October 13th: Vouette & Sorbée with Héloïse Gautherot
At Vinonueva | 5145 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get tickets
In partnership with European Cellars
We’re delighted to welcome Héloïse Gautherot, for a Walkthrough Tasting at Vinonueva. She is the second generation at the acclaimed Champagne estate Vouette & Sorbée in the Côte des Bar.
Héloïse grew up surrounded by her family’s vines and wines, and after years assisting in both the cellar and the commercial side, she officially stepped into the role of winemaker in 2018. Just a year later, she was vinifying the entire range, with her father Bertrand devoting his energy to the vineyards. Today, father and daughter work side by side, tending just over five hectares across their cherished parcels.
Héloïse has been recognized as the new voice of the domaine, embodying both continuity and evolution as she brings her own sensitivity to winemaking while preserving the identity that made her family’s wines so distinctive.
Photo: Héloïse Gautherot
BACKGROUND
Vouette & Sorbée: The Farmer Who Put the Aube on the Map
Back in the 1980s, if you had said that the quiet village of Buxières-sur-Arce in the southern part of Champagne would one day produce some of the most sought-after wines in the region, people probably would have laughed. This was a place nobody looked to for great Champagne. Even Bertrand Gautherot, who grew up there, wasn’t planning to change that. He farmed his family’s vines conventionally and sold the grapes off to the large Champagne houses in the north.
But Bertrand is a farmer at heart, and as he started to raise his young family, he began to question the system. Selling grapes meant little connection to the wine itself, and farming with chemicals felt out of step with the land he loved. Inspired by friends like Jérôme Prévost and Pierre Larmandier, Bertrand turned toward biodynamic farming—a method that focuses on biodiversity, soil health, and harmony with nature. He earned his certification in 1998, and just a few years later, in 2001, he released his first Champagne under the name Vouette & Sorbée.
That release changed everything. Collectors and sommeliers quickly took notice, and suddenly the Aube—a region once dismissed as second-rate—was seen in a whole new light.
More Than Just Vines
If you visit Bertrand today, the first thing he’s likely to point out isn’t the cellar, but the vines themselves. Each parcel has its own personality, and it is said he speaks about them the way others might talk about family. For him, the vineyards are the beating heart of the domaine—living places that demand attention and respect, and in turn give character and soul to the wines. His vision extends beyond the rows of vines: chickens, cattle, and cover crops all play their part in a self-sustaining farm, keeping the land balanced, healthy, and alive.
For Bertrand, the point isn’t to follow a trend. As he puts it: “You don’t drink a wine because it’s biodynamic—you drink it because it’s good.” And that’s precisely what sets his Champagnes apart.
The Vineyards
His estate is named after his two key vineyards: Vouette and Sorbée. The soils here aren’t the chalk you find in the north of Champagne, but dense, rocky, and limestone clay soils, similar to the fossil-rich soils you find in Chablis. This gives his wines their signature minerality and depth.
Bertrand is a careful farmer who plants each grape where it will best reflect the land. Over time, he has expanded beyond his family’s original parcels to include Briaunes, Fonnet, Tirmy, and Chatel, with each site adding its own nuance to the wines. While Pinot Noir has long been the signature grape of the region, Bertrand has gradually introduced more Chardonnay. In fact, in recent years, he has begun replanting parts of Vouette with Chardonnay, convinced of how beautifully the variety responds to these soils.
- Vouette – South-facing slopes, now replanted to Chardonnay.
- Sorbée – Older Pinot Noir vines that give power and intensity.
- Briaunes – A mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, fresher and later-ripening.
- Fonnet & Tirmy – Pinot Noir at the heart of his Fidèle cuvée.
- Chatel – A rocky, sunny site reminiscent of Chablis.
The Wines
Each of Bertrand’s Champagnes reflects its place of origin with honesty and clarity:
- Fidèle – 100% Pinot Noir, muscular yet refined, the backbone of his range. Its name, which means “faithful,” reflects how clearly it conveys the character of the vineyards it comes from.
- Blanc d’Argile – 100% Chardonnay, laser-like, mineral, and pure.
- Saignée de Sorbée – A rare, deeply colored rosé made by the saignée method, bold and expressive.
- Textures – A daring Champagne made from Pinot Blanc, aged in both oak and amphorae for richness and nuance.
There are also rarities, such as Extrait, a long-aged Pinot Noir produced in tiny quantities, and Sobre, an experimental zero-dosage Chardonnay Champagne. These bottles are nearly impossible to find, but they show Bertrand’s constant curiosity and drive to push boundaries.
A Philosophy In The Glass
In the cellar, Bertrand works with the same simplicity he applies in the vineyards: hand-harvested grapes, indigenous yeasts, no fining, filtering, or dosage, and as little sulfur as possible. He uses a traditional press and moves the wine only by gravity. The result is Champagne that feels alive, wines that are as much about energy and texture as they are about bubbles.
It’s no wonder that Vouette & Sorbée has earned cult status. Critics like Richard Juhlin have called it the only “four-star property outside the Marne,” and collectors everywhere chase after these limited bottles.
But behind all the accolades is still the same farmer, walking his vineyards, tending his cows, and reminding anyone who visits that Champagne is first and foremost wine—a direct link between land and glass.
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Vouette & Sorbée - Champagne 'Sobre' Brut Nature 2014
- Vouette & Sorbée - Champagne 'Blanc d'Argile' Brut Nature NV
- Vouette & Sorbée - Champagne 'Fidele' Brut Nature NV
- Vouette & Sorbée Champagne Brut Nature 'Rosé Saignee De Sorbée'
Photo credits: Vouette & Sorbée