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The name Côte des Blancs (literally “side of white”) could allude to the white grapes that thrive here, but in fact it refers to the calcareous soil that characterises the otherwise diverse terroirs of the general area of the Côte des Blancs, Coteaux du Morin, Côte de Sézanne, Montgueux and Vitryat. The latter two subregions have a dedicated map, given their distance from the other three areas.
The Côte des Blancs includes 6 from the total of 17 grand cru villages in Champagne: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger and Oiry.
The wines of the Côte des Blancs, using 98% chardonnay and only 2% pinot noir, are crisp and thirst-quenching, so it is natural that they are designated on the map in a summery yellow shade that reminds us of sun and sand.
Located 48 km south-east of Vertus and 64 km east of Côte de Sézanne, Vitryat is a region with viticultural ties to the 15th century, when it was established as the second most densely planted vineyard area after Reims. Due to the blight of phylloxera, vines were pulled up—and the region overlooked—until interest was rekindled and grafted vines were replanted in the 1970s.
Vitryat is home to 15 villages and now has a small vineyard area of 459ha, with a varietal composition of 98% Chardonnay, 1% Pinot noir and 1% Meunier. In contrast to the Campanian chalk found in the Côte des Blancs and Côte de Sézanne, the chalk in Vitryat is from the earlier Turonian stage and mostly too porous and mixed in with calcareous marls to be appropriate for viticulture. Nevertheless, Vitryat holds a few pockets of purer Turonian chalk on slopes where vines can thrive and produce quality wines.
Presently, the majority of Chardonnay from Vitryat is sold to the larger Houses, where they contribute elegance, freshness and fruitiness to blends that are designed to be accessible.
Named after the small hill where vineyards were first planted in the 1960s, the village of Montgueux is located south of Côte de Sézanne and 5 km west of the city of Troyes (the ancient capital of Champagne) in the Aube département. A fascinating anomaly of the Aube, Montgueux’s relatively new terroir is an isolated outcropping of Turonian chalk that bears little resemblance to its nearest neighbour, the growing region of the Côte des Bar, where Pinot noir dominates in clay and limestone soil. This chalk is also 15 million years older than the Campanian chalk that is found throughout the Côte des Blancs, and yields exquisite Blanc de Blancs that are just as singular and renowned as those produced in the north.
The slope of Montgueux is fully exposed to the south and is planted to 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot noir. Champagne Jacques Lassaigne is a notable grower-producer of this region, and the House has been led since 1999 by Emmanuel, Jacques’s son. Driven by a desire to express Montgueux’s distinctive soil, Emmanuel’s focus shifted from growing and selling fruit, to estate-bottling, which has catapulted the House to stardom as a Blanc de Blancs specialist and pre-eminent pioneer, champion and custodian of this exciting viticultural landscape.
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Sally Hillman’s debut book is a sensory celebration of champagne, French culinary culture, and effortless entertaining.
Discover 40+ French-inspired recipes, seasonal champagne pairings, beautifully crafted maps of the Champagne region, and timeless hosting inspiration — all in one refined, accessible guide.
The essential companion and perfect gift for the modern host.
