WINERY SUMMARY

In the heart of Épernay, Alfred Gratien stands as Champagne's most uncompromising artisan, where traditional oak fermentation and manual riddling create investment-grade bottles that collectors prize above all others. This family-owned house defies modern conventions, crafting Champagne exactly as it was made a century ago.

Founded in 1864, Alfred Gratien has remained fiercely independent under the stewardship of winemaker Nicolas Jaeger, who continues the house's legendary commitment to traditional methods. Unlike virtually every other Champagne producer, Alfred Gratien ferments all wines in small oak barrels, a labor-intensive process that imparts remarkable complexity and aging potential. The house sources exclusively from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards across 60 carefully selected growers, with 62% of fruit coming from prestigious sites including Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Bouzy.

Alfred Gratien's portfolio represents Champagne's most collectible expressions, with their Brut Classique and Millésime vintages commanding premium prices among connoisseurs. Every bottle undergoes hand riddling on traditional pupitres, a dying art that requires master craftsmen. The house uses only first-press juice and maintains extended lees aging, often double the regional minimum. Their vintage Champagnes, released only in exceptional years, achieve legendary status among collectors, with bottles from great vintages appreciating significantly over decades.

Visiting Alfred Gratien requires advance arrangement through their Épernay headquarters at 30 Rue Maurice Cerveaux, where intimate tastings reveal the profound differences traditional methods create. The cellars showcase centuries-old techniques, from oak barrel fermentation rooms to hand-riddling stations where craftsmen turn thousands of bottles daily. These exclusive experiences, limited to serious collectors and trade professionals, offer rare insight into Champagne's most authentic production methods.

For discerning collectors seeking Champagne's purest expression, Alfred Gratien represents an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire bottles crafted without compromise. Contact their Épernay estate directly to arrange private tastings and secure allocations of these extraordinary, investment-grade Champagnes.