Champagne Michel Laval

Champagne Michel Laval is a family estate located in the picturesque village of Boursault, in the heart of the Vallée de la Marne. As representatives of the Récoltant Manipulant (RM) category, the Laval family grows their own grapes and produces Champagne from them, maintaining full control over quality at every stage. The origins of the winemaking dynasty date back to 1870. It was then that the great‑grandfather, Jules, inherited a plot of land and, together with his son Lucien, decided to start growing grapes, laying the foundation for the family business. The true turning point came in 1948, when his grandchildren, Roger and Fabienne, took the next step and began producing their first Champagnes. Since then, they have never stopped exploring the rich diversity of the Boursault terroir. The culmination of this long journey came in 1979, when Michel, a representative of the fourth generation, decided to found his own brand, “Champagne Michel Laval”, and was the first to start selling wine under his own name rather than to large négociants. The estate’s total vineyard area is 6.5 hectares, divided into nine plots. The soils here, distinguished by their high content of clay, sand and marl, are so unique and complex that they have often been unofficially and very flatteringly nicknamed “La Bourgogne Champenoise” (the Burgundy of Champagne). This rich terroir, considered one of the keys to success, shapes the remarkable minerality and depth of the future wines. Today, the estate not only honours traditions but also looks to the future by implementing sustainable development principles. The team has completely abandoned herbicides and is converting the soils to biodynamics, using compost and green manures to maintain vine health. Their philosophy is to preserve nature and pass it on to future generations in an unspoiled state.