Champagne Drappier is a family house in Urville, in the Côte des Bar at the southern end of Champagne. The Drappiers have made wine here since 1808, and their style is built on ripe Pinot Noir, low dosage and very little sulphur. On this page you will find Carte d'Or, the Brut Nature cuvées, Blanc de Blancs and Rosé de Saignée.
Drappier: a family Champagne house in Urville since 1808
François Drappier settled in Urville in 1808, and the house is still run by his descendants. Michel Drappier has led the winemaking since 1979 and now works alongside the next generation of the family. The cellars are far older than the house itself: they were built in 1152 under Saint Bernard, the founder of nearby Clairvaux Abbey, and the buildings were once used by Cistercian monks from Clairvaux.
The house has a famous neighbour in its history too. Charles de Gaulle lived at La Boisserie in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, a short drive from Urville, and was a loyal customer. In 1990 the family named a cuvée after him, a Pinot Noir-led blend with some Chardonnay. Drappier is also known for a very wide range of bottle sizes, from small formats up to the 30-litre Melchizedek, and the Brut Nature is a good wine to try in magnum.
Pinot Noir from the Côte des Bar, with rare old grape varieties
The Côte des Bar lies closer to Chablis than to Reims, on Kimmeridgian limestone and marl. It is Pinot Noir country, and Pinot Noir has been the backbone of Drappier since Georges Drappier replanted with it in the 1930s. The family farms around 60 hectares, mostly black grapes, with Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay in smaller shares.
Drappier also keeps the forgotten grapes of Champagne alive: Arbane, Petit Meslier, Fromenteau and Blanc Vrai, as Pinot Blanc is called here. Part of the vineyard is farmed organically, sulphur is used sparingly in the cellar, and in 2016 Drappier became the first Champagne house to be certified carbon neutral.
The Drappier range: Carte d'Or, Brut Nature, Blanc de Blancs and rosé
Carte d'Or Brut is the house signature: a Pinot Noir-dominated blend with a little Chardonnay and Meunier, aged for about three years. Generous and round, it is the natural starting point if you are new to the house.
Brut Nature Zéro Dosage is pure Pinot Noir with no added sugar, a dry, clean Champagne with real body. The Brut Nature Sans Soufre, first released in 2007 after years of trials, goes one step further: no dosage and no added sulphur, for a vivid and very pure expression of the fruit. Both appear here under slightly different label names, and the Brut Nature also comes in magnum.
Blanc de Blancs is mainly Chardonnay with a small share of Blanc Vrai, which gives a rounder, gently floral style next to the Pinot-driven wines. Rosé de Saignée Brut Nature is made from Pinot Noir left on its skins for a few days before pressing, giving a deep colour and a red-berry profile without dosage. For more styles, browse our full Champagne selection, our Blanc de Blancs Champagne and our Rosé Champagne.
The house's prestige wines are Grande Sendrée, named after a plot covered in ash after a fire in Urville in 1836, and the Charles de Gaulle cuvée.
Frequently asked questions about Drappier Champagne
Where is Champagne Drappier made?
In Urville, in the Côte des Bar in the Aube, the southernmost part of the Champagne appellation. The family also buys some grapes from other villages, including the Montagne de Reims.
What does Brut Nature sans soufre mean?
Brut Nature means no sugar is added at disgorgement. Sans soufre means no sulphur is added during winemaking. Drappier's version is pure Pinot Noir and should be served well chilled.
Which Drappier Champagne should I start with?
Carte d'Or Brut shows the house style in its most classic form. If you prefer a drier, more precise Champagne, go for the Brut Nature.
What food goes with Drappier Champagne?
The Pinot-rich wines suit roast poultry, white meat and mature cheese such as Chaource from the Aube. The Brut Nature and Blanc de Blancs are lovely with oysters, sushi and shellfish.