Aurélien Gerbais, a 4th generation winemaker of Champagne Pierre Gerbais, spearheads this small, artisanal Domaine located in the village of Celles-sur-Ource in the Côte des Bar. Being the southernmost vignoble of the four main growing regions of the Champagne. Here, the soil is clay and limestone, which is preferential for Pinot Noir growth; in contrast, northern Champagne generally has chalky soils in which Chardonnay and Meunier dominate. In the river valley village of Celles-sur-Ource particularly, Pinot Blanc (one of the four grape varieties of the Champagne) is cultivated due to its resistance to humidity and spring frosts, and it is the precise, original, and masterful expression of this heirloom variety that situates Champagne Pierre Gerbais as pioneers of this exciting region.
The Domaine has a total of 20 plots across 17.5ha, composed of 50% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Blanc. Within the region, the family holds both the greatest share of Pinot Blanc, with over 4ha of vines, as well as the oldest Pinot Blanc vines, on a plot called Les Proies, planted in 1904. Aurélien, continues to uphold his forefather’s revolutionary vision of innovation and excellence while making his own indelible mark - A focus on precise, sustainable, and qualitative winemaking to reflect the unique terroir. Half of the Domaine’s cuvées are made without added sulphites, and, each year, Aurélien releases a special experimental cuvée dedicated to enriching knowledge and creating novel experiences through unique varietal expression.
With the acquisition of a new wine cellar in 2017, Aurélien and his partner, Audrey, released five new single-parcel cuvées in 2021—most of which have never been seen before in isolation—along with an update to the estate’s label design. Gilded and textural, the beautifully drawn labels are based on maps and soil, zooming in on terroir to capture imagination—and each is a treasure map inviting exploration. The quality of the cuvées is unmistakeable, reflecting Aurélien and Audrey’s constant pursuit of individuality and improvement—a signature attribute that continues to place the Gerbais family ahead of their contemporaries.
