CHAMPAGNE ETIENNE CALSAC

The New Ink to Avize

The history of Domaine Etienne Calsac is unique and recent. Having roots in the wine industry, Etienne conceptualised and created Domaine Etienne Calsac in 2010, renting vines from his grandparents. He settled in Avize, and a blank page received its first strokes of ink.

Etienne focuses primarily on Chardonnay, however, he has taken up the challenge of replanting and working with some of the ancient Champagne grape varieties too.

The Calsac wines hail from a variety of great appellations:

• Côte des Blancs (Avize et Grauves)
• Grande Vallée de la Marne (Bisseuil)
• Côte de Sézanne (Montgenost)
• Côte des Bars (Bligny)

Etienne has built his viticulture model on the expectations he has of his soils and his environment. Cultivation practices are therefore geared towards the well-being of the plant and ultimately, the people. Observations, tillage, exploring, and constant questioning are essential and core to his work.

Etienne’s approach to winemaking aims to be minimalist, to transcribe the terroir he is a custodian of as accurately as possible. Spontaneous fermentations, ageing in wood and under cork, are precise tools which help determine the style of his outstanding wines.