Location and landscape
Vandières is a commune in the French department of Marne in the Grand Est region and belongs to the arrondissement of Épernay. It lies between Dormans and Épernay, near Châtillon-sur-Marne and Mareuil-le-Port, in the wine-growing region Champagne.
Marne valley and geology
The commune area belongs to the landscape unit of the slopes of the Marne valley and includes a plateau, wooded areas, vineyards and the river landscape of the Marne. Key waterways include the streams Brandouille and Vandières. Two former gravel and sand quarry sites in the Marne valley were shut down in 1993 and 1997 respectively.
Climate and winegrowing
The Champagne wine-growing region has a temperate oceanic climate with continental influences. The average annual temperature is about 10.4 °C, and annual precipitation is around 650 to 750 millimetres. Vandières is part of the official commune area of the AOC Champagne; the local land-use plan lists vineyards as a characteristic feature of the slopes of the Marne valley and provides regulations for the protection of agricultural and viticultural areas.
Champagne production
For the AOC Champagne, among others, Arbane, Chardonnay, Meunier, Petit Meslier, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris and Pinot noir are permitted; Voltis is listed as a variety of interest for adaptation. Sparkling wines are produced through a second fermentation in the bottle. The AOC rules include, among other things, hand harvesting, specified yields and pressing yields, as well as permitted vine pruning forms. A local producer is Champagne Nowack, a wine-growing estate with a press house and cellar visits, in which disgorging is also presented.
