Venoge, Champagne de
Summary
Founded in 1837 and based in Épernay, Champagne de Venoge is a historic house under the Lanson-BCC Group that sources high-quality grapes primarily from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. The house distinguishes itself through extended aging practices—with non-vintage cuvées maturing for at least 36 months—and a portfolio anchored by its Cordon Bleu Brut and distinctive carafe-bottled Princes series that balances traditional methods with thoughtful modern techniques.
Heritage & Leadership
Champagne de Venoge was established in 1837 by Henri-Marc de Venoge, a Swiss national from the canton of Vaud who settled in Champagne to pursue his passion for winemaking. The house takes its name from its founder and has maintained its presence in Épernay for over 180 years. Following its founding, the house gained recognition when it received a royal warrant from the King of Prussia in 1845, marking an early milestone in its commercial development.
The house changed hands several times throughout its history, with a significant transition occurring in 2006 when it became part of the Lanson-BCC Group, the second-largest Champagne group by volume. This acquisition provided de Venoge with additional resources while maintaining its distinct identity within the portfolio. The house operates from its headquarters in Épernay, situated on the Avenue de Champagne, where it maintains both production facilities and a visitor center in a historic mansion known as "Les Cordeliers."
Under the Lanson-BCC ownership, de Venoge has maintained its focus on quality-driven production while benefiting from the group's distribution network. The house is currently led by CEO Gilles de la Bassetière, who oversees both business operations and strategic direction, working alongside a dedicated winemaking team responsible for maintaining the house's distinctive style.
Vineyards & Wines
De Venoge sources grapes from vineyards across Champagne's key growing areas, with particular emphasis on Grand Cru and Premier Cru designated villages. While the house does not own extensive vineyard holdings, it maintains long-term contracts with growers primarily in the Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne subregions, ensuring access to high-quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
The house produces a range of cuvées, with its flagship line being the "Princes" series, presented in distinctive carafe-shaped bottles inspired by a design first used by the house in the 19th century. This collection includes Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay), Blanc de Noirs (100% Pinot Noir), and Rosé expressions. The Louis XV cuvée represents the house's prestige offering, produced only in exceptional vintages from a selection of Grand Cru vineyards.
De Venoge's non-vintage Cordon Bleu Brut serves as the foundation of the range, typically composed of approximately 50% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 25% Pinot Meunier. The house also produces a Blanc de Blancs from Côte des Blancs Chardonnay and a Brut Millésimé (vintage) champagne in years deemed worthy of a dated release. Each wine undergoes extended aging in the house's cellars in Épernay, with non-vintage cuvées typically matured for a minimum of 36 months, exceeding the region's legal requirement.
Philosophy & Practice
De Venoge adheres to traditional Champagne production methods while incorporating modern techniques where beneficial to quality. The house follows a philosophy centered on extended aging, with all wines receiving significantly more time on lees than the minimum required by appellation regulations. This extended maturation contributes to the development of complex tertiary aromas and a refined texture in the finished wines.
In the cellar, de Venoge employs a combination of stainless steel tanks and oak barrels for the vinification process, with fermentation temperatures carefully controlled to preserve aromatic freshness. The house maintains a reserve wine program that allows for consistency in its non-vintage cuvées while reflecting the house style. Dosage levels are generally moderate, with a trend toward lower sugar additions in recent years to allow the base wines' character to show more prominently.
The distinctive carafe-shaped bottle used for the Princes range represents both a connection to the house's heritage and a practical design choice that provides a larger surface area for the wine to develop in bottle. This attention to detail extends to the disgorgement process, where the house includes disgorgement dates on its prestige cuvées to provide transparency about the wine's production timeline. While not certified organic or biodynamic, de Venoge works with growers who implement sustainable viticulture practices, focusing on reduced chemical interventions and responsible water management in the vineyards.