The story begins in 1870.
During the war, Joseph Graser flees the Germans and leaves his native Alsace and walks all the way to Epernay in Champagne, the place where his wife Alice was born. He dies suddenly in the street at the age of 44. His son Armand-Raphaël, who had dreamed of becoming a doctor, is forced by nature to become head of the family at a very young age and starts his professional life as a wine broker instead.
In 1920, Armand-Raphaël starts to produce his own wines under the name of Champagne Graser, although he quickly changes the name of his house to AR Lenoble. With the armistice still fresh in mind, he decided that a name with German connotations was perhaps not the best idea. He creates his own brand called « AR Lenoble », combining his initials « AR » with « Lenoble » as a tribute to the nobility of the wines of Champagne.
4 generations will then follow one another, all bearers of strong values defended with commitment and dedication.
Anne and Antoine Malassagne, brother and sister, take back the family home. Young and keen to innovate in this traditional world, they constantly want to improve the quality of Champagnes. Since 2010, a magnum reserve under cork has been gradually built up in the AR Lenoble cellars to participate in future blends. This is how, in 2014, the fruit of this long-term work appeared under the name “MAG”.
The 18 houses of vineyards owned by the house are located on the most beautiful hillsides of Champagne.
In Chouilly, one of the 6 Grand Cru villages located on the Côte des Blancs.
In Bisseuil, a Premier Cru village located on the Montagne de Reims. In Damery, a village in the Marne Valley known for its exceptional meunier. We also work with a handful of growers in the Epernay region in order to complete the palette of wines used to craft the champagnes of AR Lenoble.
Based on the principle that a good wine is first and foremost a good grape,
particular importance is given to the work in the vines. In a humid and cold climate linked to the very northern location of Champagne,
a reasoned approach favoring biodiversity and soil life is favored.
The rows of vines are planted with grass between them to reduce yields, plowing ensures that the roots of the plants extend deep into the chalk,
the earth is aerated so as to develop the nutrients necessary for the perfect development of grape clusters.
Since 2012, the vineyards of AR Lenoble have been certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale).
Beehives were introduced into the vineyards of the domaine nearly a decade ago, a testament to our commitment to biodiversity.