What is Coteaux Champenois?
It’s only Coteaux Champenois if it comes from the Champagne region of France. Otherwise, it’s just wine.
For most people, when they hear “Champagne,” they think of the world’s best sparkling wine. Or maybe their minds go to the well-worn meme that pokes fun at the geographical distinction between Champagne and other sparkling wines. But there’s another less talked about but equally intriguing style of wine that comes from Champagne. And unlike its more popular cousin, bubbles are not part of the appeal.
Coteaux Champenois is a French appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) that designates a finished still wine — red, white or, rarely, rosé — made in the Champagne region. Until recently, our producers have saved their Coteaux Champenois to enjoy in their own homes as an everyday table wine. Others also use small amounts of their Coteaux Champenois to blend with white wine in the making of rosé d’assemblage. But as the climate has warmed and producers have leaned deeper into sustainable systems, organic farming and biodynamic practices, their Coteaux Champenois has become better than ever.
(Above) Champagne is home to the world's best sparkling wine, but the region's skilled vignerons make still wine, too.
Coteaux Champenois isn’t new. In fact, still wine has been produced in Champagne since Roman times. It wasn’t until the 17th century with the evolution of the méthode champenois that the production of these still wines for mass consumption began to decline.
These still wines started to come back into fashion in the 20th century, and in 1974, Coteaux Champenois received its AOC designation. As part of the law, all seven of the Champagne grape varieties — chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier, arbane, petit meslier, pinot blanc and pinot gris — are allowed for making still red, white or rosé wine.
The village of Les Riceys in the southernmost Champagne subregion, Aube, has an AOC designated for the production of still rosé. That makes three AOCs for Les Riceys: Champagne, Coteaux Champenois and Rosé des Riceys.
Fatcork producers are among a growing group of grower-producers who are not only championing Coteaux Champenois beyond their front gates but they’re also offering the still style the kind of attention they typically reserve for their Champagne.
For example, with every vintage, visionary vigneron Arthur Lelièvre chooses a different plot from which to showcase his Coteaux Champenois. The goal is to create a blueprint for better understanding how still wine shows on his vineyards. It’s a process that will take nearly a decade, but for Arthur, the generational knowledge about each plot’s unmasked terroir expression will be worth it.
(Above) Vigneron Arthur Lelièvre explains how making a unique Coteaux Champenois from each of his plots will benefit the future of his family domaine.
While fatcork is and always be a Champagne-first operation, of course we’ve been intrigued by the growing attention paid to Coteaux Champenois. On a recent visit to Champagne, our team had the opportunity to taste some of our producer’s best Coteaux Champenois, and now, we’re excited to share it with customers like you.
“For fatcork to be able to import Coteaux Champenois speaks to the level of personal connection we have with our growers,” said Joseph Goguen, National Sales and Tasting Room Manager. “For these winemakers to trust us with showcasing and selling the wine they've historically reserved for their family is a huge deal and an unbelievable honor.”
Shop Jérôme Blin’s 100% organic Coteaux Champenois Blanc here, and be sure to tell us what you think!
