Winemaker
Aurélien Laherte
Winemaker & Co-Proprietor, Champagne Laherte Frères
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Blancs-Coteaux, France
i. Biography
Precision in parcel selection and the careful stewardship of old vines dictate the character of grower Champagne. Aurélien Laherte operates within this exacting tradition, directing production at Laherte Frères in Blancs-Coteaux and Chavot with a focus on terroir-driven vinification across the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay.
Coming Up
The estate traces its foundation to 1889, established by two brothers, including Jean-Baptiste Laherte, operating initially as négociants éleveurs across Chavot and Epernay before generations of family vineyard management followed. Rather than flattening regional characteristics, the cellar approaches blending through deliberate technical parameters across varied micro-terroirs. In the core lineup, the Ultradition Brut represents 45% of production, relying on a proportion of 60% Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Noir; it incorporates 40% reserve wine against a base vintage such as 2016 to balance honey, nut, apricot, and fresh berry notes. Tension and minerality emerge distinctly in non-dosé releases. The Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature utilizes 100% Chardonnay from 35-year-old vines, blending a 2016 base with 50% reserve wine without dosage to emphasize linear acidity and salinity. Single-vineyard and old-vine bottlings preserve historical planting selections. For the 2014 vintage of 'Les Grandes Crayères' Blanc de Blancs, 100% Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from a parcel in Chavot marked by Campanian chalk, yielding mineral focus and hazelnut tones. Parcel heritage is equally central to 'Les Vignes d'Autrefois' Vieilles Vignes de Meunier 2014, vinified entirely from Meunier parcels planted in 1947 and 1953 to draw out round fruit and walnut profiles. Structured expressions are mirrored in 'Les Longues Voyes' Blanc de Noirs 1er Cru 2014, a 100% Pinot Noir bottling rested on its lees for 18 months and finished at a dosage of 4 grams.
Where They Are Now
Aurélien Laherte represents the seventh generation leading Champagne Laherte Frères as winemaker and vigneron. Working out of Blancs-Coteaux and the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay, he continues to articulate the family's vineyard holdings through specific parcel pressings, minimal intervention, and disciplined reserve integration.
Career - Winemaker and Vigneron — Laherte Frères (–present)
FAQ What is Aurélien Laherte's current role? Aurélien Laherte serves as the seventh-generation winemaker and vigneron leading Champagne house Laherte Frères. Where is Laherte Frères based? The estate operates out of Blancs-Coteaux and Chavot, working parcels across the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay. What old-vine parcels does Aurélien Laherte bottle? Laherte bottles cuvées such as 'Les Vignes d'Autrefois,' which is produced from Meunier vines planted in 1947 and 1953.
