Maxime Blin

For a region rich in nature and in history, there’s not nearly enough attention given to the Massif de Saint-Thierry. Located in the northernmost part of Champagne, the Massif de Saint-Thierry boasts magnificent forests and vineyards that together form a spectacular green oasis within which some 15 villages are sheltered. There is a copious amount of history in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, but the one defining event that singlehandedly put the area on the Champagne map is when, succeeding his baptism in 496, Clovis famously donated the region to bishop Saint Rémi. And as labor-intensive as it might seem to enumerate the many crown jewels that await in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, there is an exceptional gem worth taking the time to single-out. Sitting in the village of Trigny is the family-owned and operated champagne house Maxime Blin. Like most independent Maisons, Champagne Maxime-Blin is a story of family and patrimony, but here, above it all, it is also a story of love and marriage. At the heart of Champagne Maxime-Blin is transmission and the heritage, values and savoir-faire passed on from one generation of husband/wife duo to the next, all sharing a long history of grape growing and winemaking. A family affair for three generations, first came Juliette and Robert, whose longing for business and creativity saw them plant the winery’s first vines after World War II. Then came Gilles, who joined forces with his wife Madeleine. Together they built the press and vat room and ventured into the world of sales. Today, Maxime and Claire Blin, the husband-wife winemaking team behind this effervescent champagne label, is writing their own story and drawing greater attention onto the passed over province. Soaking in champagne culture, Maxime and Claire combine their respect for the time-honored tradition of fine winemaking and a strong commitment to innovative technology with their passion for nature as terroir and ecologically driven champagne producers.