OUR EXPERTISE
OUR COMMITMENTS
As a Récoltant Manipulant, we enjoy a unique privilege: the ability to constantly monitor the ripening of our grapes and the evolution of our wine.
The Champagne terroir is a mosaic of elements: soil, climate, grape varieties. LAVINISTA strives to sublimate these elements to offer you an exceptional wine: Champagne.
Our commitment as a certified High Environmental Value (HVE) estate is evident in our respect for the ecosystem where we cultivate our vines and produce our Champagne. We uphold sustainable viticultural practices, protect biodiversity, and manage inputs responsibly. This label signifies our dedication to offering environmentally respectful, high-quality Champagne.
VINEYARD WORK
The vineyard cycle spans twelve months, starting with a crucial step: pruning. From November to March, we carefully select the best wood to bear the grapes for the upcoming harvest.
Left untended, a vine behaves like a wild vine. Each subsequent step allows us to control its growth, ensuring optimal sunlight and concentrating its energy to produce quality grapes. From March to August, we tie the vine shoots, remove unnecessary buds, raise, train, and trim the vines, all with the goal of preparing for harvest.
Harvesting takes place in September, between 90 and 100 days after flowering, depending on grape maturity, terroir, and vine age.
We conduct rigorous manual harvesting with systematic sorting of clusters. Each harvester receives precise instructions to remove damaged or underripe grapes. We employ around thirty harvesters, primarily pickers, with handlers also assisting in transporting crates from the vineyard to the pressing center. Harvest is the culmination of a year’s worth of work.
We cultivate a familial atmosphere, ensuring each harvester feels comfortable despite the ten days of hard labor and potential backaches.
THE SECRETS OF ELABORATION
Subtle art characterizes Champagne wines.
With our oenologist Sébastien, we taste each stabilized base wine, tank by tank, and assign them a rating out of 10. All blends from different grape varieties are meticulously assessed.
The blending of our LAVINISTA wines marries grape varieties and different years to create various cuvées. Non-vintage cuvées are a brilliant blend of wines from the year, while vintage cuvées come from a single harvest, with variations based on specific blending.
Once blending is complete, the wines are ready for bottling. However, we must adhere to regulations and wait until January 1st of the following year after harvest for bottling to commence.
Each cuvée benefits from extended aging on lees, imparting the finesse and aromatic complexity characteristic of Champagne wines.
Time then works its magic, revealing balance and delicacy in every bottle.
