Above: José Lievens, son-in-law of Jacques Picard. Text and photo via Scott Paul Wines.
The vineyards in Champagne’s Monte de Berru region were completely destroyed in World War I — the vineyards were in fact on the front line for much of the war. It was not until after WWII that Roger Picard replanted the area, with 40 acres of vines in the villages of Beru, Montbré and Avenay Val d’Or. Many other families followed suit and replanted in the area after the war, but Picard remains the only Grower-Producer in the region.
The Picard estate is planted 70% to Chardonnay, 10% to Pinot Noir and 20% to Pinot Meunier. One of the larger Grower-Producers, they bottle about 12,000 cases per year, with a style focused on richness of fruit and overall balance.
