During our June trip to Champagne, we’ve arranged a very interesting visit to Besserat de Bellefon, a house with a beautiful philosophy: “freedom, elegance and simplicity” attached to a lovely pure French design. We already wrote about one of their iconic cuvée, BB1843, so now we will concentrate on the history of the house.
The champagne house Besserat de Bellefon was founded in Aÿ in 1843 by Edmond Besserat, with the eyes put on quality. After his son’s (also named Edmond) marriage with Yvonne Méric de Bellefon, in 1920, the house took the actual name by joining their names: Besserat de Bellefon. Edmond’s “Cuvée des Moines” is born with the clair intention to become the preferred champagne of the aristocracy, and to accompany the best dishes served at the high end restaurants and hotels of the time. Actually, in 1930 the director of the famous Parisian restaurant Samaritaine dares Victor, un descendent of the Besserat’s family to create a cuvée that can successfully pair with the entire menu of the restaurant, and so the Cuvée des Moines took its fame. The secret? The absence of malolactic fermentation and the technique that produce thinner bubbles (by 30% est.). In actuality, the champagne house is part of the Lanson BCC Group.
Of course, after the visit of the facilities, we’ve ended up at the table where Anthony, house’s export manager, invited us to taste several champagnes, including the excellent cuvée prestige BB1843 and the new Triple B, the bio version of a 50% PN, 30%Meunier and 20%Chardonnay, all grapes from old vines in Vallée de la Marne.
We really enjoyed the visit and we can’t wait to come back when the new space, very close to Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, will be ready (probably this winter). The premises will include a boutique hotel, a champagne bar and a presentation/tasting room, alongside a shopping space. A fantastic place to visit when in Epernay!
Champagne LoungeBar 