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Regional profile: Champagne’s Montagne de Reims

Champagne's most northerly sub region cannot easily be defined, such is the variety in its soil types and exposures, yet the wines it produces have attracted the attention of both larger houses and top quality smaller growers alike. Tom Hewson profiles this unique area and selects 12 top Champagnes to seek out.

The vineyards in the northern part of the Champagne region are often sliced into three distinct areas: the Côte des Blancs for Chardonnay, the Marne Valley for Meunier and the Montagne de Reims for Pinot Noir.


Scroll down to see tasting ntoes and scores for Tom Hewson’s top picks of Montagne de Reims Champagnes


The first two can be neatly surmised: the Côte des Blancs is a single, chalky cuesta – a hill with a steep face on one side and a gentle slope on the other – that can be driven north to south in 20 minutes. The Marne Valley is a winding valley planted with an overwhelming majority of one grape variety and with hardly a grain of chalk to play with. The Montagne de Reims, though, is different.


Tom Hewson’s picks of the best Champagnes from the Montagne de Reims


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