Laurent Perrier Champagne: Laurent-Perrier History

First label used by Alphonse Pierlot	1812 - 1881 Alphonse Pierlot Alphonse Pierlot, a former cooper and bottler from Chigny-les-Roses, settles in Tours-sur-Marne on the parcels of land named “Plaisances” and “La Tour Glorieux” and begins producing the first Champagnes of the House.
Eugene Laurent (1843-1887) and Mathilde-Emilie Perrier (1850-1925)	1881 - 1887 Eugene Laurent Alphonse Pierlot bestows the company to his cellar master, Eugene Laurent, a third generation grower. He and his wife, Mathilde-Emilie Perrier run the Champagne House together.
An article about Laurent-Perrier Champagne "sans sucre" (no added sugar) as seen in The Illustrated London News, November 27, 1887. View of Laurent-Perrier in the late 1800’s	1887 - 1925 Mathilde-Emilie Perrier Upon Eugene’s death in 1887, Veuve Mathilde takes control of the estate, linking her surname with her late husband’s to create the brand Veuve Laurent-Perrier & Cie. 1914 Under Mathilde’s management the house produces a record-breaking 50,000 cases of Champagne, confirming its position as an industry leader. 1920 With the House and country weakened by WWI, Mathilde hires Alexander Fletcher Keith Mackenzie to expand Laurent-Perrier’s market and introduce it to Great Britain, where it has since been avidly enjoyed by Champagne aficianados.
Laurent-Perrier boutique Rue de Maubeuge, in Paris, in 1900’s	1925 - 1939 Eugenie Hortense Laurent Eugenie inherits Laurent-Perrier after Mathilde passes away in 1925. Still struggling from the aftermath of WWI and faced with the beginnings of WWII, Eugenie sells the business to Madame Marie Louise Lanson de Nonancourt.
Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt	1939 - 1949 Marie-Louise de Nonancourt Confronted with difficult economic times and seeking a future for herself and her three sons, Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt, sister to Champagne producers Victor and Herni Lanson, seizes an opportunity. She pours her life’s savings into Laurent-Perrier, which at the time is now on the verge of bankruptcy with only 1,000 mortgaged cases. She manages the company through WWII, and at one point hides her 100,000 bottles behind a wall, while her sons Maurice and Bernard fight in the war. Maurice de Nonancourt, the oldest son who was expected to run Laurent-Perrier after the war, is taken prisoner and dies in the concentration camp of Oranienbourg.
Young Bernard de Nonancourt	1945 WWII ends. Army sergeant Bernard de Nonancourt and his tank men of General Leclerc’s famous 2nd armored division break into Hitler’s wine cave near the “Eagle’s Nest” a retreat in the Bavarian Alps. There, to his amazement, he discovers half a million bottles of wine including several hundred cases of Salon champagne, which he had watched being stolen five years earlier. 1945 - 1949 Bernard de Nonancourt, returns from battle and begins his apprenticeship to take over Laurent-Perrier. Following his mother’s words, “You will never be a good director without first being a good worker,” he trains in the houses of Lanson and Delamotte and works every aspect of the Champagne craft.
	1949 - Present Bernard de Nonancourt Bernard de Nonancourt assumes ownership of Laurent-Perrier. Motivated by his love for Champagne and respect for his team, Bernard de Nonancourt dedicates his life to building Laurent-Perrier with the philosophy that “with quality wine and people, you cannot fail.” With a small, tight-knit team, he establishes Laurent-Perrier as an innovative leader in Champagne production and begins Laurent-Perrier’s journey in becoming the largest family-owned Champagne House. 1950 Laurent-Perrier is one of the very first Champagne Houses to use stainless steel tanks.
	1957 Laurent-Perrier, introduces the first ever prestige cuvee made from a blend of exceptional years, Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle La Cuvée – exemplifying the House’s dedication to the Champagne craft over an elitist image. Prior to Laurent-Perrier’s introduction of Grand Siècle, prestige cuvée Champagnes were always made from a single vintage year. Laurent-Perrier revolutionized this concept by blending wine from three years, giving their prestige cuvée more complexity and consistency.
	1968 Laurent-Perrier introduces its multi-vintage Cuvée Rosé Brut made from 100% Pinot Noir using the rare skin contact method (also known as the saignée method) to obtain its salmon-pink color and added complexity.
	1975 Alain Terrier becomes Laurent-Perrier's cellar master, winemaker and overall genius behind Laurent-Perrier's champagne creation. He continues Laurent-Perrier's leadership in innovation, while preserving the traditions and integrity of the region. The champagnes are generally Chardonnay-driven and by choice to maximize what is best about Champagne craft. Monsieur Terrier emphasizes the art of blending by sourcing grapes from the finest vineyards in Champagne, vinifying each lot separately, and assembling them under his watchful eye and discerning palate.
	1978 Laurent-Perrier launches a new concept in international Champagne distribution by establishing its first wholly owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom, Laurent-Perrier, U.K.
	1980 Laurent-Perrier is the first the House to reintroduce the concept of brut nature (no added dosage) Champagne to a new generation, Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut.
	1987 As a wedding present for his daughter, Alexandra, Bernard de Nonancourt creates a vintage rosé made of 100% Pinot Noir from a private family reserve, Grand Siècle Alexandra Rosé 1982. The vintage rosé quickly catches on among connoisseurs as a rare must-have, and by popular demand Laurent-Perrier continues its limited production, with the most recent release being the Alexandra Rosé 1997.
	1992 Laurent-Perrier establishes its second wholly-owned subsidiary, Laurent-Perrier, Switzerland. 1995 Laurent-Perrier shows its support for motion picture industry, beginning its relationship with the Motion Picture Academy as the exclusive Champagne featured at the Oscars®. 1997 Yves Dumont becomes chairman of Laurent-Perrier Champagne’s management board. His free spirit, or “l’indépendance d’esprit,” has been the driving force behind the creative winemaking and production of Laurent-Perrier’s unique and highly successful range of Champagnes.
	1998 Laurent-Perrier heightens its presence in the United States, establishing its first non-European wholly-owned subsidiary, Laurent-Perrier, U.S.
	1999 Laurent-Perrier institutes its third wholly-owned subsidiary, Laurent-Perrier, Belgium. 1999 Laurent-Perrier holds its first IPO on the Paris Second Marché and 2000 winegrowers from Champagne purchase stock.
	2001 Laurent-Perrier becomes an official Champagne partner of Relais et Châteaux, an international association dedicated to the promotion and marketing of independent hotels and restaurants with exceptional charm and individuality.
	2003 Laurent-Perrier, along with two other well-known French family wine companies, Hugel, and Perrin, join together with additional private French and Japanese partners to launch a fine wine distribution company in Japan, called JEROBOAM Co., Ltd.