Houses
Ayala
An Aÿ house founded in 1860 by Edmond de Ayala, historically associated with early dry champagne and now known for fresh, low-dosage, Chardonnay-forward blends.
- Founded
- 1860
- Location
- Aÿ, Champagne, France
- Ownership
- Part of Société Jacques Bollinger
- Known for
- Brut Majeur · Low-dosage style · Early dry champagne pioneer · Chardonnay-forward blends
- Official site
- www.champagne-ayala.fr
Style
Ayala favours freshness, low dosage and a clean, contemporary profile. Chardonnay plays a prominent role in the blends, giving the wines lift and precision even though the house is based in the Pinot Noir village of Aÿ.
Cuvées
- Brut Majeur — the non-vintage flagship.
- Rosé Majeur — rosé expression.
- Le Blanc de Blancs — vintage Chardonnay cuvée.
- La Perle — prestige cuvée from selected years.
- Brut Nature — zero-dosage expression.
History
Edmond de Ayala founded the house in Aÿ in 1860. The house became known in the 19th century for promoting a much drier style than was common at the time. Bollinger acquired Ayala in 2005 and relaunched it with a sharper, more modern identity.
Positioning
Ayala acts as Bollinger’s fresher and more Chardonnay-driven counterpart: still a historic house, but with a contemporary, low-dosage image.