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Another Champagne Visit – Maison Paillard at Bouzy

Ian Blackshaw looks back on a visit to the Pierre Paillard champagne cellars last summer.

During the present big freeze, it is nice to look back on and also forward to sunnier and warmer times.

On a warm sunny Saturday afternoon last year, we visited the Champagne Cellars of Pierre Paillard in Bouzy, near Epernay (some 18 miles away), with some friends, who adore Champagne, but had never visited the Champagne region before. And, I would add, were not disappointed and enjoyed every moment of their visit!    

The Paillard Champagne House was founded in 1768 and the present proprietor, Benoit Paillard, a delightful man who speaks very good English, treated us to a private tasting of his Champagnes and also to his less well-known, but equally delightful, still red wine of Bouzy.           

The tasting took place in his cellar-museum, a charming venue with its most interesting artifacts, prints and photographs charting the history of the House and also the particular characteristics of the Bouzy Wine Denomination.

We tasted his grand cru 2000 Champagne brut; his Champagne rosé; and his 2004 Bouzy Rouge, which had just been released for drinking. We enjoyed them all, but particularly the rosé Champagne, which we declared excellent and as good as, if not better, and certainly better value price-wise, than the famous Laurent Perrier Champagne rosé, the favourite tipple of Prince Charles.

Needless to say, we did not come away empty-handed and, indeed, enjoyed a bottle or two of his rosé Champagne during the Festive Season!

Through its Grand Cru ranking as early as 1935, Bouzy, a relatively small wine region, which grows the pinot noir and chardonnay grape varieties to perfection, claims to be the historical heart of the Champagne area – and is well worth a visit. Less than three hours away by motorway!

A very nice thought as I pen these lines sitting in front of a roaring log fire and looking out on a very snowy wintry scene. Roll on summer, and a return visit to this little bit of paradise on earth!

Visits are by appointment and the House is open from 9 30 – 12 00 and 14 00 – 1730 each day, except Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Contact Details:

Champagne Pierre Paillard
2 rue du XXe siècle
51150 Bouzy
Tel: 03 26 57 08 04 Fax: 03 26 57 83 03

“Le Remuage”, the  turning of every bottle by a few degrees daily, is an essential part of the traditonal “Methode Champenoise”  Nowadays the process is carried out mechanically, except for a few prestigious labels where the remueur works manually.  

Much of the work in the making of fine champagnes is manual, and....

...the skills are handed down from father to son.

The Pierre Paillard Cellar Museum

Pierre Paillard Champagnes, from the  left, Champagne Brut, Pierre Paillard Vintage 2000, and Champagne Rosé   

Visit to Champagne Castellane at Epernay