House in Avize
Champagne De Sousa et Fils is based in Avize in the Côte des Blancs, in Champagne in France. The family business was founded in the early 1950s. The family has Portuguese origins; the current generation represents the third generation of the winery in Avize.
Vineyards and cultivation
The estate cultivates around ten hectares of vine in Grand-Cru sites such as Avize, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. For Pinot Noir, additional sources of grapes come from Aÿ and Ambonnay. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are grown. The vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically; since 2010 they have been certified for organic farming and since 2013 with Demeter certification. Part of the areas are worked with draught horses to reduce soil compaction.
Old vines and maturation
The estate preserves old vine plots; part of the vines are more than 50 years old, and three quarters of the vineyard area is older than 45 years. Since 1995, wines from old vines have been vinified in small oak barrels. The terroir in Avize used for the cuvée 3A is described as Grand-Cru chalk with belemnite fossils.
Cuvées
The multi-year Brut Tradition consists of 50 per cent Chardonnay, 40 per cent Pinot Noir and 10 per cent Pinot Meunier. The Brut Rosé is composed of 90 per cent Chardonnay and 10 per cent Pinot Noir; the Chardonnay comes from Grauves, and the Pinot Noir from Aÿ. The Cuvée des Caudalies is a single-varietal Chardonnay as a Blanc de Blancs made from vines over 60 years old and is matured entirely in oak barrels. Since 1995, 50 per cent new wines are added to a Perpetual Reserve. The Cuvée des Caudalies Rosé also contains 90 per cent Chardonnay and 10 per cent Pinot Noir; the Chardonnay ripens for six months with regular bâtonnage in small barrels, while the Pinot Noir remains for one year in a five-wine barrel.
