Champagne Henriot Brand Overview
In 1640, the Henriot family settles in Champagne and begins developing their cloth before quickly adding wine to their family activities. After acquiring land to plant vines, the family gains knowledge about viticulture and becomes experts on their Terroirs.
The treatise "Manière de cultiver la vigne et de faire le vin en Champagne" published in 1718, attributed to Canon Godinot, was a source of inspiration for Apolline Henriot, founder of the Maison Henriot, whose great-uncle he is.
In 1808, Apolline Henriot, young widow of Nicolas Henriot, founds Maison Henriot. Owner of a vineyard in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, Apolline has a deep love for the Champagne region, the beauty of its vines and its landscapes. This is how her desire « To to shed light on her lands through a Champagne » was born. She then founded the House and created the first Henriot cuvée, now known as Henriot Brut Souverain.
In 1880, Apolline Henriot’s great grandson, Paul Henriot, married a young woman from the Côte des Blancs, Marie Marguet. This marriage gave way to a real transition of the Maison Henriot’s vineyards. Initially composed exclusively of three crus from the Montagne de Reims planted with Pinot Noir, three crus planted with Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs were added: Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly.
Many members of the line of Apolline Henriot, founder of Maison Henriot, trained as agricultural engineers, have contributed to developing the expertise and strengthening the care given to the vines. In 1920, the family carried out many soil analysis. Maison Henriot therefore launched a soil knowledge project at that time.
In the early 1970s, Joseph Henriot, 7th generation of the Henriot family, decided to enhance the library wines collection of Maison Henriot, which had been initiated by Apolline Henriot more than two centuries earlier, when she founded the House. In 1976 Joseph found time to buy Charles Heidsieck, installed his head winemaker, Daniel Thibault at Charles and over the next nine years lifted up Charles to new heights, before selling it in 1985. Two years later in 1987 Joseph took a big decision, selling the magnificent Henriot brand and estate of 125 hectares of vineyards for an 11% share in Veuve Clicquot, part of the fast expanding LVMH luxury goods group, along with taking a board role. He left LVMH in 1994 and bought back the Henriot brand, but not the vineyards. He was soon hard at work again, purchasing Bouchard Père et Fils, which had fallen on hard times, investing heavily in a new winery. By 1998 he bought Fevre in Chablis and in 2008 he bought Château Poncié, a 120-acre estate in the Beaujolais village of Fleurie, renaming it Villa Ponciago. Along with finding time to rebuild Champagne Henriot's production and reputation along with leasing vineyards.
The Maison remained in family ownership until 2022 when it merged with Artémis Domaines, owners of Château Latour, Clos de Tart and Château-Grillet. At the time Maisons & Domaines Henriot, was not just the champagne House, but owned Bouchard Père & Fils in burgundy, William Fèvre in Chablis and Château de Poncié in Fleurie. In summer 2023 Artémis Domaines who bought Champagne Jaquesson a few years earlier, sold Champagne Henriot to Champagne’s largest cooperative group, Terroirs et Vignerons de Champagne (TEVC). Today Henriot farm 30 hectares of its own vineyards and works with growers for another 65 hectares of vineyards.
In autumn 2023 Cellar Master Alice Tetienne also takes on the new role of Deputy Managing Director, while Christophe Juarez, CEO of TEVC assumes the role of Managing Director at Champagne Henriot.
