For almost five hundred years, the Philipponnat family has left its mark on the soil of the Champagne region. Generations of men and women have cultivated the land at Ay, the family's home since the time of Apvril le Philipponnat who owned vines at Le Léon, between Ay and Dizy, in 1522. In the 16th century the family’s ancestors were winegrowers and merchants, suppliers to the court of Louis XIV, magistrates and Royal Mayors of Ay - a town which was directly dependent on the Crown since the era of the Counts of Champagne. Philipponnat’s legacy has been passed down through the ages, producing a long line of men and women who are still today the custodians of a centuries-old philosophy. Each one of them takes great care to pass on the expertise that they themselves inherited from their predecessors. There is an enduring family spirit and the team work hard to craft wines in keeping with the House’s values: individuality, excellence, generosity and humility. Established in the heart of the Champagne wine-growing area, Philipponnat possesses a unique heritage. Its magnificent, historic 18th century cellars were part of the Château de Mareuil. Philipponnat has owned an exceptional walled vineyard, unparalleled in the Champagne wine-growing area, for nearly a century: Clos des Goisses. The name of this 5.5 hectare plot with a 45° incline reflects its nature: in the old Champagne dialect, Gois or Goisse means a very steep slope. It is also the region’s warmest terroir: facing due south, this pure chalk slope receives no shade from sunrise to sunset.