Experience at Champagne Henri Giraud
- Yuri Shima
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
I had a pleasure to have the entire Henri Giraud Experience earlier this year -- from tastings, winery visit, table expérience and stay at Manoir. Here is the article about it.
シャンパーニュを「飲む」から「体験する」へ アンリ・ジローが提案する究極のシャンパーニュ・エクスペリエンス
English version is below.
From Tasting Champagne to Experiencing It: Henri Giraud’s Ultimate Champagne Experience In the Grand Cru village of Aÿ in Champagne, there is a Maison whose identity extends far beyond the simple definition of a winery. That is Henri Giraud, a champagne house with a particularly strong presence and fan base in Japan.
Here, visitors can do more than taste the wines. They can stay at Manoir Henri Giraud & Spa, enjoy treatments at the spa, and experience a pairing dinner designed to pair with the Maison’s champagnes. With Champagne, it brings together gastronomy, hospitality and wellness into what can truly be described as the Henri Giraud Experience.
Champagne Maison Henri Giraud
Celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2025, Henri Giraud is a family-owned producer that has developed its distinctive style through the exceptional terroir of Aÿ, with a particular focus on Pinot Noir and oak. The Maison has been successful with many admirers in the premium wine markets such as Dubai. Its ties to Japan, are also deep and long-standing where the Maison has built a strong brand and reputation.
Claude Giraud, the 12th-generation of the family, shaped the identity of the Maison through his relentless exploration of oak and his efforts to revive Ratafia, among other initiatives. Today, his eldest daughter, Emmanuelle, serves as president, while his younger daughter Anne’s husband, Sébastien Le Golvet, oversees winemaking. Each member of the family remains deeply involved in the business.
Oak in the Argonne Forest
Henri Giraud has many distinctive approaches to winemaking, but perhaps none is more emblematic than its exploration of oak. The Maison’s approach to barrel-making begins in the Argonne Forest in Champagne, where the oak trees destined to become barrels are carefully selected. As reflected in the name of its prestige cuvée “Argonne”, these barrels play an essential role in the Maison’s winemaking philosophy.
The selection process is remarkably detailed. When making a barrel, Henri Giraud considers not only where in the forest the tree grew, but even which part of the tree will be used. In this sense, Henri Giraud’s wines express not only the grapes—particularly Pinot Noir grown in Aÿ— but also the place that nurtures those grapes and the terroir in which the oak used for the barrels themselves was grown.
Even more intriguing is a unique barrel developed by winemaker Sébastien, whose two heads are made from ceramic. The idea is to fine-tune the influence of wood on the wine and achieve a more delicate and detailed balance. When I tasted wines made in conventional barrels alongside those aged in barrels with ceramic heads, the difference was striking.
It is a quintessentially Henri Giraud approach: while remaining rooted in the tradition of oak barrels, the Maison is willing to reconsider even the structure of the barrel itself to make wine they believe to be ideal.
Manoir Henri Giraud
For those who want to experience Champagne—and Henri Giraud entirely—on a deeper level, I highly recommend staying at the Manoir, located right next to the winery.
With just five rooms, the Manoir offers an intimate and welcoming atmosphere, combining understated luxury with thoughtful attention to detail. From the welcome glass of champagne to relaxing on a terrace overlooking the vineyards, and enjoying another glass alongside breakfast served in the room, the stay itself gradually becomes an immersion into the world of Henri Giraud.
Chalk Spa Experience
The Manoir also features a spa, with a sauna and heated pool, as well as massage and facial treatments. Its quality has been highly recognized, including this year when it received the gold medal for Best Signature Spa Treatment in France.
Among its treatments, Craÿothérapie® is particularly distinctive. Using chalk—the signature soil in Champagne—it was created by Dr. Anne Giraud, who is a practicing physician, and developed based on her medical knowledge.
As Anne explains:
“The synergy of the chalk, a marine plant source of natural beauty, combined with my expertise in thermal medicine and nutritional aesthetics, for your well-being.”
The treatment involves enveloping the body in chalk. Afterwards, perhaps thanks to the effects of the treatment, my skin felt noticeably softer and more deeply moisturized. The experience concludes with a soak in the bath, where guests can enjoy a glass of Henri Giraud Blanc de Craie, made from 100% chardonnay (craie means chalk in French).
Table Experience
And then comes another highlight of the stay: gastronomy. The Table Experience offers a carefully curated pairing dinner designed around Henri Giraud’s champagnes. The Maison’s sommelier explains in detail the concept behind each pairing and how the dishes have been matched to the individual cuvées.
The meal concludes with the house’s own Ratafia, the sweet fortified wine traditionally produced in Champagne, allowing guests to end the day lingering over the flavors and aromas of Champagne.
Wine, food, hospitality and wellness—all are integrated with Henri Giraud’s philosophy and attention to detail. More than simply tasting Champagne, the experience offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in the spirit of both Champagne and Maison Henri Giraud.
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