Simon Rion, Grower in Courmas
Champagne Simon Rion embodies a confidential, deeply artisanal approach to grower Champagne. Based in Courmas, just 15 km from Reims, this small 2.14-hectare estate carries on a family heritage, producing around 17,000 bottles a year, including several cuvées made in very limited quantities.
Located in the terroirs of the Petite Montagne de Reims, the vineyards benefit from an ideal south-western exposure and predominantly clay soils, with some silty soils, giving the wines a distinctive identity. Viticulture here is guided by one fundamental principle: working the soil. Ploughing encourages the vines to develop deep roots, allowing for a faithful expression of the terroir while preserving soil biodiversity.
In the cellar, the philosophy remains true to this natural and uncompromising approach. Simon’s Champagnes stand out for their low-intervention winemaking: the wines are neither filtered nor cold-stabilised, and are aged for extended periods on their lees. The vessels used for ageing are tailored to each cuvée — oak barrels for single-vineyard wines, and stainless-steel and concrete tanks for blends — allowing the wines’ full complexity and texture to shine through.
The result is a range of Champagnes that are both precise and vibrant, defined by pronounced salinity, great freshness, and elegant tension. More than simply sparkling wine, each cuvée is conceived as a wine in its own right, where balance, structure and texture take precedence over effervescence.
