IN BREVE
- Domaine Alexandre Bonnet appoints Benjamin Courant as new vineyard manager.
- Courant brings a clear vision: wine is born in the vineyard and soil is at the heart of the agronomic strategy.
- His experience in Beaune and Chablis enriches his knowledge of the Kimmeridgian soils of Les Riceys.
- Courant promotes sustainable practices and emphasizes that each parcel has its own unique requirements.
- The appointment strengthens the dialogue between vineyard and cellar, supporting demanding and sensitive viticulture.
In the heart of Les Riceys, a symbolic territory for Pinot Noir in the Côte des Bar, Domaine Alexandre Bonnet announces the appointment of Benjamin Courant as new vineyard manager. Thirty-six years old, with unconventional training and a clear vision: wine is born in the vineyard.
Courant’s arrival strengthens the identity of a southern Champagne tied to parcel work. The Domaine stands out for its precise reading of the contrées and for an agronomic approach built on soil observation and long-term management.
TRAINING AND BACKGROUND
After an initial career in the forestry sector, Courant chose viticulture. He specialized in Beaune, earning BPA and BTS qualifications through work-study programs. His experiences in Chablis, alongside leading producers, allowed him to deepen his knowledge of Kimmeridgian soils, a central element also in the terroir of Les Riceys.
A “riceton” by adoption for years, he knows the character of this part of Champagne, wilder and sunnier. The Domaine’s mosaic of parcels represents an ideal context for precision viticulture, founded on respect for natural balances.
“Each parcel imposes its own rhythm, its own reading, its own requirement. The role of the vineyard manager is to understand its balances and respect them,” says Courant.
SOIL, BIODIVERSITY AND PRUNING
The appointment follows the parcel work already initiated by Alexandre Bonnet. The goal is to consolidate careful management and patience, based on soil analysis.
Facing climate challenges, Courant places soil at the heart of the agronomic strategy. He promotes practices that favor biodiversity, from cover crops to agroforestry. He also expands the application of Guyot-Poussard pruning, a technique aimed at safeguarding vine longevity.
VINEYARD AND CELLAR IN SYNERGY
Courant’s arrival strengthens the dialogue between vineyard and cellar, in synergy with cellar manager Irvin Charpentier. Two complementary skills, united by a culture of parcel detail.
If in the cellar Charpentier interprets the identity of the places, in the vineyard Courant is its first observer. The continuous exchange between plant, soil and vinification thus becomes the foundation for a coherent expression of Les Riceys.
With this appointment, Domaine Alexandre Bonnet confirms its commitment to pursuing demanding and sensitive viticulture, aimed at enhancing the terroir and strengthening the identity of its wines.
