Varnier Fanniere
This is how Denis Varnier defines his profession: with a passion... This passion has been passed down from generation to generation. It was his grandfather Jean Fanniere, who first launched the wine growing business in 1947, his family having been wine growers in the area since 1860. After Jean it was the turn of his son-in-law Guy Varnier to "carry the flame" whilst imparting his expertise to his son, Denis. Denis and his "tiny press". Finally in 1989, equipped with a wine-making tradtional press diploma, he took over the estate. His aim: to constantly improve quality whilst respecting tradtional methods. "Avize - The Pearl of the Cote des Blancs" The Varnier-Fanniere vineyards are spread over the slopes of Avize, Oger, Cramant, and Oiry, all villages marked as "Grand Cru" - the highest ranking in Champagne classification. In the historic heart of the famous Cote des Blancs region where the only grape variety grown is Chardonnay...This famous white grape gives the champagne finesse and an incomparable elegance. The sub soil is entirely made up of Belmnite chalk, the "Rolls Royce" of Champagne chalk (an accumulation of the cuttlefish fossils) at an incredible depth on the hillsides.