Terroirs and origins

A harmony of soil, climate and the human hand

Tissu vivant par nature, le terroir est plus qu’un sol. Chaque coteau, parcelle, rang de vigne, et chaque personne qui en prend soin, jouent un rôle essentiel dans l’identité des cuvées RSRV. Chaque village, Grand Cru ou Premier Cru, est sélectionné avec justesse, pour son individualité, ses subtilités distinctives et la complémentarité qu’il offre en assemblage. Une cuvée RSRV devient l’expression singulière de son lieu d’origine dont elle porte l’empreinte.

Two RSRV champagnes fully capture the essence of their terroirs, embodying the very intention that led to the creation of the collection from the start.

Indeed, the House recognized the outstanding nature of these sites in the nineteenth century, acquiring plots in Verzenay as early as 1840 and in Cramant in 1882.

It was a visionary move, one that revealed an extensive knowledge of terroirs and an ability to foresee their potential very early on, taken long before the 1911 Échelle des Crus classification was officially established in Champagne.

The Cramant signature – RSRV Blanc de Blancs

At the heart of the Côte des Blancs, Cramant, one of Champagne’s 17 Grand Cru villages, benefits from a particular location, microclimate and geology. Upon acquiring 22 hectares in Cramant in 1882, the House of Mumm began exploring Chardonnay’s potential for expression on this site.

Vines are planted in a ring-shaped configuration at the foot of the Butte de Saran, where they thrive in the light of the rising sun. Meteorological factors and the site’s soil and hilly terrain offer ideal conditions for grapes to ripen.

The name Cramant is derived from Mont de Craie, or “hill of chalk,” after the significant amount of limestone on chalk in its soils.

Beyond soil and climate, the expertise of the men and women in the vineyard and cellars is essential in revealing the subtleties—the tension, minerality and delicate texture—of the Chardonnay grown in Cramant.

Enlightened choices, like that of crafting a demi-mousse for the RSRV Blanc de Blancs cuvée, result in a consummate tasting experience, offering an airy texture, with bubbles that feel more creamy than crisp.

The RSRV Blanc de Blancs cuvée perfectly incarnates the soul of Cramant, a Grand Cru that produces vibrant, luminous wines. The same characteristics can be found in the RSRV Cuvée 4.5 and the RSRV Rosé Foujita, to which it lends a distinctively supple mouthfeel.

Cramant Chardonnay is not only subtle and airy. It also offers silky texture and structure, another inestimable dimension.

Magalie Maréchal, Supply Manager.

Viticulture -Respecting the terroir and regenerating nature

The RSRV collection is grounded in sites with unique characteristics that define them. The soils of these terroirs are invaluable to the vines and are thus fundamental to crafting the exceptional RSRV cuvées.

To safeguard this treasure in the face of current environmental challenges and to pass it on in optimal conditions to future generations, it is essential to evolve viticulture practices to minimize the impact of human activities as much as possible.

Soils: Key Players in the Vineyard Ecosystem’s Regulation

Soils play a crucial role in carbon storage, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change by reducing the amount of CO₂ in the air.

Soils are home to a diversity of organisms that contribute to its fertility. This biodiversity consists of thousands of invertebrates, such as earthworms—which improve soil structure, increase aeration, and facilitate water infiltration—as well as springtails and mites, which decompose organic matter and contribute to humus formation. Microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) are also essential for nutrient release and absorption.

Soils filter, purify, and store water, thus contributing to the availability of high-quality water. Soil minerals and microbes act as natural filters, trapping pollutants and thereby protecting groundwater quality.

Soils influence the local climate by regulating temperature and humidity.

Les sols : acteurs majeurs de la régulation de l’écosystème du vignoble

Innovative Practices to Regenerate the Soils of RSRV Terroir

Soil restoration is a priority, requiring the adoption of new viticultural practices that enhance essential soil functions.

The evolution of practices began ten years ago at RSRV and remains central to its environmental approach:

2014 : Planting of trees, shrubs, and hedges, creation of stone walls, and installation of beehives
2016 : Double certification of the entire vineyard with VDC and HVE
2020 : Adoption of zero herbicides across the entire vineyard
2021 : To gain insights into soil conditions, RSRV conducted soil pits on its parcels, which revealed compacted and impoverished soils (with low organic matter and minimal soil life). This initial analysis enabled an assessment of needs and the launch of an experimental regenerative viticulture program Today, this program spans 24 hectares, representing 13% of the vineyard, with the goal of expanding to 100% by 2030.

Regenerative viticulture focuses on soil regeneration and promotes practices that enhance essential soil functions. It restores fertility, improves soil structure, and fosters microbial life. This approach includes:

Reducing soil tillage and limiting the number of passes.
Protecting soil with cover crops that provide multiple benefits: fertility, erosion control, soil structure, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Promoting organic diversity within the cover by combining different plant species.
Developing a systemic approach using green fertilizers (compost, manure, cover crops) and planting trees and hedges (agroforestry) to encourage biodiversity.

This new viticultural model contributes to vineyard resilience, helping it better withstand the uncertainties of climate change.

In practical terms, since 2021, RSRV has:

Introduced cover crops to nourish the trophic chain. Sown in autumn, these crops—including rye, fava beans, and various clover varieties—support underground biodiversity and improve soil porosity, thus enhancing aeration and water management. Organic matter from the decomposition of these cover crops enriches soil life (bacteria, fungi, earthworms), benefiting vine nutrition and growth. Within these cover crops, legumes are particularly effective at fixing nitrogen from the air and returning it to the soil.
Developed agroecological infrastructure: renovated stone walls, installed beehives and nesting boxes, in collaboration with local nurseries. In February 2023, nearly 2,000 trees and shrubs were planted in Cramant, creating hedges, groves, and wooded areas in partnership with experts from Biosphères and Reforest’Action. This initiative also includes the installation of hedges outside the parcels, forming ecological corridors for auxiliary species. These corridors support biodiversity by providing ecological continuity, offering animals an environment suitable for movement, feeding, resting, and reproduction.

At the same time, RSRV supports its partners in obtaining VDC certification—with the goal of achieving 100% engagement by 2030—and regularly shares trial results, providing technical support to those interested in experimenting with these innovative practices on their parcels.

Each advancement benefiting the soil since the launch of the experimental program in 2021 contributes to the overarching goal: respecting and protecting the exceptional sites that form the singular identity of the wines in the RSRV collection.

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