Fosse-Sèche : Il Était une Fois

A full-bodied sparkling wine of great refinement

The estate

Founded between the years 800 and 1000 by Benedictine monks, Fosse-Sèche belonged to the Church for several centuries. A passionate advocate of wine and ecology, Guillaume Pire settled here in 1998, with the ambition of crafting singular wines that authentically express their native terroirs. Guillaume was joined in 2010 by his twin brother Adrien.

The vineyard

Fosse-Sèche looks after a 15-hectare vineyard with a singular geology, farmed organically and biodynamically. Composed of flint stones and iron oxide, these soils also benefit from a cool, windswept exposure. Together with their wives, Guillaume and Adrien Pire are deeply committed to an environmentally respectful approach. As a result, one third of the land is devoted to growing vines, while the remaining two thirds are dedicated to preserving biodiversity and nature.

The wine

Il Était une Fois de Fosse-Sèche is a sparkling wine crafted from a blend of several vintages.

Vinification and ageing

Harvested in 2020, the grapes undergo a complete, spontaneous fermentation without added yeast. The wine is aged on its full lees until the 2021 harvest, when fresh grape juice from the estate was added. Naturally sweet and rich in yeasts, this juice was used as the tirage liqueur to trigger a natural secondary fermentation.

Grape variety

Il Était une Fois de Fosse-Sèche is 100% Chenin Blanc.