Jacques Chaput

The history of Maison Jacques Chaput stretches far back in time, to 1736, when “Juste” Chaput cultivated his first vines in Fravaux. Since then, for eight generations, the family has always included at least one winegrower, preserving a deep and instinctive bond with the land and wine. The modern turning point came in the 1950s thanks to Jacques Chaput, who decided to invest in reviving the vineyards of Arrentières, a small and picturesque village whose extraordinary potential had already been recognised by Benedictine monks in the twelfth century. Jacques embraced that centuries-old legacy and transformed it into an outstanding estate, now led by his son Jacky and his grandson Jason. It is a genuinely family-run business, capable of combining the experience of the past with the energy and vision of the future. We are in the Côte des Bar, the southernmost area of Champagne, on the right bank of the River Aube. This is a fascinating territory, quite different from the rest of the region, characterised by a mosaic of landscapes ranging from broad plains to steep hillsides. Here, the soil is mainly composed of Kimmeridgian marl, limestone and clay, giving the area a unique geological signature. It is precisely this “puzzle” of soils and microclimates that gives the grapes their unmistakable freshness and vibrancy. Today, the estate covers 14 hectares of vineyards, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the undisputed leading varieties.