Just under five centuries. This is how long the Philipponnat family has been dedicated to producing great sparkling wines. It was, to be precise, in 1522. From generation to generation, passing on the savoir-faire typical of the region inherited from their predecessors, Maison Philipponnat continues to respect the most ancient traditional values. The estate is located in Mareuil-sur-Ay, a village classified as Premier Cru in the Vallée de la Marne region, east of Epernay and on the border of the Côte des Blancs. Here, Philipponnat has over twenty hectares of vineyards, almost entirely planted with Pinot Noir. In addition to Mareuil-sur-Ay, Philipponnat's vineyards are located in Mutigny, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Ay, the latter classified as Grand Cru. Among all the plots, the Maison has a monopoly on the famous ‘Clos des Goisses’, an exceptional vineyard of just over five hectares, where the particularly steep slopes, total southern exposure and very chalky subsoil give rise to Champagnes with great minerality and freshness. In 1997, the Maison became part of the BCC group and since 2000 has been personally managed by Charles Philipponnat. In the cellar, in keeping with the Maison's tradition, the Solera ageing method is still used for reserve wines. After maturing in oak barrels, these are added to the cuvées produced for non-vintage Champagnes. This practice adds complexity to the wines produced and symbolically allows a small percentage of all the vintages blended since the company's inception to be added to each new release. Maison Philipponnat: one of the most prestigious maisons in Champagne.