The "Maison Gabriel-Pagin Fils" estate
Located in Avenay, three generations of "récoltants-manipulants" -Champagne producers who only vinify, make and market Champagne from their own grapes- have been perpetuating the family tradition from father to son.
A family estate since 1946
Our champagnes, authentic and characterful, are the result of a long process of creation, and of family skills, based on the respect of nature and traditions.
1946 | Roger Gabriel harvested his vineyard in Avenay Val d'Or for the first time. Avenay Val d'Or is a terroir classified as a "premier cru". He performed the vinification of Champagne in his own name for the first time. |
1984 | Pascal Gabriel, trained by his father Roger to work on the vineyards and blend the wines, took over, with the help of his wife, at the same time hoping to create a "Maison de Champagne" respectful of nature and of the skills specific to the Champagne region. |
1999 | Committed from the start to a quality approach, and aware of sustainable and environment-friendly development, their effort was rewarded in 1999 with the AMPELOS certification.. |
2011 | After studying oenology and winegrowing techniques at the university, their son Aurélien came back to the estate to work alongside his parents as their oenologist. |
2014 | Thanks to the quality treatment of the land, applied daily for many years, the "Maison" was awarded the Haute Valeur Environnementale certification - a high level of environment-friendly agriculture, according to the Grenelle measures of 2007. |
The terroir, vineyard and grape varieties
Allowing the terroir to express its character and the authenticity of our champagnes.
Avenay Val d'Or
Avenay Val d'Or is a village located at the heart of the Champagne region, in the Natural Regional Park of the Mountain of Reims, about 6 miles from Epernay and 18 miles from Reims. There are 900 inhabitants in the village and its main activity consists essentially in Champagne winegrowing.
Historically, the village grew around the site once occupied by the Royal Abbey of Saint Pierre, founded circa 660 by Saint Bertha, the daughter of a Count at the Palace of Clovis II, King of France.
Besides, the wine of Avenay Val d'Or was often served at royal dinners. Henry IV had a fondness for it.
The territory of Avenay Val d'Or produces wines displaying great finesse and a delicate bouquet, thanks to its rich terroir and ideal location:
- a tough climate tempered by the oceanic influence,
- a calcareous substrate favouring natural drainage of the ground,
- vineyards planted on slopes with an optimal amount of sunshine.
A classified winegrowing area
Our winegrowing area covers 23.5 acres and spreads over terroirs classed as "Premier Cru" and "Grand Cru":
- the "Premier Cru" of the Great Valley of the Marne, in Avenay Val d'Or and Mutigny,
- the "Grand Cru" of Côte des Blancs in Avize and Cramant.
It is divided into several small pieces of land. Each of them has its own specificity and typicity which we let be expressed during in the production process of our champagnes. Our vines are 30 years old on average.
The three grape varieties of Champagne
Pinot noir is grown on 80% of the area. Pinot Noir produces structured wines; it also gives them body and pungency.
Chardonnay grows on 18% of our vineyards located on the Côte des Blancs slopes. It offers delicate citrus and floral aromas, and gives great finesse to wine.
Pinot Meunier is present on 2% of our surface. Characterised by its fruity flavour and intense bouquet, it adds suppleness and roundness to the wines.
Freedom of expression
From vineyard to wine, we let nature express itself with the result of it giving its best.
Freedom of expression is letting nature offer us its inherent richness...
For many years, we have been committed to responsible farming, with a view to our limiting our impact on the environment and passing down unscathed land.
Freedom of expression means giving grapes enough time to yield their best...
Because quality wine comes from quality grapes, we produce our champagnes in the most original tradition and as naturally as possible.
Freedom of expression is also making the choice to offer you some champagnes most remarkable for their typicity...
Our wish is to respect and express the specificity of our terroirs, thus producing authentic and characterful champagnes.
Quality et Environment
AMPELOS
The quality approach -aware of sustainable and environment-friendly development- of our winegrowing estate was awarded the AMPELOS certification in 1999.
- Ensure customer safety
- Maintain harmony between soil and grapes
- Promote production solutions respectful of nature
- Maintain air and water quality
- Create a bond between winegrowers who care for quality work
- Provide unscathed heritage to the coming generations
- Preserve the natural balance of nature
A "High Environmental Value" estate
In April 2014, our estate was awarded the HVE status, rewarding our efforts in limiting our impact on the environment, and our implementation of many eco-responsible practices.
Originated from the Grenelle Environment conference and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, the HVE certification is a voluntary approach aiming to identify all farms committed to practices particularly respectful of the environment. It is based on indicators of environmental performances revolving around four topics:
- biodiversity,
- a phytosanitary strategy,
- fertilisation management,
- water resources management.