Laherte Frères is a true hidden gem in the Champagne region, an artisanal family-run estate with a legacy dating back to 1889, when Jean-Baptiste Laherte planted the first vines in Chavot, in the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay. Today, the estate is managed by the sixth and seventh generations, preserving ancestral know-how while embracing modern sustainability principles. Their approach to viticulture and winemaking is meticulous, ensuring that each Champagne expresses the unique characteristics of its terroir with precision, elegance, and authenticity.
A Patchwork of Unique Terroirs
Over the years, Laherte Frères has expanded its holdings to 11 hectares, divided into an impressive 75 plots, spread across some of the most prestigious Champagne terroirs:
• Coteaux Sud d’Épernay (Chavot, Brugny, Épernay, Mancy, Moussy)
• Vallée de la Marne (Boursault, Le Breuil)
• Côte des Blancs (Vertus, Voipreux)
This diversity of vineyard sites allows Laherte Frères to work with an extensive range of grape varieties. While they cultivate the three classic Champagne grapes—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier—they also grow rare, historic varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, Arbanne, and Fromenteau. These forgotten grapes add remarkable depth, complexity, and freshness to their cuvées, making their Champagnes stand out for their unique aromatic profile.
Sustainable Viticulture and Precision Winemaking
Laherte Frères is deeply committed to sustainable, organic, and biodynamic farming practices, although they do not pursue official certifications. Their philosophy is centered on preserving biodiversity, maintaining healthy soils, and allowing the vines to thrive naturally. Key practices include:
• Hand-harvesting and manual vineyard management, ensuring only the finest grapes are selected.
• No synthetic chemicals, instead using natural plant-based treatments and cover crops to enrich the soil.
• Minimal intervention in the cellar, allowing the terroir to express itself fully.
This dedication to sustainable viticulture results in healthy, high-quality grapes that form the foundation of their expressive and terroir-driven Champagnes.
An Artisanal Approach to Winemaking
The winemaking process at Laherte Frères is guided by precision, purity, and respect for the fruit. They vinify each vineyard plot separately to highlight the distinctive character of each terroir. Their low-intervention approach includes:
• 80% of wines ferment and age in oak barrels, including 350L casks, tonneaux, and large foudres. This method enhances texture and complexity without overpowering the wine.
• Gentle and immediate pressing, extracting only the purest juice.
• Indigenous yeast fermentations, preserving the authenticity of each parcel.
• Extended lees aging, adding richness, depth, and a fine, creamy texture.
• Minimal or zero dosage, ensuring a pure and transparent expression of Champagne’s terroir.
Unlike many producers who use oak to impart bold flavors, Laherte Frères employs barrels to encourage controlled micro-oxygenation, which refines the structure of the wine and enhances its aging potential. The result is a range of vibrant, mineral-driven, and precise Champagnes that showcase their origins with remarkable finesse.
Laherte Frères’ Signature Cuvées
Each Champagne crafted by Laherte Frères is a tribute to their meticulous craftsmanship and deep respect for terroir. Among their standout cuvées are:
• Ultradition Brut – A quintessential expression of the house style, combining freshness, elegance, and complexity.
• Les 7 – A truly unique cuvée made from all seven authorized Champagne grape varieties, offering an extraordinary taste of the region’s heritage.
• Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature – A pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay Champagne sourced from the finest Côte des Blancs vineyards, vinified without dosage for maximum terroir transparency.
• Rosé de Meunier – An intense and aromatic rosé Champagne made exclusively from Pinot Meunier, celebrated for its depth, structure, and vibrant red fruit notes.
Each bottle of Laherte Frères Champagne embodies the estate’s unwavering commitment to authenticity, precision, and excellence.
A Champagne House with a Vision
Laherte Frères is one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking producers in Champagne today. By embracing traditional methods while continuously refining their approach, they have established themselves as one of the leading artisanal grower-producers in the region. Their wines are pure, expressive, and full of character, offering an unparalleled drinking experience for Champagne lovers and connoisseurs alike. Whether you are new to grower Champagne or a seasoned enthusiast, Laherte Frères’ cuvées promise an unforgettable journey through the finest expressions of the region’s terroirs.
