The 18 hectares of vineyards of AR Lenoble have been certified “Haute Valeur Environnementale” since 2012

AR Lenoble has always been committed to sustainable agriculture methods on its vineyards, as part of a longstanding sustainable development philosophy. AR Lenoble owns 10 hectares of chardonnay in the Grand Cru village of Chouilly, 6 hectares of pinot noir in the Premier Cru village of Bisseuil, and 2 hectares of Meunier in Damery in the Marne Valley.

This approach has long since been formalised in the company’s Environmental Charter but after many years of passionate commitment to this charter by Anne and Antoine Malassagne, it was officially recognised with the certification of “Haute Valeur Environnementale” (High Environmental Value) in 2012.

This certification is the result of a legal measure (called the Grenelle de l’Environnement) instigated in France in 2007 in order to encourage sustainable development. This procedure has today emerged as a strong alternative to organic farming.

It responds to the need for official identification of farming operations that are committed to a strictly environmentally-friendly approach but which are different from organic operations. It includes three levels of environmental requirements, and only the highest of these levels entitles the farm to use the “Exploitation de Haute Valeur Environnementale” wording on its products. AR Lenoble is one of them.

The procedure to obtain HVE certification is objectively quantified around four themes: biodiversity, phytosanitary strategy, fertiliser management, and water resources. Third-level HVE certification, which AR Lenoble has held for the last seven years, attests to the company’s attainment of the environmental performance thresholds in these four themes.

It is the reward for more than 20 years of environmentally-friendly procedures put in place on the estate, our work on the soil including grass cover and ploughing), and sustainable disease control.

In concrete terms this 3^rd-level certification of AR Lenoble means:

• Zero use of chemical fertilisers
• Zero use of weed-killer
• Drastic limits on the use of phytosanitary inputs to control mildew and powdery mildew
• Particular attention to biodiversity and enhancement of the vineyard, with hedgerows, orchards, embankments, trees and low walls.

AR Lenoble was the second champagne house to receive the certification of High Environmental Value for our vineyards.