Ay

Grand Cru commune · Vallée de la Marne

Ay is one of the 17 Grand Cru communes of the Champagne AOC and lies in the Vallée de la Marne.1,2 Its 356.10 ha of vines are mostly Pinot Noir (316.10 ha).2

Location

Ay lies in the Vallée de la Marne. The Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC) places it in the Grande Vallée de la Marne sub-zone.2 That sub-zone counts 12 villages, 1,186 operators and 1,940.70 ha of vines: 64.77% Pinot Noir, 20.33% Chardonnay and 14.76% Meunier.5 In the Marne Valley the vineyards lie mainly on the right bank of the river, facing south and south-east.5 Today Ay is a commune déléguée of Aÿ-Champagne, together with Bisseuil and Mareuil-sur-Ay.3 The Champagne specification still lists the grand cru by its old name, Ay.1

Vineyard

The UMC village sheet lists 221 operators working 356.10 ha of vines in Ay (reference year not stated).2 Part of the vines belongs to the vineyards of 16 Champagne houses: Ayala, Billecart-Salmon, Bollinger, Deutz, Duval-Leroy, Henri Giraud, Jacquesson, Krug, Lallier, Louis Roederer, Moët & Chandon, Mumm & Cie, Perrier Jouët, Philipponnat, Thiénot and Veuve Clicquot.2

VarietyArea, ha
Chardonnay29.60
Pinot Noir316.10
Meunier9.80
Other varieties0.60
Total356.10

History and heritage

The historic hillsides of Hautvillers, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ form one of the three components of "Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars", on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2015.6 The inscribed hillsides run from Cumières to Mareuil-sur-Aÿ; the houses Bollinger, Ayala, Deutz and Collet are based in Aÿ.7

Aÿ was the centre of the winegrowers' revolt of 1911; several Champagne houses on the Boulevard du Nord were set on fire.8 The Coopérative Générale des Vignerons (COGEVI), founded in 1921, is the oldest Champagne cooperative still operating; in 1929 it settled at the corner of Rue Jeanson and Boulevard du Nord.8

Grand cru status

The Champagne specification lists Ay 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%.4 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

ChampagneRegionsVallée de la MarneRegionsgrand cruGlossaryéchelle des crusGlossaryPinot NoirGrapesBlanc de noirsStylesChampagne 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: Aÿ (Ay) (region, terroir, agricultural holding by variety, heritage)
  3. API Découpage administratif (geo.api.gouv.fr, French government, COG INSEE data). Communes associées et déléguées: Ay, Bisseuil, Mareuil-sur-Ay (chef-lieu 51030 Aÿ-Champagne); Louvois (chef-lieu 51564 Val de Livre); Oger (chef-lieu 51612 Blancs-Coteaux)
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Labeling
  5. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). The Marne Valley (geographical area, sub-zone table)
  6. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars (World Heritage List no. 1465) (2015)
  7. Mission Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne: Patrimoine mondial. The Historic Hillsides
  8. Mission Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne: Patrimoine mondial. The town at the heart of the vineyards and the history of Champagne (Aÿ)

Facts checked on 2026-10-20