Champagne Michel Gonet

The Gonet family’s roots in Champagne run deep. Originally from Beaujolais, the family headed north and settled in France’s bubbly epicenter back in the 15th century, though the eponymous family winery was not established until 1802. The business still remains all in the family today, with seventh-generation Sophie Gonet at the helm of all operations. 

Gonet’s modern-day story begins with Sophie’s father, Michel, who is credited with aggressively moving the domaine to more modernized techniques, as well as a greater focus of quality overall. In addition to improving the winery’s standards, Michel also expanded the family’s vineyard holdings across some of the region’s top sites, including within the grand crus of Oger, Avize, and beyond. While the family is not dogmatic about following specific styles of farming, all vineyard work is done thoughtfully and without the use of chemicals, and biodiversity is always encouraged. Today, the Gonets proudly own approximately 40 hectares of vines in Champagne, with the majority rooted in the Côte des Blancs (and planned to Chardonnay). 

In the cellar, Gonet Champagnes are vinified in a combination of tank and barrel, with lees-aging implemented to add texture and weight. The final wines are thus powerful and creamy, though marked by refreshing veins of salty acidity that promise to pair beautifully with food and leave a lasting impression.