Ulysse Collin
Ulysse Collin holds a unique position in the Champagne region as the only winery producing wines exclusively from individual vineyards: Les Pierrierres, Les Maillons, Les Roises, and Les Enfers. Each wine truly embodies the character of its terroir. Olivier Collin, the hereditary winemaker, leads this Champagne house. The family’s winemaking history dates back to 1812 in Côte des Petit Morin. A significant contribution to the estate’s development was made by Olivier’s grandfather, René Collin, who expanded the holdings to 18 hectares after World War II and began producing their own Champagne wines. Until the 1980s, he was a respected member of the Club des Viticulteurs Champenois. However, in 1987, Olivier’s father sold the company, leasing the vineyards and cellars to a major brand, effectively ending independent production. A turning point in Olivier’s life was a trip to Burgundy during his student years. Enchanted by the wines of this region, he became passionate about the idea of regaining the family lands and rethinking the approach to winemaking. In 1995, Olivier entered law school, planning to use his acquired knowledge to reclaim 8.7 hectares of the family estate. Alongside his legal studies, he completed a six-month viticulture course. In 2003, Olivier restored 4.5 hectares of leased vineyards. Starting with minimal resources, he purchased a used tractor to work the soils that had been untouched for 18 years and acquired old Burgundy barrels. Despite the challenges of 2003, he had to sell the entire harvest to sustain the operation. In 2004, Olivier released his first batch of Champagne, amounting to 5,400 bottles. In 2005, he recovered an additional 4.2 hectares of vineyards, including the lands of his grandparents, as well as all winemaking equipment, including the historic Coquard press and aging cellar. It is noteworthy that Olivier does not adhere to strict principles of organic or biodynamic farming. His success is based on an intuitive approach and his own working methods, making his winemaking philosophy both unique and effective.
