Regions
Aÿ
A single grand cru village on the south bank of the Marne, historically the most celebrated Pinot Noir site in Champagne and the home of Bollinger, Deutz and Ayala.
Geography
Aÿ (sometimes written Aÿ-Champagne) sits directly opposite Épernay on the north-facing slope south of the Marne river. Its southern exposure, chalk subsoil and gentle gradient have made it one of the highest-regarded Pinot Noir sites in the region for centuries.
Terroir
Pinot Noir is Aÿ's defining grape. The village carries 100% grand cru status. Wines sourced from Aÿ are structured, fleshy and capable of long ageing — and often sit at the core of prestige cuvées. Bollinger's La Grande Année and Gosset Celebris are anchored here; Aÿ fruit is also central to Krug's Grande Cuvée and Louis Roederer's Cristal.
Houses based in Aÿ
Bollinger (founded 1829), Deutz (1838), Ayala (1860), Gosset (claimed 1584, one of the oldest houses in the region), and smaller specialists such as Goutorbe and Henri Giraud all operate out of Aÿ. The concentration of historic houses in a village of under 5,000 people reflects the quality of its parcels.
Status
Aÿ is one of seventeen grand cru villages and historically the most celebrated Pinot Noir address in Champagne. Its wines routinely command the region's highest grape prices.