From the 16th century, the quality of Ay wines was recognized and recommended by the King of France, Henri IV. Most of the cellars and undergrounds of the Champagne region were built in the 18th century. The cellars of champagne domains, like Maison Collet, are particularly solid. They served as shelters during successive wars. In 1904, Ay saw the birth of the Federation of Winegrowing Syndicates of Champagne. Today the Ay vineyard is registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne entry.