Champagne G.H Martel & Champagne Charles de Cazanove
Two Reims Champagne houses under Rapeneau family ownership, with fresh mineral G.H. Martel wines and distinct Brut blends.
The producer
G.H. Martel and Charles de Cazanove are two Reims Champagne houses owned by the Rapeneau family. G.H. Martel works vineyards spread across Champagne and holds High Environmental Value Level 3 certification. Its house style is fresh and mineral, with high acidity and delicacy. The cellars are chalk crayères classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Named Brut wines show different compositions, with Charles de Cazanove Brut led by Pinot Noir and Victoire Brut Prestige built around Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Known for
Fresh mineral Reims Champagne houses
Notable facts
The Rapeneau family has been established in Champagne for over a hundred years.
G.H. Martel maintains 58 hectares of vineyard estate.
Christophe Rapeneau serves as Chairman of G.H. Martel.
Paul-Alexandre Rapeneau serves as Managing Director of G.H. Martel.
Charles de Cazanove has been part of the Champagne story since 1811.
From the atlas
Champagne G.H Martel & Champagne Charles de Cazanove
Two Reims Champagne houses under Rapeneau family ownership, with vineyards spread across Champagne and chalk cellars beneath the city.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Houses
G.H. Martel and Charles de Cazanove
Home
Reims, Champagne
Range
Brut Champagne
Farming
G.H. Martel vineyards certified High Environmental Value Level 3
Cellars
Chalk crayères, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015
The Producer
Christophe Rapeneau serves as Chairman of G.H. Martel, while Paul-Alexandre Rapeneau serves as Managing Director. The house maintains 58 hectares of vineyard estate, and its vineyards are certified High Environmental Value Level 3. The Rapeneau family has handed down Champagne heritage and know how across generations.
G.H. Martel's house style is fresh and mineral, with great acidity and delicacy. Charles de Cazanove adds a second Reims house to the group. It has been part of the Champagne story since 1811, and the Rapeneau family owns both houses as part of an integrated group.
Place
Reims is home to both houses, while G.H. Martel's vineyards extend across 64 villages in Champagne. A vineyard base spread across many villages gives a Champagne house multiple sources for composing cuvées, with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay available from different parts of the region.
Chalk also shapes the cellar environment. Cool, stable underground conditions suit the secondary fermentation and lees ageing used for sparkling wine, allowing the wine to develop gradually while retaining acidity and fine effervescence. G.H. Martel's chalk crayères have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015.
Wines
Charles de Cazanove Brut is a dry, non vintage Champagne built from 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier and 10% Chardonnay. Pinot Noir leads the blend, with Meunier adding a second red grape component and Chardonnay completing the composition.
G.H. Martel Victoire Brut Prestige uses 40% Chardonnay, 55% Pinot Noir and 5% Meunier. Pinot Noir remains the largest share, while Chardonnay makes up a substantial part of the blend and Meunier appears in a small proportion. The two wines present different grape balances within the Brut style.
Final Word
G.H. Martel brings fresh mineral Champagne with high acidity and delicacy, while Charles de Cazanove offers a separate Brut blend with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier at its centre. Both houses work from Reims under Rapeneau family ownership.