Arbane
The Ghost of Champagne
Arbane is grown in Aube, Champagne and France.
- Tastes of
- citrus, green apple, high acidity and mineral
- Goes with
- champagne occasions, oysters and light aperitivo
The story
Arbane is one of Champagne's seven permitted grapes—and the rarest by far. Fewer than 1 hectare remains. It once covered hundreds of hectares before phylloxera. A handful of growers are reviving this ghost variety, making some of Champagne's most unusual wines.
Insider story
Arbane almost vanished completely.
Moutard is the main preserver, with a mono-cépage bottling.
The grape adds herbal, earthy notes unlike anything else in Champagne.
Technical deep dive
Light-bodied white.
Herbal, earthy, citrus, mineral.
High acidity.
Late ripening.
Usually blended with other varieties.
Industry secrets
Arbane mono-cépage Champagne is the ultimate collector's item.
Fewer than 5 producers make it.
The taste is unlike any other Champagne grape.
For collectors
Investment grade B
- Auction records
- Rare—collector items when found
- Blue-chip producers
-
- Moutard
- Aubry
- Value picks
- Any Arbane Champagne ($50-100)
- Price trend
- Rising. Extreme rarity.
- Collector’s tip
- Buy any you find. Museum-piece wines.