Established in 1859 through the merger of two Champagne growers, Duval-Leroy is based in its village of origin, Vertus, one of the top Premier Cru rated areas in Champagne. Handed down from father to son, it has managed to remain independent to this day and is one of few remaining family-owned Champagne houses.

It was in 1855 that Champagne merchant Armand Edouard Leroy discovered the first unofficial ranking of Champagne wines in La Cuisine et le Medecin. He realised then that his trade was evolving. What he needed was a concept that would attract and secure the loyalty of his customers over time.

This new ranking gave him the opportunity to put into practice an idea that had been growing in his mind for years – to present his Champagne wines in a form that would be consistently identifiable, year after year.

But there remained one obstacle to the Leroy family’s ambitions: where to find a winemaker sufficiently meticulous and far-sighted to meet the demands of his concept. Candidates at that time were few and far between. After months of searching, he could only find one House equal to the task – and the name was Duval.

Over the next four years, the two families came to know each other and agree their common objectives. Their destinies were finally united with the 1859 harvest – a year that brought forth so memorably the rewards of passionate vineyard husbandry linked to precise winemaking, and the year that the world was introduced to the unforgettable taste and style that is the unique signature of Duval-Leroy.

This high level of care is evident in the vineyard and the winery. The team take particular care when dividing the juice into fractions and racking the musts off their heavy lees. Alcoholic fermentation is conducted at low, stable temperatures so as to optimise the aromatic complexity. All cuvees undergo malolactic fermentation, developing a characteristic smoothness and the first inklings of those brioche-like aromas.

Every year 250 cuvees are tasted and only 15 will make it into bottle – each one based on the three approved Champagne varietals, selected by roughly 40 different crus.

Today, the House’s reputation has spread to more than 50 different countries, greatly furthered by the 150 Michelin-rated restaurants that share the same passion for uncompromising quality.

Click here to view Duval-Leroy, with 25% off until January while stocks last.