Hugues Godmé

Hugues Godmé descends from a family of winegrowers active in the Champagne region since the 19th century. His grandfather, Joseph Godmé, initiated estate bottling after the Second World War. Hugues received his first vineyard plot in 1976 following his graduation from viticulture school. For several decades, the family vineyards were managed under the Godmé Père et Fils label. In 2014, Hugues established his own independent domain in Verzenay to pursue a distinct viticultural philosophy, separating his holdings from those of his sister, Sabine. He now manages the estate alongside his daughter, Lucille Godmé, who represents the fifth generation of the family.

The estate consists of 7.6 hectares divided into approximately 40 separate parcels. These holdings are located in the Grand Cru villages of Verzenay, Verzy, and Beaumont sur Vesle, as well as the Premier Cru villages of Villers-Marmery and Villedommange. The soils are characterized by the typical chalk and limestone of the Montagne de Reims. Godmé began transitioning to organic farming in 2006, achieving organic certification in 2013 and biodynamic certification through Biodyvin and Demeter in 2014. In the cellar, winemaking involves spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in neutral oak barrels and enamel-lined cement tanks. Juice is moved by gravity to preserve aromas, and most wines are bottled without fining or filtration.

The producer is recognized for a vinous style that emphasizes structural precision and low dosage, typically ranging from Extra Brut to Brut Nature. Signature cuvées include the Grand Cru Extra Brut and several single-parcel wines that highlight specific terroir expressions. Les Alouettes Saint Bets is a pure Chardonnay from Villers-Marmery, while Les Romaines is a Pinot Meunier sourced from Villedommange. These wines are often aged on the lees for extended periods, sometimes exceeding five years, to develop complexity without sacrificing mineral tension. The estate is associated with the movement of grower-producers focused on site-specific transparency and biodynamic integrity.