Champagne grower led by Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche, with estate parcels, wild fermentation and a Brut Réserve of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
The producer
Raphaël Bérêche leads winemaking and Vincent Bérêche leads viticulture in this family enterprise. The holdings stretch through Ludes, Ormes, Mareuil-le-Port, Mailly, Cramant, Ambonnay, Aÿ and Trépail. Wild fermentation with ambient yeast is standard, and approximately 75% of the wines are vinified in 350-litre barrels. Malolactic fermentation is generally blocked, while top wines are aged under natural cork instead of crown caps. Brut Réserve combines Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with reserve wines from previous vintages.
Known for
Terroir-led multi-parcel Champagne
Notable facts
Raphaël Bérêche leads winemaking and Vincent Bérêche leads viticulture.
The estate includes parcels in Ludes, Ormes, Mareuil-le-Port, Mailly, Cramant, Ambonnay, Aÿ and Trépail.
Bérêche et Fils changed from RM, the grower designation, to NM status in October 2013 so Brut Réserve could use grapes from three trusted organic growers.
Approximately 75% of the wines are vinified in 350-litre barrels.
The story
From RM To NM
In October 2013, Bérêche et Fils changed its status from RM, Récoltant Manipulant, to NM, Négociant Manipulant. The family made the change so Brut Réserve could use grapes from three trusted organic growers. The single-vineyard and village cuvées remained 100% estate. In Champagne, the status change opened the Brut Réserve blend to bought-in grapes while leaving the estate cuvées under the family's own holdings. Bérêche et Fils still has this hybrid arrangement: NM for the blend that uses growers' grapes, estate fruit for the village and single-vineyard wines.
From the atlas
Champagne Bérêche et Fils
Champagne grower led by Raphaël Bérêche in winemaking and Vincent Bérêche in viticulture, working estate parcels with ambient-yeast fermentation.
At A Glance
Category
Detail
Region
Champagne
Family
Bérêche family enterprise
Winemaking
Raphaël Bérêche
Viticulture
Vincent Bérêche
Named cuvée
Bérêche et Fils Brut Réserve
The Producer
Raphaël Bérêche leads winemaking and Vincent Bérêche leads viticulture; they represent the fifth generation of the family enterprise. Wild fermentation with ambient yeast is standard. Approximately 75% of the wines are vinified in 350-litre barrels. The top wines are aged under natural cork instead of crown caps for additional aromatic complexity.
Place
The estate spans 11 hectares across multiple Champagne regions, including Ludes, Ormes, Mareuil-le-Port, Mailly, Cramant, Ambonnay, Aÿ and Trépail. Over 20 separate parcels are managed, and the vines average approximately 40 years old. The parcel spread brings several Champagne regions into one range.
In October 2013, the family changed from RM, the grower designation, to NM, the designation that permits bought-in grapes, so Brut Réserve could use grapes from three trusted organic growers. Village and single-vineyard cuvées remain 100% estate.
Wines
Bérêche et Fils Brut Réserve is a balanced blend of approximately one-third Chardonnay, one-third Pinot Noir and one-third Pinot Meunier. Seventy percent comes from the base year and 30% from reserve wines from previous vintages. The cuvée has dense, clear-cut fruit, good texture and a winey palate. Dosage is 5 to 5.5 g/l, with the low addition preserving the wine's intrinsic character.
The range also includes village and single-vineyard cuvées. A village cuvée names the village on the label; a single-vineyard cuvée names one parcel.
Final Word
Raphaël Bérêche puts the house's approach plainly: “The first reason to make champagne is to express the terroir.” Bérêche et Fils generally blocks malolactic fermentation, preserving bright acidity alongside depth.