Location and History
Champagne Antoine Chevalier is based in Vitry-en-Perthois in the Champagne, France. According to the winery, the family history of viticulture goes back to 1925, when Guy Chevalier planted vines on the chalky slopes of Vitry-en-Perthois. Antoine Chevalier returned to the family business in 2014 and began developing wines in the winery’s own cellar after building a cuverie and an ageing cellar.
Vineyard Holdings and Soils
The total 2.5 hectares of vineyard lie in Vitry-en-Perthois, Couvrot and Val-de-Vière in the Coteaux Vitryats. They are situated on slopes facing south to south-southeast. The soils are predominantly chalk from the Middle and Upper Turonian. The parcel Le Jardin de Meunier has, at the upper part, white exposed chalk from the Upper Turonian, and further down grey-white chalk from the Middle Turonian.
Cultivation and Ageing
The winery cultivates exclusively Chardonnay. Since 2014, no herbicides have been used; the entire vineyard is farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles. Documented work includes soil cultivation, biodynamic preparations, plant infusions and decoctions, as well as scheduling in line with the lunar calendar. French AB certification has been in place since 2020, the year of the first certified organic harvest.
The wines are vinified in traditional tanks, ceramic vessels and wooden barrels, and aged on the lees without fining or filtration. Before bottling, they undergo ten months of ageing; afterwards, the wines mature in the cellar for at least 36 months and remain there for a further six months after disgorging.
Wines and Carkonnia
The range includes Champagne, Coteaux Champenois and Ratafia Champenois. The winery’s Champagne wines are parcel-based, vintage-marked Blanc de Blancs made from Chardonnay. Carkonnia 2020 is a vintage Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut with 12.5% alcohol by volume. The wine comes from the one-hectare parcel Le Jardin de Meunier in Vitry-en-Perthois, planted in 1973, which is oriented south-southeast at an altitude of 158 to 180 metres and is planted entirely with Chardonnay from Massal selection.
