Fournaise-Dubois | Crugny, Vallée de l'Ardre

For over forty years, vintage after vintage, Patrick Fournaise, oenologist, and his wife Marie-José Dubois have been cultivating their vineyards in order to develop their finest Champagnes.

Thanks to a common passion for wine and working on the land, they were able to transmit their know-how to their son Jerome giving rise to a family tradition. When we met with the family back in 2017, we had a great feeling about importing champagnes from them for three reasons:

• Their Passion – we had tasted their exquisite champagnes previously, so we were honored when the day came for us to meet the family behind them. They invited us into their champagne cellar for a private tasting and we learnt about the history of Fournaise-Dubois. Hearing directly from the growers, their passion was unmistakeable…and yet we marvelled that they were so down to earth. Family-owned growers, doing what they love!

• Their Values – Fournaise Dubois have been certified Viticulture Durable en Champagne (VDC) and Haute Valeur Environmentale (HVE) which demonstrates their ongoing commitment to the sustainability of the Champagne region. They are looking to convert to organic wine production in the coming years. They currently make up part of the 20% within Champagne who are currently VDC certified

• Their Champagnes – Expertly balanced, elegant and exquisite…their champagnes transport you to the Ardre Valley and tell the unique story of their terroir

The magnificence of the territory and strength of climate

The family vineyard is situated In Crugny near Reims, in the heart of the Ardre valley and stretches over 9 hectares - 4 hectares of Chardonnay, 4 hectares of Pinot Meunier and 1 hectare of Pinot Noir.

Implanted in “Coteaux”, the vines find a rich fertile earth thanks to a sub-calcareous soil covered with a fine strain of clay. In Champagne, the vines benefit from the oceanic influence and the low temperatures which lead to a slow and moderate maturation of the berries. The juices thus present the fundamental characteristics of champagne wines: finesse and freshness

On this family vineyard it is the nature of the land that guides the selection of the most suitable grape varieties: pinot noir, meunier and chardonnay. 

• The pinot noir gives the wine aromas of red fruits; it is the varietal which brings together both the body and the power.
• The pinot meunier is supple and fruity. Its bouquet is intense: it evolves more quickly in time and gives the wine a full roundness.
• The chardonnay is the varietal of finesse. When young, it offers floral and sometimes mineral notes to the wines. Its slow evolution makes it an ideal complement for aging wines and champagnes.