Crayère

French · chalk pit

A crayère is a chalk pit. According to some historians, many Champagne cellars began as Gallo-Roman or medieval crayères, refurbished and enlarged from the 18th century.1

The Gallo-Roman or medieval origin is a view held by some historians, as the Union des Maisons de Champagne puts it, not a documented fact for every cellar.1

Today these spaces serve as caves, where bottles lie sur lattes for the second fermentation and ageing on lees. Champagne cellars are kept at a steady 9-12 °C.2,1 See Champagne, ageing on lees and Champagne houses.

See also

CaveGlossaryChampagneRegionsWhen the Champagne houses were foundedHistoryAgeing on leesMethods

Sources

  1. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Second fermentation: capturing the sparkle
  2. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19