Laurent-Perrier is a little bit a member of the house. With almost each occasion, a bottle bearing the same name is suggested during a tasting between family members or friends. Although I drink little alcohol, my taste buds are nonetheless initiated to quality sparkling wines: another argument to get to know better one of the most beautiful champagne houses, during an ultra-private visit of the domain with Anne Laure Dominichini, Director of international press, Laurent-Perrier.

 

A Family-owned business 

 

Founded by André Michel Pierlot in 1812 at a crossroads of Champagne vineyards, in Tours sur Marne, a small village situated a few kilometres away from the historical capital of Champagne: Reims.

The house will bear the name of the widow Laurent Perrier when Mathilde-Emilie Perrier, widow of the cellar master Eugène Laurent, takes up the reins in 1887.

In 1939, Marie Louise de Nonancourt, widow and mother of 4, concerned about the future of her children, buys the domain.

Her second son, Bernard de Nonancourt begins a demanding learning process of all the steps of the wine profession before becoming the CEO in 1948. Today, his 2 daughters Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt and Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt are members of the Board of Directors of the family business.

 

Behind the success: ambitious women’s

 

Strong, visionary and having a great sense of business, very often the ones who embedded the culture of success in these great Champagne houses are the women. Within this context, we understand better the vibrant tribute paid by numerous Champagne houses: most of them bear the name of these women. 

A few examples? Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Veuve de (widow of) Francois Clicquot, Rose Adélaide Jouët wife of Pierre-Nicolas-Marie Perrier, Louise Pommery, Camille Olry-Roederer, Elisabeth Taittinger, Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt.

 

The indispensable wine for a elegant aperitif

 

Famous worldwide as one of the biggest Champagne houses, Laurent-Perrier continues the tradition by combining brightly the celebration, the know-how and the elegance of the art of hosting. Therefore it is not surprising that the Champagne house exclusively accompanies all official celebrations of HMS Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales; such as the reception he organized for the marriage of Kate and William.

 

A domain can hide a flourishing company 

 

It is in the heart of Champagne Ardenne in France, that the domain Laurent-Perrier reserves to its most exclusive guests, hectares of green spaces and perfectly trimmed gardens in a wooded landscape. Chardonnnay wine-growers are raised in the highest respect of the harvesting art, respecting the strict PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) standards of Champagne while preserving the ecosystem. On site, you can find the production workshops and something rarer: the majority of the different departments of the company and more precisely a special wing for logistics. This place stores all the bottles ready to be sent all over the world. Without a muse but listed on the stock exchange the company is still independent.

 

The ultimate luxury 

 

The 10km of the domain’s cellar lets me discover its visual singularity telling the history of the different vintages of the house since its creation. I’m hypnotised by one of the domain’s choice pieces: the prestige cuvée Grand Siècle reserves. Sophisticated and enigmatic like a fortress, this space evokes perfectly the exclusivity of its content.

 

Laurent Perrier and Africa sparkle together 

 

Not only the Cuvée Rosé is the reference in its category, the prestige cuvée Grand Siècle and Laurent-Perrier Brut are not outdone: these two vintages alone account for 37.7% of the revenue.

At a time when the European Champagne market remains reduced, the growth of the African economies and fortunes represents a new opportunity for the wine and spirit markets. For Laurent-Perrier brand, the micro market of the Sub-Saharan Africa represents a total volume of 4.5 million bottles with a sustained growth of 6% each year.

 

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The Africa/Middle East areas hold a more and more important place in our activity with different, but complementary growth dynamics.

Jean Sébastien Boileau, Director of the Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent areas, Laurent-Perrier

 

The first brand to develop in French speaking Africa benefits from a strong influence especially in Gabon, in Ivory Coast and in Cameroon. With a festive’s, young’s and/or connoisseur’s profile, the lovers of sparkling wine have a particular appeal for prestige cuvées and the semi-dry champagne cuvée.

The brand intends to reinforce its presence, especially in English and Portuguese-speaking Sub-Saharan African countries, also known as third-world countries, such as Nigeria, Ghana and Angola.

The house of Champagne who didn’t wait for the formalisation of the African continent economic recovery in order to establish a branch there; has genuine links with Africa passed down by Bernard de Nonancourt who, during his lifetime, fell in love with the continent, explains to me, Anne Laure Domenichini.