Why it matters
The producer
Jean-Louis Denois opened a sparkling winery at Fère-en-Tardenois, northeast of Reims, in 1980. The house draws on five generations of wine expertise and traditional sparkling winemaking knowledge.
Charles de Fère makes base wines specifically for sparkling wine production. First fermentation takes place at low temperature in temperature controlled vats, where the house aims to preserve freshness and develop minerality before the final blends are made.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Fère-en-Tardenois lies northeast of Reims. Charles de Fère operates outside the Champagne appellation, placing its bottles within French sparkling wine rather than Champagne AOC.
The distinction concerns origin and label category. The traditional method keeps the wines within the established family of bottle fermented sparkling wines, while the place separates the house from Champagne's protected appellation.
Wines to know
The range in view
The Réserve range includes Charles de Fère Blanc de Blancs Brut and Charles de Fère Rosé Brut. The Blanc de Blancs is made from Chardonnay, while the Rosé provides the range's pink style. Both are produced by the traditional method, with the second fermentation taking place in bottle.
Depending on the intended style, the cuvées age from 3 to 36 months on lees. Lees ageing is the period when sparkling wine rests with its spent yeast after the second fermentation. Longer contact can bring bread and pastry notes, a rounder mousse, and greater aromatic development. Charles de Fère connects this time with a finer bouquet and bubbles with greater elegance.