Vineyard

The Story

In 2006, Catherine and Olivier Langlais took over the family vineyard of 6 ha spread over 5 different terroirs in the Premier Cru of the Montagne de Reims. Their sensitivity to the natural environment led them to change their vine growing and winemaking techniques to organic and biodynamic methods in 2010. The name Solemme is a combination of “sol” for “soleil” or sun, and “emme” for “femme” or woman. His goal is to make feminine, delicate Champagnes that are bright like the sun. Olivier has incredible dedication to biodynamics, and even disgorges his wine according to the moon cycle. He started this conversion to biodynamic practices with the Chardonnay plot in 2009 and finished transition with his oldest vines of Pinot Noir in 2015. The vineyard is composed of 50% Pinot Meunier, 25% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir. The oldest vines were planted in the 1960’s and the most recent in 2000. As Olivier likes to say, “Everything is happening in the exchange between the soil and the grape”, that’s why we think it is important to describe the difference of terroir between all parcels. Olivier believes, more strongly than most, that wine is made in the vineyard and that the grape gives to the wines what the soil gives to them! That is why since 2013, he became dedicated to do the most he could to revitalize his soil. Over a 3 to 4 day span in Fall and Spring, he spreads composted tea and Luzerne over the vineyards to allow bacteria and mushrooms to thrive.