History of Champagne and birth of Cooperative Cellars

At the end of the 19th century, the winegrowers of Champagne were living in poverty, simply producing grapes with no power over the vinification or marketing of their product, which was controlled by the merchants. The merchants set the prices, leaving the winegrowers poorly paid despite their hard work. This unequal system prevented winegrowers from investing in improving their viticultural practices. Agricultural and economic crises made their situation even more precarious.

Tensions between producers and merchants erupted during the winegrowers' revolt in 1911, marking a turning point in the history of Champagne.
After the First World War, the winegrowers sought greater control over their work, giving rise to the first cooperative cellars in 1920.These collective structures enabled winegrowers to process and market their grape production more fairly, while allowing them to produce and market their own champagnes.After the Second World War, cooperatives expanded, offering winegrowers economic stability and greater control.

Today, around 90% of Champagne's vineyards belong to the winegrowers, who are paid in proportion to the quantity of grapes they supply. Cooperatives play a central role in the production, technical management and marketing of champagnes. They enable the winegrowers to collectively influence the market while ensuring the quality of the product. These structures are essential to the champagne economy and to preserving the identity of the terroir.