PERRIER JOUET

Thanks to the exquisite handpainted anemones on its famous Belle Epoque bottles, Perrier-Jouët will be forever associated with the elegant creations of Art Nouveau. The house was established in 1811 by Pierre-Nicolas-Marie Perrier, who added the maiden name of his wife, Adèle Jouët, to complete the title. They settled in the town of Épernay, where Perrier-Jouët have vineyards in locales such as Aÿ, Avize, Cramant and Mailly. Many of the holdings are planted with the Chardonnay that brings the lauded delicacy to the Perrier-Jouët style.

Ownership changed a lot over the years before the house settled with Pernod Ricard in 2005. Through it all Perrier-Jouët have managed to retain an impressive 65 hectares that accounts for 25 percent of their 3.5 million-bottle production. Fruit is sourced from 70 villages, with half the holdings in the Côte des Blancs due to the Chardonnay focus.

While the village-based Grower champagnes are celebrated for their individual expressions, big players like Perrier-Jouët are required to master the art of producing exceptional consistency in style and quality. Just eight cellar masters have held the post at Perrier-Jouët in two centuries, with Séverine Frerson the current guardian of this heritage. Overseen by Frerson’s predecessor, Hervé Deschamps, the first new cuvée in two decades, an exciting Blanc de Blancs, is made from Chardonnay, with 15% reserve wine in the blend, 8g/l dosage and aging on lees for 36 months.