The Nowack family has been rooted in Vandières since the late 18th century, following the marriage of a man from Eastern Europe and a local French woman. Their son, Baptiste, became the first winemaker in the family.
Also based in Vandières, Flavien Nowack joined his parents in the family business in 2011. From the moment he arrived, the young winemaker was full of brilliant ideas for developing and improving the estate. His first wish was to cultivate the land in a more sustainable way, favouring ploughing and eliminating chemical herbicides. The vineyard has since been certified organic. Flavien explored biodynamic practices as well, ultimately retaining only what he felt was coherent and meaningful. Trained in agroforestry, he has planted dozens of tree species among the vines. Deeply attached to his terroirs, he has studied them closely to draw out their finest expression, adding to his father’s work a stronger focus on ‘vintage’ specificity.
Grapes are harvested in small crates, and vinifications at the estate are carried out gently with as little intervention as possible. The winemakers guiding principles are clear: no inputs, little or no sulphur, minimal or no dosage, and extended ageing before disgorgement. The result is a range of cuvées that are fragrant and authentic, defined by elegance and finesse. This Champagne vineyard ranks among the finest addresses in the region, thanks to its cuvées reflecting all the flavours of this outstanding terroir.