Having produced Champagne under his family name since 1931, Michel Lorior created the Apollonis brand in 2016. But even before 1931 his family cultivated vineyards in the Marne Valley and was the first to install a grape press in the municipality of Festigny in 1903. Apollonis is therefore a new brand, but it has an ancient tradition and is a tradition linked to the main grape variety of the Marne Valley: Pinot meunier. This vine makes up 85% of the Apollonis grapes and is sometimes also vinified in purity starting from the non-vintage Authentic Meunier Brut with a juicy and fruity taste. Even the finest Apollonis label is a pure Pinot meunier from a single vineyard with old vines and expresses a savory and concentrated, balanced and elegant taste.
The Apollonis vineyards are located in the municipalities of Festigny and Leuvrigny, both very suitable for Pinot Meunier. Festigny in particular is distinguished from the rest of the Vallée de la Marne for still having a trace of chalk in the subsoil and for a warmer climate than other municipalities being completely exposed to the south. Michel Lorior's family was also a family of musicians and the passion for music merged with that for Champagne. Michel spreads music in the vineyards and in the cellar, convinced that this practice can contribute to the quality of the results. Michel Loriot is also the head of the Association of Independent Winegrowers and leads the vineyards according to sustainability principles, he has in fact obtained the HVE certification at the highest level: the third.