This region is best known for black grapes, the reputation of the Grand Cru villages of Mailly, Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy is based on the Pinot Noir grown on the slopes that surround them.

Unusually for top-rated sites in the Northern hemisphere, vineyards in the first three villages named largely face to the north. The Montagne – really more of a wide plateau than mountain, it’s only 283 metres is its highest point – describes a U-shaped arc open to the west and running from just south of Reims almost round to the eastern flank of Epernay with sheltered vineyards (less prone to frost) sloping down towards the valleys of the rivers Vesle in the north and Marne in the south. It boasts more grands crus than any other district in Champagne with the less well-known villages of Puisieulx, Sillery, Beamont-sur-Vesle, and Louvois also within its boundaries making nine out the appellation’s 17.

Stylistically some houses, would also add the grand cru village of Aÿ, even though like the grand cru of Tours-sur-Marne further to the east it is actually located right next to the river Marne. Although Pinot Noir is the most widely planted variety in the region (38%), to the west of the village of Ludes and in the Petite Montagne south west of Reims, Pinot Meunier becomes more evident.

There are also important pockets of Chardonnay that accounts for 28% of the vineyard area, mostly to be found in the eastern facing villages (at the base of the U) with the highly rated (95% on the Échelle des Crus) premier cru villages of Villers Marmery and Trépail the most significant with 240 and 252 hectares respectively (98% and 91% of the vines in each village). As should already be clear this is not one homogeneous vineyard producing grapes with near identical characteristics but rather one where the differing microclimate, aspect and exposure of individual sites results in a large range of styles. Soil types may also vary although all the grand crus are on the same chalky bedrock for which Champagne is rightly famous.