Champagne Augustin

The Producer

Marc Augustin farms nine and a half hectares of Premier Cru vineyard in Avenay-Val-d’Or, on the slope above Mareuil-sur-Ay in the heart of Champagne. The estate is Demeter-certified biodynamic — a commitment inherited from his father Jean, who never used a single herbicide or synthetic chemical in his life.

The Philosophy

What we witnessed at Augustin was some of the most rigorous biodynamic practice we have seen anywhere. Beyond the standard preparations — cow horn manure (500), silica (501) — Marc employs plant concoctions, aromatherapy, quartz crystals buried at vineyard borders, and bottling timed to lunar cycles and tidal rhythms.

His approach to pest management is particularly striking. Rather than spraying pesticides, he captures dead insects of the pest species, passes them through purified water, and sprays the resulting solution on his vines. This is peppering — a practice drawn from Rudolf Steiner’s original agricultural lectures of 1924. Whether or not the mechanism is scientifically validated, the devotion is unmistakable, and the wines are remarkable.

The Wines

The cuvées are named after the four elements, each reflecting a different expression of the terroir:

• Terre — The earth cuvée. Structured, mineral, grounded.
• Air — Light, aromatic, lifted.
• Feu — Intensity and depth.
• Zero-sulfur bottling — The most ambitious expression: no added sulfur whatsoever.

All wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of enamel tanks, oak barrels, and Georgian clay amphorae. No chaptalization, no filtration, minimal sulfur.

Details

• Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
• Vineyard: 9.5 hectares, Premier Cru, Avenay-Val-d’Or
• Farming: Demeter biodynamic. Peppering, aromatherapy, quartz crystal placements. Lunar and tidal timing.
• Winemaking: Indigenous yeasts, enamel tanks, oak barrels, Georgian clay amphorae. No chaptalization, no filtration.
• Father: Jean Augustin — pioneered the estate’s chemical-free approach