Champagne Bonvalet, a winemaker's conquest in Pierry

In Pierry, a Premier Cru village near Épernay, Guillaume Bonvalet built a champagne house without inheriting a single vine. A brand born in 2012, first bottles in 2014, then a distillery in 2022: the story of a conquest driven by the short supply chain.

How would you describe the Bonvalet house?

A champagne brand created from scratch in 2012, in Pierry

Guillaume Bonvalet runs the Maison de Champagne Bonvalet, based in Pierry, a village ranked Premier Cru right next to Épernay. With no family in champagne and no inherited vine, he launched his own brand in 2012 and released his first bottles in 2014. Pauline joined him in 2017.

The house now produces several tens of thousands of bottles a year, with close to 80 % sent abroad. In late 2022 it opened a second chapter with the Bonvalet Distillery, which turns harvest by-products into organic spirits. One word sums up this journey: conquest.

When did you catch the wine bug?

A calling born in high school, shaped by hands-on training

It all goes back to his second year of high school, in front of a champagne advertisement. Guillaume Bonvalet never left this world of wine again.

It all started in high school, in my second year, in front of an advertisement for Instant Taittinger: it was a real revelation. From that day on, I never stopped taking an interest in the world of champagne.

What followed was a work-study path, split between school and the field. Labourer internships in large houses, work-study in smaller structures, a stint at a Rhône Valley estate to approach still wines: each step prepared the work in the vines and the cellar.

What philosophy guides your work in the vines and the cellar?

The short supply chain and precision, from first juice to last drop

The house's guiding line comes down to two ideas: the short supply chain and respect for the soil. Guillaume Bonvalet fought early for those who work the land to be fairly valued, and that same standard shapes every cuvée.

Every cuvée is designed as the reflection of a terroir and a precise gesture. We are not after quantity but precision: a grape that is respected, a fermentation time that is never rushed. The idea is a virtuous circle: from the first grape juice to the last distilled drop, nothing is wasted, everything makes sense.

That virtuous circle links the house's two activities. The distillery extends the vineyard by making use of what, elsewhere, would go to waste. This consistency, from champagne to spirit, is what gives the project its meaning.

Which wine best represents your house?

The Brut Suprême, an adventure patiently assembled

Asked which cuvée embodies the house, Guillaume Bonvalet names his Brut Suprême without hesitation, a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay.

I would say our Brut Suprême cuvée: a blend of 70 % pinot noir and 30 % chardonnay, with a deep golden robe and notes of green apple and blackberry. It is a bit of a summary of our adventure: starting from a dream and patiently assembling every piece.

Its versatility at the table makes it an easy companion. Its notes of green apple and blackberry, carried by a fine freshness, work as well as an aperitif as through a full meal, and pair happily with cheeses, from a fresh goat's cheese to an aged Comté.

What are your ambitions for the years to come?

Growing the champagne and the distillery, a project of patience

The two houses move forward together. The Bonvalet Distillery expands its range year after year, with one time-consuming project at the top of its priorities.

To keep developing the Bonvalet Champagnes and Distillery, which expands its range year after year: ratafia, alcohol-free gin, and above all our whisky, aged in Meursault casks then in Champagne ratafia barrels, a true project of patience.

Alongside this, the house wants to strengthen its partnerships in France and continue its already broad export growth. An ambition faithful to the spirit of the early days: moving step by step, without rushing.

Why follow the Bonvalet house?

Two Suprême cuvées and a zero-waste spirit

Following the Bonvalet house means supporting a project born from a teenage dream and built without a safety net. Its range is built around two Suprême cuvées: the Brut Suprême, led by pinot noir, and the Blanc Suprême, more elegant and chardonnay-led, the one Guillaume Bonvalet gladly opens among friends.

Behind the bubbles lies one conviction: the short supply chain and zero waste, from the respected grape to the distilled drop. A virtuous circle that gives each bottle a meaning as much as a taste.

Explore the cuvées of the Bonvalet house directly from the estate, at estate prices, through the short supply chain on Avenue des Vins.

Frequently asked questions about Champagne Bonvalet

Where is Champagne Bonvalet located?

The Bonvalet house is based in Pierry, a village ranked Premier Cru right next to Épernay, in the heart of the Champagne region.

Who is behind the Bonvalet house?

Guillaume Bonvalet, who created the brand in 2012 without inheriting a vine, joined by Pauline since 2017. The house now exports close to 80 % of its production.

What grape varieties make up the Brut Suprême cuvée?

The Brut Suprême is a blend of 70 % pinot noir and 30 % chardonnay, with notes of green apple and blackberry.

What is the Bonvalet Distillery?

Launched in late 2022, it turns harvest by-products into organic spirits: gin, whisky, ratafia, wine eau-de-vie, shochu and liqueurs, in a zero-waste approach.

What should you drink the Brut Suprême with?

Its freshness makes it versatile, from the aperitif to a full meal. It pairs especially well with cheeses, from a fresh goat's cheese to an aged Comté.