Haton – Fortified Wine and Champagne
Champagne Haton – Tradition and Style
The Haton champagne house is deeply rooted in Damery in the Vallée de la Marne. Its history begins in 1610, when François Haton acquired the first parcels under Louis XIII. The decisive step toward producing its own champagne came in 1928, when Octave Haton gave the estate new direction and a distinct profile.
To this day, the house thrives on this connection between respect for origin and continuous development: the family is still based in Damery, cultivates around 60 hectares of vineyards, about 45 hectares of which are estate-owned, and continues to refine the house style in a contemporary way. Champagne Haton therefore stands not for anonymous scale, but for a family-run estate shaped by experience, down-to-earth values and craft precision.
Our Shared History with Haton
We have known Haton for some time and value the wines of the house not only for their quality, but also for the philosophy behind them. In brothers Baptiste and Rémi Haton, you encounter a younger generation that approaches wine with seriousness and genuine curiosity.
At CIGARWORLD, we recognize much of ourselves in this: the appreciation for craft-driven products, the patience for maturation, and the conviction that true enjoyment is always linked to origin, material, and time. After our visit to ProWein 2026, we therefore made a deliberate decision to include Haton’s Ratafia Champenois in our range.
Champagne from France – Origin and Character
Champagne such as the cuvées from Haton does not emerge in isolation, but is closely tied to its origin. The protected Champagne region is defined by a cool climate, chalk-rich soils, and a way of working in which patience is essential. Classic grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier form the foundation, yet the wines only find their true expression through the interplay of terroir, base wine, blending, and bottle ageing.
The traditional second fermentation in the bottle creates the fine perlage, while subsequent ageing on the lees adds depth, structure, and aromatic complexity. Good champagnes therefore show not only freshness, but also substance: citrus, bright fruits, brioche, nuts, and subtle spice can all find their place, alongside minerality and precise acidity.
Haton Champagne – Style and Production
At Haton, this approach is implemented with great consistency. The house works by individual parcel and vinifies sites and grape varieties separately, enabling a maximum degree of precision during blending. The estate’s own vineyards are primarily located around Damery and in other parts of the Vallée de la Marne; in addition, there are close partnerships with winegrowers from other areas of Champagne.
In the cellar, the focus is not on effects, but on balance. Sébastien Haton combines different parcels and sometimes different vintages in such a way that each cuvée retains the typical house style. Ageing time is also decisive: depending on the champagne, the bottles rest in the cellar for two to eight years. The result is Haton champagne with clear definition, fine perlage, and calm, precise elegance.
Fortified Wines from France – Tradition and Diversity
Fortified wines from France occupy a special position within French wine culture. They combine the fruit of the must with the warmth of alcohol and rely less on tension and freshness alone than on density, sweetness, spice, and texture. They are often produced through mutage, meaning the fermentation is stopped by the addition of alcohol. This preserves part of the natural grape sweetness while increasing structure and longevity.
Stylistically, the range extends from soft and fruit-forward to nutty, spicy, and mature. For this reason, such wines are culinarily versatile: as an aperitif, with rich starters, with cheese, or with desserts. Fortified wines from France often stand in the shadow of better-known sparkling and still wines, yet they belong to those categories in which tradition, regional character, and individuality come together particularly clearly.
Haton Ratafia Champenois – Sweet Specialty from Champagne
The Ratafia Champenois from Haton reveals precisely this lesser-known yet tradition-rich side of Champagne. Unlike champagne, it is a still fortified wine without carbonation, composed of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
By stopping fermentation and subsequent ageing in wood, it develops its amber hue and a multi-layered aromatic profile with notes of ripe grapes, dried fruits, honey, and subtle spices. On the palate, it is soft, sweet, and well-balanced, with a dense, composed structure. Served well chilled, it pairs with foie gras, blue cheese, or desserts – and also offers the depth required to work as a companion to a cigar.
