The fifth oldest Champagne House, Abelé 1757 has cultivated a unique and elegant style that stands the test of time. How does our Cellar Master, Étienne Eteneau, ensure the exceptional quality and distinctive character of our champagnes? Through a fascinating behind-the-scenes interview, discover the artisanal expertise that brings our cuvées to life, year after year.
What defines the Abelé 1757 champagne style?
The Abelé 1757 style is built on three pillars: Chardonnay, fine effervescence, and lasting mouthfeel.
Chardonnay, the most refined and noble white grape of the Champagne region, brings finesse and freshness to our blends—two essential elements of our identity.
Only the finest grapes are selected to ensure exceptional quality. This uncompromising approach guarantees the ultra-fine bubbles that define our champagnes. Add to that precise pressing, meticulous vinification, and a slow aging process in our historic chalk cellars, protected from noise and light, and you have the signature of Abelé 1757.
What does “length on the palate” mean?
It’s a poetic way of describing how long the flavors linger on your palate. An Abelé 1757 champagne invites slow appreciation—it continues to tell its story long after the sip has passed. This lingering sensation is a true sign of complexity and quality.
“When I craft our champagnes, I always aim for great length on the palate. It’s highlighted by a delicate dosage to achieve balance, subtle sweetness, and most importantly—to showcase the nature of the terroir.”
~ Etienne Eteneau
The Foundation of Abelé 1757’s Style: Grapes, Terroirs, Craftsmanship
Our style begins with the choice of grapes—primarily Chardonnay, supported by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Together, they form the palette from which our champagnes are composed.
Beyond the varietals, terroir plays a crucial role. For decades, Abelé 1757 has worked hand-in-hand with growers from Les Riceys, a large terroir on the southern edge of the appellation, bordering Burgundy. With its sun-drenched slopes and marl soils, it offers a distinct profile unlike the chalky landscapes elsewhere in Champagne.
Our iconic vintage rosé, Le Sourire de Reims, is made exclusively from these precious Pinot Noirs. Since 2024, our non-vintage Abelé 1757 Rosé also includes grapes from Les Riceys, offering a 50/50 Chardonnay–Pinot Noir blend.
At the heart of our style is the artisanal craftsmanship of our team. From precise, terroir-driven vinification to meticulous blending, every step is done with precision to bring the wine to life. In our deep chalk cellars—25 meters underground—the champagnes slowly mature in ideal humidity and temperature conditions, resulting in slow mousse development and deep aromatic complexity.
One Style, Many Expressions
“At Abelé 1757, we express a single style: one built on finesse, freshness, and elegance. This is what connects all of our champagnes.”
Etienne Eteneau
Our portfolio features five champagnes: three non-vintage cuvées and two prestige vintage champagnes, with occasional limited editions crafted from exceptional harvests.
The non-vintage cuvées form the stylistic core of our House:
- Abelé 1757 Brut: A balanced blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier—a true metronome of the House style.
- Abelé 1757 Blanc de Blancs: 100% Chardonnay, delivering freshness and refined elegance.
- Abelé 1757 Rosé: A bold yet delicate champagne, blending Les Riceys Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in equal parts.
Each cuvée is aged for 3 to 4 years to reach perfect maturity and a delicate aromatic balance.
The Prestige of “Le Sourire de Reims”, a vintage luxury champagne
Crafted only in the finest years, Le Sourire de Reims (Brut and Rosé) spends 10 to 15 years maturing in our cellars. These are true collector champagnes, built on carefully selected crus and harvests with the potential for exceptional aging.
“Le Sourire will delight you. It’s a deep dive into the essence of Abelé 1757.”
— Étienne Eteneau
Its name comes from Reims Cathedral’s “Smiling Angel”—a statue partly destroyed during World War I and later restored thanks in part to the efforts of Henri Abelé. This heritage lives on in every bottle of Le Sourire, a cuvée that carries more than a century of savoir-faire.
Each edition is handcrafted in limited quantities and offers a one-of-a-kind tasting experience—a true echo of time for passionate champagne lovers.
A Word from Our Cellar Master
We will conclude with a world from our Cellar Master for those who are discovering our champagnes for the first time !
“Welcome to the Maison, welcome to the history of Abelé 1757… and to the history of Champagne itself! When you taste a glass of Abelé 1757 champagne, you’re tasting almost 270 years of legacy. That’s no small thing!
Thank you for placing your trust in us for your special moments of celebration. It’s a true honour for me to craft champagnes with the constant hope that they are enjoyed, savoured in the best conditions and for the most memorable occasions.
If I had to give one piece of advice — where to begin discovering our range? That’s a very tough choice. But I would say: start with one of our three non-vintage cuvées. Each one of them, individually, showcases a different angle of our work with Chardonnay. By choosing any of these three cuvées, I truly believe you’ll get to know us. You’ll discover the Maison’s signature style built around finesse, elegance, precision, and a beautiful length on the palate.”
— Étienne Eteneau
