Alexandre Bonnet

A history that goes back to the Gallo-Roman era 

This village is very ancient and seems to have been founded in the Gallo-Roman era. Wine-growing is believed to have started approximately at the same time. Times have not always been peaceful and quiet.

Ricey-Bas was founded during the Gallo-Roman era, whereas Ricey-Haute-Rive and Ricey-Haut are more recent. Invaded by barbarians just a few years after its creation, the village went through several wars as the area was being claimed successively by the Lords of Champagne and the Lords of Burgundy. It was then invaded by foreigners during the French Empire in 1814. Finally it survived both World Wars.

Towards the end of the Hundred’s Year War, the last battles between Louis XI of France and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, were taking place and the village was completely destroyed. This means that all the houses and buildings you can see now were built after the end of the 15th century.

Louis XIV of France enjoyed drinking the rosé wine from Les Riceys. He had found out about it thanks to the local masons who were working on the construction of the Palace of Versailles.

After each of these setbacks, the locals reconstructed the village and started growing their vines again.
Les Riceys are composed of three villages: Ricey-Bas, Ricey-Haute-Rive and Ricey-Haut..

The famous rosé wine from Les Riceys 

Les Riceys produce a much appreciated rosé wine and the village enjoyed relative wealth as witnessed nowadays with its magnificent churches and its beautiful stone houses.

During the Revolution, the district was the second most populated in the Aube department and that remained true until the 1826 census.

Because it was quite isolated, the area was one of the first ones to see its population move to more urban districts and lost a lot of its importance, especially after the vineyards were infested with grape phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. Vine started growing on the hillsides and vineyards now spread over 2,086 acres of land which make it the largest wine-growing area in the Champagne region. This outcome came at a price as the wine-growers’ revolt proved it in 1911 which ended with the integration of wines from the Aube department to the protected designation area of Champagne in 1927

The Riceys vineyards have changed during the centuries. The Gallo-Romans were already producing their first wines here.

During the 12th century, the monks of the Clairvaux Abbey imported vine stocks from Hungary. Several centuries later, Champagne was invented with these grapes.

The local wine-growers are passionate about their job typical of their wonderful land. They are true craftsmen who work with their vines every day.

Right in the middle of the beautiful Côte des Bar in the South of the Champagne region, the Riceys vineyards are unique in the sector. With 2,086 acres of planted vines, mainly Pinot Noir, it is also the most important wine-producing area in the Champagne region. 

Strong and noble 

Our vineyards spread over about 110 acres of land on the vast and sunny hillsides of Les Riceys.

King of the Côte des Bar, the Pinot Noir variety holds a major place in our vintage wines, both strong and noble. It is blended with different wines amongst the very best in Champagne, especially from the Côte des Blancs with its Chardonnay variety that mixes beautifully with the most subtle wines of the House.

The history of the Alexandre Bonnet Champagne House goes back a long way in the stunning village of Les Riceys. With three Appellations d’origine contrôlée (controlled designation of origin), the place is unique in the world of winemaking. Its 2,086 acres of vineyards make it the largest wine producing district in the Champagne region.

Thanks to its geologic and geographic properties, the Riceys vineyards are also amongst the wine-producing areas that offer the best Pinots Noirs in the Côte des Bar.

As early as 1934, Lucien Noble, the grandfather on our mother’s side, started growing his own vine stocks. His passion was passed on to the next generations, until 1970 when René, Serge and Alain Bonnet founded the Alexandre Bonnet brand. 

An exceptional land 

With over 110 acres of vineyards, modern and entirely integrated production tools, owners true to their heritage, the Alexandre Bonnet Champagne clearly is today a traditional Champagne House in an exceptional land.

Its Champagne wines are authentic and highlight the Pinot Noir variety with vintages like the Noir Extra Brut, the Blanc de Noirs and Perle Rosée, as well as its iconic Rosé des Riceys wine.