Bruno Paillard worked as a broker in Champagne for years, building an intimate knowledge of the vineyards and parcels. In 1981, he set out on his own and over the years assembled a domaine of 32 hectares of estate vineyards (12 hectares of which are Grand Cru status).
The vineyards are mostly in the towns of Le Mesnil and Oger (in the Côte des Blancs), Cumières (in the Grande Vallée de la Marne), and Verzenay (in the Montagne de Reims), plus Les Riceys (in the Côte des Bars). As a vineyard owner, Bruno has a farmer’s respect for the health of the soil and practices sustainable farming, with no pesticides, herbicides, or nonorganic fertilizers used in the vineyards.
The Paillard “house style” has always been one of finesse and elegance. The current practices of en tirage aging for three years minimum on the yeast, as well as finishing the wines as Extra Brut with very low dosage levels, have given the wines clarity, precision, and focus. Maison Bruno Paillard was among the first to print disgorgement dates on their labels and have long advocated for further extended bottle rest after final dosage.
