At just 26, Etienne took over his grandparents' vineyards in and around Avize, right in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, previously rented out to the grandes maisons like so many small farming families in the region. A bold move, and one that's paid off handsomely.

A decade on, Domaine Etienne Calsac has become a reference point for terroir-driven Champagne. All parcels are now certified organic, cover cropped and ploughed, with Chardonnay very much taking centre stage. He's also gone as far as replanting ancient forgotten varieties like Arbane, Pinot Blanc, and Petit Meslier. One to watch.