Perrier Jouet

History

Perrier-Jouët was founded in 1811 by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and his wife Rose Adélaide Jouët, combining their names to represent the house. The couple began producing champagne just a year after their wedding and focused on vineyards and winemaking, with Pierre-Nicolas handling sales and marketing. Their son Charles Perrier took over the company in 1854 and changed the style of their signature product from sweet to "brut" or "grand brut," indicating vintage on the bottle and pioneering the practice of not producing champagne in poor harvest years.

In 1902, Emile Gallé designed the iconic Art Nouveau bottle featuring Japanese anemones, which became the emblem of Perrier-Jouët. The house continued to expand, increasing its vineyard holdings in the Grand Cru areas of Avize and Cramant. Perrier-Jouët was awarded the Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1861 and became a favorite among royal courts. The estate was also one of the first to mark their corks to distinguish them from counterfeits. Today, Perrier-Jouët is part of the Pernod Ricard group and remains renowned for its elegant floral champagnes[1][3][4].

Terroir

Perrier-Jouët's terroir is highly prized for its high-chalk content, which significantly influences the flavor profile of their wines. The house acquired two crucial parcels of land in the mid-19th century: the Bourons Leroy and Bourons du Midi. These parcels are almost pure chalk, enhancing the delicacy and minerality of the Chardonnay grapes used in the blend. The chalky terroir is particularly notable in the Cramant and Avize regions within Epernay, where the Chardonnay grapes grown on these ultra-high-grade chalk slopes contribute to the floral and delicate flavors characteristic of Perrier-Jouët's champagnes[1][3].

This terroir is not just about the physical properties of the soil but also reflects the historical and cultural context of the region. The original husband-and-wife team, Pierre-Nicolas-Marie Perrier and Adele Jouët, were inspired by the winemaking possibilities of these regions, and their love for nature has sculpted the DNA of the House. The commitment to creativity and nature, passed down through generations, is reflected in the eternal link between Perrier-Jouët and the Art Nouveau movement[4].