Raising a Green Glass: Sustainable & Organic Champagne in 2025
Why Sustainability Is the Future
The Champagne region might be famed for luxury, but behind the glamour is a fragile ecosystem, and rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns are forcing producers to adapt. Whilst more intensive farming methods bring short term success – killing pests and saving a harvest from potential ruin – they also come at a cost to the environment and have a long-term detrimental impact on the soil and ecosystem at large. As such, more and more producers are turning to natural organic farming methods and biodynamic vineyard management to protect the land and preserve your favourite sparkling wines for generations to come.
Climate Impact & Champagne: A Snapshot
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Weather Volatility: Spring frosts can decimate early buds, heavy rains can bring rot and mildew, whilst an increase in hot summers stress vines and alter acid balance in the grapes. In fact, a temperature rise of just 1-2°C can dramatically shift the harvest window, influencing flavour development and overall wine style.
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Soil Health: Intensive farming can deplete soils of nutrients. Sustainable practices – like cover crops, composting, and reduced chemical use – maintain biodiversity and water retention.
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Consumer Demand: Wine lovers increasingly seek ethical and planet-friendly options, pushing producers to adopt greener methods.
Certifications & What They Mean
- AB (Agriculture Biologique): The French national certification guaranteeing organic farming with no synthetic chemicals.
- Demeter: The strict global standard for biodynamic agriculture, emphasising lunar cycles, on-site composting, and holistic vineyard care.
- HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale): A tiered certification focusing on biodiversity, pest management, fertiliser use, and irrigation practices.
Remember... Many producers may be on the road to certification (which can take a number of years), or work with sustainable practices but without official recognition, so don't be afraid to ask about their processes!
Tasting the Difference: Flavour & Quality
Many sommeliers argue that organic and biodynamic methods lead to wines with greater finesse and pronounced terroir. By focusing on soil vitality and minimal intervention, grapes often develop a pure expression of fruit and minerality.
Pro Tip... When tasting an organic cuvée, pay particular attention to subtle earthy or herbal notes – these can reflect healthier vines and richer soil biodiversity.
Spotlight on: Domaine Vincey
We have been working with Marine and Quentin since the start of their wine making journey, which has always had sustainability front and centre. They are now AB and Demeter certified for their organic biodynamic wine making processes, which involves treating their grapes with home-made concoctions from medicinal plants, using only gravity-fed vinification and, recently, removing sulphur from the production process.
The results show for themselves with consistently higher scoring cuvées, year on year. They have just released their 2020 harvest to superb acclaim...
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Oger 2020: 100% Chardonnay, 0g/ltr, d/g May 2024, oak vinified and aged on cork
"A fine current of freshness beautifully counters the ripeness of 2020 - 92" Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, May 2024
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Le Grand Jardin 2020: 100% Chardonnay, 0g/ltr, d/g May 2024, oak vinified and aged on cork
"A gentle yeast texture provides a backdrop for this formidable freshness, showcasing its purity - 93" Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, May 2024
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Auge 2020: 100% Chardonnay, 0g/ltr, d/g May 2024, oak vinified and aged on cork
"Ripe freshness at the core marries with smooth oak and ripeness, achieving a vivid balance that wasn't easy in 2020 - 93" Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, May 2024
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Chemin de Châlons 2020: 100% Chardonnay, 0g/ltr, d/g May 2024, oak vinified and aged on cork
"Lovely, tender even, despite all of its undoubted energy. A wonderful wine that will benefit from bottle age - 94" Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, May 2024
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Coin Gris 2020: 100% Chardonnay, 0g/ltr, d/g May 2024, oak vinified and aged on cork
"This wine has a shy but lovely personality, with a profoiund sense of place, deepest salinity and proper energy. The finish is utterly precise and clean-cut. Bravo! - 95" Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, May 2024