The Champagne appellation comprises a puzzle of 198,000 individual vineyard plots in 319 villages covering a surface of 34,500 hectares. Most vineyards are located in the Marne department but also Aisne, Aube, Haute-Marne and Seine-et-Marne have their share of the precious vineyards. The best 17 villages, classified as Grands Crus, account for some 13% of AOC Champagne. Further 42 villages qualify as Premiers Crus, and sum up to 18% of the entire appellation. Champagne can be divided into roughly five sub-regions: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne and Côte des Bar.
