A delightful reference for boutique, handcrafted Champagne, Penet-Chardonnet is today one of the region’s most dynamic and exciting small producers. Using only the finest Grand Cru vineyards in select sites across the Champagne region, winemaker Alexandre crafts gastronomic, complex Champagnes for real aficionados. Make no mistake; these are fine wines in their own right and not simply quaffable, celebratory standbys.
Penet-Chardonnet is the story of two families brought together by fate and marriage. Indeed, both families boast a long history of vine growing in Champagne, the Penets acquiring their vines in the town of Verzy during the French Revolution of the 19th century. The Penet family started to make their own Champagnes in 1951 when they purchased Mumm’s 19th-century cellars. Pursuing separate paths for many decades, the house of Penet-Chardonnet was created in 1967 when Christian Penet married Marie-Louise Chardonnet. A great name in Champagne was born!
Christian wasted no time modernizing the estate and built a new winery in the 1980s, still in use today. Christian retired in 2009, succeeded by his genial and competent son, Alexandre. He represents the fifth generation to run the house, and with a background in business and now a degree in enology, he is well qualified to carry on his father’s brilliant work.
Today, at the heart of Penet-Chardonnet’s approach is a dedication to terroir, above all else. Alexandre believes that a house’s job is to bring each vineyard to its fullest expression, which reaches its apogee with his range of superlative single-vineyard Champagnes. Moreover, Penet blocks the softening malolactic fermentation and insists on low dosage (sugar) levels, making his Champagnes the connoisseur’s choice for dinner. Indeed, to open these wonderful wines as an aperitif would be a crying shame; instead, they pair very well with a diverse range of dishes, including shellfish, foie gras, freshwater fish, and fowl. Then, there’s the prestige cuvée, Diane Claire, undoubtedly one of the region’s unsung gems! It’s a gorgeous, complex, and racy Champagne that would make even Dom Perignon proud.
1967
6 Hectares
30 years+
4,200 cases
March 4, 2022
Pinot Noir is one of the world’s great red wine grapes. Learn its flavors, food pairings, key regions, Burgundy styles, Champagne role, and why it is so difficult to grow.
Read article
September 5, 2022
Jacquère is a white grape varietal found mainly in the Savoie wine region in eastern France. It produces refreshing and gently aromatic dry white wine.
Read article
September 8, 2022
Mauzac: A white grape mainly grown in Gaillac and Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon, Southern France. Often used in sparkling wines like Crémant de Limoux.
Read article
July 24, 2024
Learn to decode French wine labels. Understand regions, rules, and quality indicators for better wine selections and appreciation.
Read article
September 13, 2022
Melon de Bourgogne is a white grape varietal grown primarily in the Loire Valley region of France. It is best known for white wine Muscadet.
Read article
October 4, 2022
Learn about Roussanne, the elegant white grape native to Rhône. Often blended with Marsanne, explore its unique qualities and rich heritage in our guide.
Read article
