Marie and Olivier are explorers by nature, always keen to learn more about their land and to test new ideas.

It’s this spirit that, since 1999, has driven their search to coax the very best from their 8.7 hectares of vines in Les Riceys. The Kimmeridgean soil here in La Côte des Bar, is ideally suited to Pinot Noir and it is mainly on this grape variety that Marie and Olivier lavish their care and attention although they also grow some of the ancient varietals that have been almost forgotten such as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Arbane and Petit Meslier. A few rows of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier have also been planted “just for fun”.

As soon as you hear the word Champagne you immediately think of bubbles, but for the Horiots Champagne is something of a novelty because they’ve only been making it for 10 years or so. On the other hand, they’ve been producing a range of still wines in Champagne since 1999: wines that perfectly reflect the diversity of the terroir in Les Riceys and the quality of the wines from each of its many regions.

Out in the vineyards Marie and Olivier patiently accept the vagaries of the weather and of the seasons in their constant pursuit of a delicate balance… “The terroir is more important than the choice of grape variety.” they explain modestly. In the cellars nothing is rushed: whether it’s the carbonic maceration, the vinification in barrels, or the ageing on lees. It goes without saying that this respect for the vines, for the flora and fauna in the vineyard and for the wine in the cellars is all guided joyfully by the precepts of biodynamics.