The Gratiot family odyssey can be summed up in one word: adventurous. It’s made up of villages, winegrowers, temperaments and, above all, the desire to contribute to the success of a common project. Men and women who knew how to perceive the profound reality of things, foresaw the future and built what would become Champagne Gratiot & Cie. 150 years later.
Marie-Désiré represents the first generation of Gratiot winemakers. Born in 1868 in the Aisne region, he grew up in Saulchery, a small village of 500 souls. With his wife Eugénie Latizeau and two sons Raymond and Norbert, he worked 1.50 ha of vines. Today, his descendants consider him to be the initiator of Champagne Gratiot & Cie.
Gérard took over the business with his brother Jean-Claude, and in 1971 the family launched their own Champagne brand: “Le Champagne Gratiot Gérard”.
Four generations had already succeeded one another when Rémy took over the family estate. He completely overhauled the techniques used to cultivate and care for the vines. Particular emphasis is placed on “viticulture raisonnée”, a method of cultivation which, among other things, advocates the reduction of treatments. This strong commitment on the part of Champagne Gratiot & Cie makes it possible to reconcile preservation of the environment, balance of flora and fauna, and the constant quest for quality. It’s an approach that requires a major, almost daily investment on the part of Rémy and his team.
Today, Domaine Gratiot cultivates 18 hectares of vines in the Aisne department. The family vineyard is representative of the region, and comprises 84% Pinot Meunier (their brand ambassador worldwide), 13% Chardonnay and 3% Pinot Noir.
The year 2020 was marked by the award of the HVE Label - Level 3, the highest level of this certification.