Verzenay

Grand Cru commune · Montagne de Reims

Verzenay is one of the 17 Grand Cru communes of the Champagne AOC and lies in the Montagne de Reims.1,2 Its 418.40 ha of vines are mostly Pinot Noir (363.00 ha).2

Location

Verzenay lies in the Montagne de Reims. The Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC) places it in the Grande Montagne de Reims sub-zone.2 That sub-zone counts 21 villages, 2,007 operators and 4,040.50 ha of vines: 56.37% Pinot Noir, 30.55% Chardonnay and 12.96% Meunier.4 Vines in the Montagne de Reims are planted mostly with Pinot Noir, in a large semicircle from Louvois to Villers-Allerand.4 The UMC names Verzenay, Mailly and Verzy as the villages along the edge of the plain of Reims.4 Verzenay is a hillside village covered with vines, with forest on its southern part.2

Vineyard

The UMC village sheet lists 201 operators working 418.40 ha of vines in Verzenay (reference year not stated).2 Part of the vines belongs to the vineyards of 7 Champagne houses: Billecart-Salmon, Bollinger, Louis Roederer, Moët & Chandon, Mumm & Cie, Perrier Jouët and Veuve Clicquot.2

VarietyArea, ha
Chardonnay52.70
Pinot Noir363.00
Meunier2.50
Other varieties0.20
Total418.40

History and heritage

The Moulin de Verzenay (1818) was built on Mont-Bœuf by the Tinot-Vincent couple to grind two kinds of grain at once; it is a listed historic monument owned by G.H. Mumm. The Phare de Verzenay, a lighthouse among the vines, dates from 1909 and was conceived by Joseph Goulet, son of Modeste Goulet.2

Grand cru status

The Champagne specification lists Verzenay 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

ChampagneRegionsMontagne de ReimsRegionsgrand 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: Verzenay (region, terroir, agricultural holding by variety, heritage)
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Labeling
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). The Montagne de Reims (geographical area, sub-zone table)

Facts checked on 2026-10-20