I remember very clearly the first time I had champagne: I was 14 years old and it was the first time my parents allowed me to drink alcohol. It was Christmas and I had the chance the try half a glass of champagne and then half a glass of red wine. I remember the wine was a Château Latour, so it was a very good night!
As Brand Ambassador of Perrier-Jouët, I try to share what champagne actually is, show how we should appreciate it and what our brand stands for.
Perrier-Jouët is very special champagne. The brand has a very unique identity. It started in 1811 as a love story between Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and Adèle Jouët, who founded the house after their marriage. So love is really embodied in the brand and, I would say, this love is perpetuated today in the way we support Art Nouveau, which you can see in the use of the Japanese anemone on the label of our prestige cuvee, Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque, which comes from a design made for us in 1902 by Emile Gallé, one of the Art Nouveau’s most celebrated artists.
Champagne is very popular all over the world and, I think, this has to do with the quality of the product. In the Champagne region, we have an exceptional terroir. Weather conditions can sometimes be difficult, but our soils are perfect because they bring back the water during dry periods because of the chalkiness of the soil.
Another reason I believe champagne is so popular is the savoir-faire of our cellar masters and winemakers. They have been making champagne there for hundreds of years and they know what they are doing. They use what we call methode champanois, which is unique and sets the standards of quality. For example, you are not allowed to use any machines during the harvest – all the grapes need to be picked by hand – and another is the double fermentation in the bottle. All these ensures the quality of the champagne.
I think champagne’s beautiful colour and the fine bubbles is a form of art. It’s like they are dancing in the glass and I love it so much. I remember this dinner I had recently at Maison Belle Epoque, where we had the Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2008 with a lobster dish. It was a beautiful pairing and I was surrounded by champagne lovers who were as just as excited as I was – that was a perfect champagne momen
