LALLIER: work and passion
Lallier History
Aÿ: a prestigious,
thousand-year old Grand Cru vineyard
Aÿ’s winemaking history dates back almost 1,700 years to the Roman era. In the 16th century, Henry IV, ”His Majesty of Aÿ and good wine’‘, created the reputation of still white wines from Aÿ throughout his kingdom.
Around two hundred years later, the invention of blending, and the control of secondary fermentation in bottle, gave birth to Champagne, the sparkling wine that we know today.
1906: the birth
of a prestigious brand
The first bottle labels signed by Champagne LALLIER date back to 1906, when the Champagne house was founded by René LALLIER (1861 – 1938), who had married into a prestigious Champenois family.
LALLIER has been deeply rooted in the village of Aÿ ever since. The shield that proudly adorns its labels symbolises the historical roots of the Lallier name.
An exceptional terroir
In 1936, Aÿ was one of the seventeen villages to be classified as ‘‘Grand Cru” in Champagne, a clear indication of the quality of the grapes that grow on its famous hillsides and the remarkable wines they produce.
1996: René-James Lallier,
a new direction
In 1996, René-James Lallier, the founder’s grandson, took the brand in a new direction. He carried out major modernisation work on the production facilities in Aÿ and refurbished the cellars in which LALLIER champagnes are left to age for many years.
In his quest for outstanding quality, he enlisted the help of Francis Tribaut, who worked at the time as advisor to some of the most prestigious names in Champagne, as well as managing his family’s wine domaine in Romery.
2020: Campari,
a new owner
The Campari group acquired the House in 2020 and appointed Dominique Demarville General Manager and Cellar Master.
Driven by his passionate commitment, Dominique Demarville will enrich the oenological identity of the House, which he has chosen for its creative freedom.
His mission is to continue to sublime terroirs and artisanal know-how, and to open up unexplored paths. In accordance with a strict devotion to nature, he will select and develop the house’s vineyards; he will enhance the overall eco-responsibility approach.