Champagne Henri Giraud is in Ay, in the heart of Champagne. Though the family has been involved in grape growing and winemaking since the 17th century, the Champagne house was founded in the early 20th century when Leon Giraud married into a family with vineyards that had been destroyed by phylloxera. Giraud replanted them and started making Champagne. Today his grandson Claude Giraud owns and operates the estate. Antonio Galloni writing for Wine Advocate noted that “Claude Giraud makes some of the most unique, individualist wines in Champagne. All the wines bear the unmistakable stamp of the Grand Cru vineyards of Ay. The top selections (Cote Noir and Fut de Chene) are vinified and aged in oak, which plays an important role in shaping many of the fines wines here. At their best, the Giraud Champagnes offer incredible intensity, class and balance.”