Jacques Lassaigne

Coming from a family of farmer-breeders who settled in Montgueux after the 1914-1918 war, Jacques Lassaigne planted his first vines in 1964 on land classified as AOC Champagne. At first, the aim was to diversify and meet the growing demand from the major Champagne houses for grape purchases. Gradually, he bought land and continued planting vines until the 1990s. Together with three of his brothers, they installed the second press in the commune of Montgueux in 1972, a vertical Coquard press, which is still used today by one of the four families (Gérard Lassaigne).

Christian and Jacques Lassaigne each produced a tank of still white wine, which they marketed under their own names, labeled Vin Nature de la Champagne. This wine was renamed Coteaux Champenois when the appellation was established in 1974. Jacques then decided to pursue the venture of wine commercialization by producing Champagne starting in 1981 at the current estate location, which was built for this purpose. Vine growing became his primary and sole activity.

In 1990, he expanded the estate by installing a Coquard press and a new cellar, allowing him to be autonomous and rely solely on his expertise. The distribution of the Champagne wines produced at the estate required him to stop selling grapes to négociant houses. Production was then about 35,000 bottles per year, with sales fully managed on-site through direct sales. His son Emmanuel joined him in 1999 to learn the family craft over three years and began making his own cuvées starting in 2002.

The estate’s status changed from Récoltant to Négociant, allowing the purchase of grapes exclusively from Montgueux and the exploitation of the potential of some old vines located in lieux-dits not owned by the estate. Direct sales were completely abandoned in favor of professional buyers and wine shops initially, then importers. Today, Domaine Jacques Lassaigne is featured on the wine lists of 70 to 80 percent of the world’s finest restaurants and exports to 40 countries. Five cuvées made from Chardonnay of Montgueux are produced and sold each year (Les Vignes de Montgueux, Le Cotet, La Colline Inspirée, Millésime, Clos Sainte-Sophie), along with special and sometimes unique creations added each vintage.