Pierre Grandin
France
Pierre's Wines
- France
- 3 wines
- 1 style
10th generation Champagne supernova - and champion of Pinot Meunier
Pierre’s been dabbling in all things winemaking since the age of 10 when he would keep an eye on the vineyard and cellar with his father. That’s what you get for being born into Champagne! His dream has always been to continue his family’s wine legacy.
Champagne’s under-the-radar grape, Pinot Meunier, is Pierre’s true passion. Pierre says Meunier packs a bit of extra punch. It requires a little more TLC, but he has what it takes to make extraordinary Champagne from this lesser-known grape. And with your funding, he’s ready to bring this variety to life.
- Pierre and his long-time business partner, Marion Mordelles, are true innovators. They’re known as Champagne Constantine. With Angel support, they’re adding a bit of cutting-edge flair to centuries-old tradition to make bubbly that’s out of this world.
Vineyard Location
Pierre Grandin's Story
Pierre is the 10th generation of a winegrowing family with 300-year history in Villedommange at Montagne de Reims, a Premier Cru appellation in the Marne that grows primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Pierre grew up in Champlat, a tiny village in the countryside, where he spent most of his time keeping a watchful eye on the vineyards and fermentations in the cellar with his father. He always wanted to become a winemaker to perpetuate his family's legacy. The vineyards here have a higher proportion of Pinot Meunier compared with the rest of Champagne, which piqued Pierre's fondness for the grape.
He studied Laboratory Technical Sciences with a chemistry specialization, then he enrolled in a wine school in Burgundy to learn all aspects of viticulture and enology. He moved to Bordeaux and graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Wine Marketing and Management at INSEEC Business School, where he met Marion Mordelles, a native of Cognac. Together they founded Champagne Constantine and have been partners ever since.
After harvests in Limoux and Champagne, France and South Australia, Pierre officially became a winemaker in 2012. He enjoys every aspect of winemaking and its lifestyle, like adapting to the seasons and living in harmony with nature. He goes above and beyond, trying innovative techniques and looking for new challenges. He likes to surprise his customers as much as himself. His true passion is making Champagne from Pinot Meunier. It often takes the back seat to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Meunier production requires a lot of technical prowess, from growing it to making a great wine, but Pierre is its champion, bringing it to life in the glass.
Pierre and Marion are honored and excited about their relationship with Naked Angels, so they can offer extraordinary Champagne outside of the usual big box brands. They want to show you Pinot Meunier is worth it and receive your direct feedback. Because of your support, they will continue innovating and pursuing sustainability.
Every time one of Pierre’s wines wins an award – or he receives compliments from his customers – he knows he has done his job well. The accolades reflect all the love and energy he puts into his winemaking, from nurturing the vines to labeling the bottles.
Say hello to Marion behind the scenes! While Pierre is your man in the cellar, Marion will be your woman in Champagne reporting all the latest news from the cellar sidelines. They’re a true team in every sense, and can’t wait to share the wines and stories they know about the region they call home.
