Avize

Grand Cru commune · Côte des Blancs

Avize is one of the 17 Grand Cru communes of the Champagne AOC and lies in the Côte des Blancs.1,2 Its 266.00 ha of vines are almost entirely Chardonnay (265.80 ha).2

Location

Avize lies in the Côte des Blancs. The Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC) places it in the Côte des Blancs sub-zone proper.2 This narrower Côte des Blancs sub-zone counts 10 villages, 2,357 operators and 3,190.50 ha of vines, 97.22% of them Chardonnay.4 The Côte des Blancs is a chalk-covered ridge that runs from north-east to south-west, at right angles to the Marne Valley, along the edge of the Brie plateau for 10-15 km.4 The UMC village sheet places Avize at the heart of the Côte des Blancs.2

Vineyard

The UMC village sheet lists 298 operators working 266.00 ha of vines in Avize (reference year not stated).2 Part of the vines belongs to the vineyards of 6 Champagne houses: Louis Massing, Louis Roederer, Moët & Chandon, Mumm & Cie, Perrier Jouët and Veuve Clicquot.2

VarietyArea, ha
Chardonnay265.80
Pinot Noir0.10
Other varieties0.10
Total266.00

History and heritage

The village sheet traces Avize to prehistory: its standing stone, the "Haute Borne", has been a listed historic monument since 1887. Gauls and Romans later set up observation camps here. In the Middle Ages the town had ramparts to the north and south; they were destroyed on the orders of the Comte de l'Héry, lord of Avize, to punish inhabitants who refused to pay feudal dues. Prosperity came later with Champagne.2

Grand cru status

The Champagne specification lists Avize among the 17 Marne communes whose wines may carry "grand cru" and also "premier cru"; 42 further communes may use "premier cru" only.1 Under the échelle des crus, "grand cru" meant vineyards rated 100% and "premier cru" vineyards rated 90-99%.3 The mention is not a separate appellation: the general Champagne rules apply, including at least 15 months from tirage before release and 36 months for vintage wines.1

See also

ChampagneRegionsCôte des BlancsRegionsgrand cruGlossaryéchelle des crusGlossaryChardonnayGrapesBlanc de blancsStylesChampagne label codes: NM, RM, CM, RC, SR, ND, MAStyles

Sources

  1. Cahier des charges de l'AOP « Champagne » - modifications approved by the INAO national committee on 11 September 2024 (national opposition procedure text) (2024-09-11)
  2. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Village sheet: Avize (region, terroir, agricultural holding by variety, heritage)
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Labeling
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). The Côte des Blancs (geographical area, sub-zone table)

Facts checked on 2026-10-20