Maison Lonclas: Fifty years of artisanal Champagne, founded at age 14 and passed down from father to daughters

Maison Lonclas is an artisanal Champagne house founded in 1976, specializing in Blanc de Blancs. It is now run by its founder and his two daughters, Aurélie and Mathilde. Their champagnes are available for direct purchase on Avenue des Vins, shipped straight from the estate.

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How was Maison Lonclas founded?

An apprenticeship at 14, a house founded at 30

Some callings come early, even before we have the words to describe them. That of the founder of Maison Lonclas is one of them. At 14, he entered the world of wine not through books, but through hands-on experience the vines, the press, the practical gestures of a craft that cannot be delegated. A total, immediate and decisive immersion.

“From the age of 14, learning the craft in the field, I immediately became passionate about working the vines and the press. That early immersion made me want to go further and produce our own Champagne.”

In 1976, he took the leap and founded Maison Lonclas. Driven by a deep passion for the land and for what Champagne Chardonnay can express when handled with precision, he patiently built a house in his own image precise, demanding and faithful to its terroir.

Nearly fifty years later, the house continues to move forward. Alongside his two daughters, Aurélie and Mathilde, who have chosen to commit to this family adventure and carry it on with their own sensibility.

What philosophy guides Maison Lonclas?

From grape to bottle: mastering every step

At Lonclas, the philosophy is built on one conviction: great Champagne is never made by accident. Every step  from pruning the vines to labeling the bottle  is handled with care and strict control. Not to constrain the process, but to allow the terroir to express itself without interference.

“Our philosophy is above all based on respect for the terroir and precision in every gesture. I place great importance on mastering each step, from the vineyard to the cellar, maintaining strict control over the entire process in order to best reveal the identity of our wines.”

The house cultivates the three emblematic Champagne grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier but it is with Blanc de Blancs that it has built its reputation. A 100% Chardonnay Champagne, known for its aromatic finesse and mineral tension, requiring precise technical mastery and perfectly managed vines.

The Blanc de Blancs from Maison Lonclas is a 100% Chardonnay Champagne, recognized for its finesse and remarkable aromatic qualities. The signature cuvée, Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, embodies the precision and high standards that have defined the house since 1976.

What memory has most marked the history of the house?

The pride of the first bottles signed Lonclas

Among all the moments that shape the history of a Champagne house, one stands out with absolute clarity when the founder is asked about his most memorable experience. Not a major award, nor an exceptional vintage, but a founding moment.

“Without hesitation, the first bottles sold under our own name. That moment marked a real milestone, with the pride of signing our wines and fully sharing the fruit of our work.”

That moment the first bottle bearing the Lonclas name says everything about what an independent artisanal house represents. It is not just a commercial act. It is a signature. A promise that every bottle fully reflects the person who made it.

What does the founder enjoy least about his work? Not much because no two days are alike. Between the vineyard, the cellar and interactions with customers, there is always something concrete and engaging to do. It is precisely this diversity that drives him forward each morning.

Which Champagne best represents Maison Lonclas?

Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut: tension, finesse and salinity

If one cuvée had to represent Maison Lonclas, the choice is immediate: Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut. A Champagne that concentrates everything the house seeks  precision, finesse and vibrant tension  in its purest and most direct form.

“It reflects both the pure expression of our terroir and the high standards of our expertise, with great precision, finesse and beautiful tension.”

For this Champagne, the ideal pairing is as obvious as it is perfect: oysters or seafood. The minerality of the Blanc de Blancs, its saline freshness and crisp acidity interact naturally with the saltiness of shellfish. A pairing the founder recommends with the conviction of someone who has experienced it many times.

And for a casual evening with friends? He opens the Blanc de Blancs Brut  the everyday cuvée, the one for sharing, enjoyed without ceremony but always with pleasure.

What are the future plans for Maison Lonclas?

Expanding the reach of an artisanal Champagne

Maison Lonclas moves forward with a clear ambition: to strengthen the reputation of its Champagnes, further refine its expertise, and introduce its identity to a wider audience in France and beyond. With Aurélie and Mathilde now fully involved in the house, the transmission is secured. And with it, the continuity of a standard built over nearly fifty years.

“Our ambition is to continue developing the house by strengthening the reputation of our Champagnes, while remaining true to our high standards of quality.”

One word sums up Maison Lonclas: bold. Because it takes boldness to create a house from nothing, to start at 14 at a press, and to maintain that level of excellence for half a century without ever compromising.

Buying Maison Lonclas Champagnes on Avenue des Vins means choosing an artisanal Blanc de Blancs produced by an independent family house founded in 1976 shipped directly from the estate, in a short supply chain with no intermediaries.

Discover Maison Lonclas cuvées directly on their Avenue des Vins storefront Champagnes shipped directly from the estate through a short supply chain.

Also explore our full selection of independent grower Champagnes on Avenue des Vins.