Perrier Jouet

Perrier-Jouët ranks among the oldest and most storied Champagne houses in France. Located in Épernay, it’s renowned not only for its fabulous champagne but also for its deep associations with art and nature. Here’s a look at how this house came to be, what makes its vineyards and wines unique, and a few fun facts you might not know.

History
Perrier-Jouët was established in 1811 by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and his wife, Rose Adélaide Jouët, one year after their marriage. A family background in vineyards served Pierre-Nicolas well, and Adèle came from a family that made Calvados, so winemaking was in their blood. While Pierre-Nicolas focused on moving the company forward and growing the business, Adèle took on the responsibility of managing the vineyards and overseeing the winemaking operation. They began to rapidly export their Champagne, first to Britain in 1815 and then to the United States in 1837. By the mid-1800s, almost all their wine was being shipped across the ocean.

The family kept the business, handing it down to Charles Perrier, their son; and later to their nephew, Henri Gallice. Henri and his brother, Octave, were huge fans of the arts and, in particular, big boosters of the Art Nouveau movement. They got artist Émile Gallé, a near contemporary of theirs, to design a bottle for them in 1902. Gallé created the now-iconic Belle Époque bottle, which is decorated with white Japanese anemones and which you can still buy Champagne in, to this very day.

Perrier-Jouët has always emphasized innovation. They were among the very first to create brut Champagne, a much drier style that became all the rage in the 19th century. Their Champagne has been tasted by not just one, but many figures of authority, even royalty. Count them: five U.S. Presidents, King Edward VII of England, Queen Victoria of England; non-royal figures who pop up during the various centuries in which Perrier-Jouët has bragged about using its Champagne to toast landmark moments.

The Vineyards
Perrier-Jouët has approximately 65 hectares of vines, with close to 40 hectares devoted to Chardonnay. The majority of their growth is in the Côte des Blancs and especially in the Grand Cru villages of Cramant and Avize. These sites in Champagne are among the elite for Chardonnay cultivation. The balance of their vineyards is located in Aÿ and Mailly-Champagne, which lean heavily toward Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

The vines average around 23 years of age, pretty mature by Champagne standards. Older vines tend to give more concentrated flavors, which is one reason Perrier-Jouët's wines have such a distinct style.

The Terroir

Terroir is a French word that denotes all the particulars of the land, its soil, climate, and even the slope of its vineyards. Most of the Perrier-Jouët vineyard is in chalky soils, perfect for Champagne grapes. The roots grow in the cool, moist conditions that prevail in the precision-drilled holes of the vine. The chalky soil is well drained, which is probably more important in the vineyard almost directly under the clouds of the Champagne region's notoriously soggy weather.

Champagne has a cool climate, allowing the grapes that become its wines to mature slowly and retain their acidity. That makes for fresh wines and sets the stage for great aging. At different vineyard sites, some dedicated to Chardonnay, some to Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier, Perrier-Jouët crafts blends with complexity and balance.

The Grapes used
Perrier-Jouët, like the majority of Champagne houses, predominantly employs three grapes:
- Chardonnay: This is their main grape and composes a large part of their blends, especially in their top wines. It imparts the Champagne with freshness, elegance, and a prominent note of florals.
- Pinot Noir: Supplies the wines with the body and structure necessary for a serious wine.
- Pinot Meunier: Adds fruitiness and makes a wine that is more approachable in its youth.
The wine they are most famous for, Belle Époque, is a blend of these grapes. However, it places a much stronger emphasis on Chardonnay than the other two main flute varietals, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Method of Making Wine
At Perrier-Jouët, they produce a wine that reflects both timeless tradition and modernity. Each year, hand-picking ensures that they start with only the top quality fruit. Each parcel of vineyard is vinified separately, giving the winemakers the options and the choices needed to make the decisions for the best blends each year.

Stainless steel tanks are used to ferment the wine so that it remains fresh. After the blending process, sugar and yeast are added before bottling to kick off the second fermentation, which is what makes Champagne bubbly. The bottles then rest for an average of six years in the chalk caves of Épernay before being disgorged and sold.

Perrier-Jouët is recognized as one of the very first to put the year on their vintage corks and to produce Champagne that was labeled brut before it became fashionable. Their long-time quest is for floral, elegant wines that are perfectly balanced.

3 Fun Facts
- The Belle Époque bottle, adorned with white anemones, was conceived by Émile Gallé in 1902 and is still employed today.
- Perrier-Jouët was the earliest Champagne firma to send its champagne to the UK (in 1815) and to the US (in 1837).
- In 2009, a bottle of Perrier-Jouët from 1825 was uncorked and enjoyed, making it one of the most mature Champagnes ever