FRANCE

A Pillar of Champagne

Champagne Henriot was founded in 1808 by Apolline Henriot, but the family has owned land in Champagne since 1640. Among other things, they grew grapes and sold them on, and as early as 1718, Apolline's uncle wrote the book “Manière de cultiver la vigne et de faire le vin en Champagne”. This description of how to grow and make wine served as inspiration for Apolline and in 1808 the first cuvée, Brut Souverain, was created. To date, only Pinot Noir was owned. In 1880, the descendant Paul Henriot married a woman from the Côte de Blancs and three more vineyards of Chardonnay were added to the family estate. Together with the three Pinot Noir vineyards, these have become the iconic blend Enchanteleur and later Cuvée Hemera. Today, Champagne Henriot is run by the eighth generation of the family, Gilles de Larouzière Henriot, and it remains one of the few family-owned Champagne houses.