bouzy, in this typical village of the Champagne region, that we formed our family estate over the years. Bouzy is located on the South slopes of Montagne de Reims, east of Epernay, on an exceptional terroir.
Bouzy is part of the few Champagne terroirs classified as Grand Cru. Indeed, out of 319 Champagne crus, only 17 have the coveted Grand Cru appellation. Recognized for the quality of their soil, and the specificity of their climate conditions, these villages benefit from exceptional conditions for the growth of the champagne grape varieties.
Today, we farm 2.95 ha (= 7.29 acres) of vineyards, mostly located in the village area of Bouzy. The other few vines are in Ambonnay, a village also classified as Grand Cru, which runs into Bouzy.
The history of Bouzy
In the 6th century, Count Attila, lord of Pagus, donated the land of Bouzy to Saint Basolus.
The reputation of the wine harvested on these slopes quickly reached the other side of the Montagne de Reims.
The best Bouzy wines were served at all banquets held for the Coronation of the Kings of France in Reims. It is however during the reign of King Louis XIV that Bouzy gained the renown it has today.
The first champagnes were sold under the name of their growth of origin, and under the appellations "le grand vin du trésor de Bouzy", "la fine fleur de Bouzy", etc.
The industrial revolution did not spare the Champagne region, and so these marks disappeared to the "cru" appellations.
It is during the Great Champagne crisis of 1930 that the name Bouzy reappeared on a label, but this time, vinified and commercialised by the winegrowers.
The noble "cépages" of Champagne
Bouzy is classified as one of the best crus, both for the cultivation of Pinot noir as for Chardonnay - the two grapes we grow exclusively.
Pinot noir is a black grape with white flesh and benefits fully from the terroir of Montagne de Reims, where it expresses all its strength and develops a very fruity aroma.
As for Chardonnay, it expresses freshness especially, as well as a surprising capacity to age.
One third of our vineyards is planted with chardonnay, and two thirds are Pinot noir, both enabling us to elaborate blend cuvées, in which the fruity flavour of the Pinot noir is brought together with the freshness of the white grapes.
Our vineyards are more than 40 years old on average. This significant lifespan is sustained by the family with the goal of good quality, and of keeping harvest yield under control.