Discoveries of the Champagne Houses: François Secondé

For several centuries, Sillery has been associated with one of the most sought-after still white wines in the world of Champagne.
Champagne François Secondé is located in the village of Sillery, which holds the prestigious 100% Grand Cru classification.
The estate covers 5.5 hectares of vineyards.
It is an independent winemaker (Vigneron Indépendant) and the only récoltant-manipulant (grower-producer) making authentic Sillery Champagne.

At just 14 years old, François Secondé left school to work as an apprentice in a vineyard, later becoming a vineyard worker himself.
He initially rented a small plot of vines and purchased his first vineyard in 1972.
In 1976, after expanding his rented land to 3 hectares and with the help of his wife Anne-Marie, he began producing his own Champagne.
Today, Champagne François Secondé’s vineyards—composed of two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay—span 5.5 hectares across Sillery, Mailly-Champagne, Puisieulx, and Verzenay.
The average age of the vines is around 37 years, and the estate follows sustainable viticulture practices that respect both nature and people.

The Historical Heritage of Sillery

Sillery rose to fame in the early 17th century thanks to Nicolas Brûlart, owner of the Château and vineyards of Sillery, who was Chancellor to King Henry IV.
Through these royal connections, he managed to introduce his wines to the king and his close circle.
By the 18th century, Sillery’s reputation had reached its peak—described by Edme Béguillet, a lawyer of the Dijon Parliament and a renowned wine expert known for his skeptical view of Champagne producers.
He wrote of Sillery’s wines:

“Their quality is so exceptional that only the king is worthy of them.”

Later, Countess de Genlis, a descendant of the Brûlart family, writer, and philosopher, recounted that Jean-Jacques Rousseau was fond of a certain onion-skin-colored Sillery wine.
On one occasion, her husband, Count de Genlis, sent Rousseau 25 bottles instead of the two he had requested, which offended Rousseau and nearly caused a rift between them.