Four Generations of Champagne au Féminin, Maison Élodie D.

«Ours is a story of vignerons, actually, of women vigneronnes, passed from mother to daughter.»

«Time is a precious ally. Nothing is rushed; every stage demands patience, respect, and careful listening to the wine as it becomes what it is meant to be."» This is how Élodie Desbordes describes her deep bond with time, the indispensable companion in every phase of her work.

The slow, natural rhythm of the seasons is one of the founding values of Champagne Élodie D., key to the depth and elegance that define each bottle. Every cuvée, she explains, «spends at least three years ageing on the lees before commercial release, allowing the aromas to evolve and create the unique character of the maison’s wines». Today, Desbordes leads the maison, now into its eleventh generation of winemakers.

Champagne Élodie D.’s story stretches back over four centuries: «Ours is a story of vignerons, actually, of women vigneronnes, passed from mother to daughter.» The wine reflects the «maison’s feminine spirit», stewarded by women for the last four generations.

Its roots lie in 1658, when Desbordes’ ancestors planted their first vines in Écueil, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. Since then, each generation has devoted itself to preserving and enriching this heritage and savoir-faire. «My family’s history is an integral part of my identity,» Desbordes says. «I have always felt the strength of ancestral gestures and the value of working with one’s hands, in harmony with nature and its rhythms.» Through wars, shifting climates, and agricultural revolutions, the maison has remained true to its essence: creating authentic champagnes, rooted in the land and enriched by the slow passing of time.

«Time is also the continuation of tradition,» continues Élodie, a living bond with the past that speaks through the terroir of Écueil: «a Premier Cru village in the Montagne de Reims.» Here, «sand, clay, silt, and chalky marl form a natural water reserve that regulates humidity and anchors the vines deep into the soil.» This distinctive mosaic gives the grapes their mineral freshness and elegance, found in every one of the maison’s cuvées.

The maison cultivates Pinot Noir for «structure and aromatic complexity», Chardonnay for «a discreet lightness and freshness», and a rare Pinot Gris, «an old champenois variety planted in sandy soils». All vines are grown organically, producing «grapes rich in natural sugars and expressive of Écueil’s soul».

The commitment to sustainability began in 2002, the year her son Louis was born, marking a personal and professional turning point for Desbordes: «It was imperative to preserve this invaluable natural heritage, not only for the current generation, but especially for those to come». Since then, Desbordes has revived ancient practices such as natural cover cropping, gradually eliminating chemical herbicides. This was a «pioneering choice in Écueil at the time», recalls Élodie. It required «patience, adaptability, and courage in the face of criticism and challenges like narrow rows, lower yields, and the use of draft horses.» 

It was more than a challenge; it was a driving force that, in 2017, led the maison to achieve the “Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne and High Environmental Value certification”. This was followed by a complete conversion to organic farming, officially certified in 2024.

The result is a collection of champagnes poised between power and softness, structure and emotion, freshness and depth. «A true sensory palette». Each wine carries its personality: the summer brightness of Paul, «a precise, almost sunlit Blanc de Blancs»; the autumn depth of Louis, «led by Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, with notes of ripe fruit, toasted bread, and a hint of wood»; the winter complexity of the Millésimes, «dense, complex, and comforting, like a fire in the hearth of a sitting room»; and the spring softness of Rosé, «with floral and fruity notes full of sensuality and tenderness».

Looking ahead, Desbordes has ambitious plans. «I want to continue showcasing the maison through its spaces on the Avenue de Champagne — the Champagne bar, guest house, restaurant, and spa — all embodying a refined art de vivre that blends authenticity, elegance, and hospitality».

She also aims to expand internationally, with particular focus on Italy, «a land of passionate wine connoisseurs and lovers of fine bubbles», to share «the maison’s savoir-faire and unique identity, creating genuine connections and conveying the emotion each bottle inspires to all who taste our champagne»

Family remains at the heart of the story. «One day, I hope to see one of my children take the reins». Desbordes says. Rose, eight, «already shows a lively curiosity for the vines, the wine, and everything that surrounds the maison», while Pierre-Marie «is focusing his studies toward viticulture and oenology.»

The maison is therefore the guardian of a living legacy, ready to be reimagined by the new generations, because «passing on means preserving the heritage while leaving space for those who come after us to reinvent, in their way, what we have built with passion».

Maison Élodie D. is not only about champagne; it is also about genuine hospitality, through Bulles & Bonheur, which welcomes guests to «the Champagne bar, and La Demeure d’Élodie, a carefully restored 19th-century residence in Épernay, now an elegant boutique hotel».

This union of champagne, hospitality, and art de vivre is more than a business venture; it is a living expression of the family’s values, their passion for champagne, and their vision of true hospitality. «It is a warm, sincere, living project, just like us, and perhaps that is where its magic lies.»

The story of Maison Élodie D. is like an ancient, precious fabric, each thread representing a generation of winemakers. Élodie Desbordes does not simply preserve it; she enriches it every day, carrying forward her family’s history, protecting its traditions, and sharing them with all who taste her champagne.