Laurent-Perrier cements global leadership in Champagne with innovation, sustainability and family tradition

Laurent-Perrier, one of the most respected Champagne houses in France, continues to shape the world of sparkling wine more than two centuries after its founding. Established in 1812 in Tours-sur-Marne, at the heart of the Champagne region, Laurent-Perrier has remained a family-owned and independent business. The house took on its current name in 1887 when Mathilde-Emilie Perrier, widow of cellar master Eugène Laurent, assumed leadership. Since then, the company has been guided by a succession of strong women and visionary leaders, including Marie-Louise de Nonancourt, who acquired the estate in 1939. Her son, Bernard de Nonancourt, returned from World War II and began a rigorous apprenticeship before becoming president and CEO in 1948.

Under Bernard’s direction, Laurent-Perrier rose from relative obscurity to become one of the world’s leading Champagne brands. The company is now managed by his daughters, Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt and Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt, who joined the board in 1999. Today, Laurent-Perrier ranks third globally by value among Champagne groups and exports nearly 90% of its production to over 140 countries. The group operates subsidiaries in Germany, Belgium, the United States, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

Laurent-Perrier is known for its pioneering spirit and commitment to innovation. The house has played a key role in developing sustainable viticulture practices in Champagne. In 2018, it received both Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne (VCS) and High Environmental Value (HEV) certifications for all its vineyards. The company has invested heavily in reducing its environmental footprint by managing waste responsibly and minimizing water and energy consumption at its Clos Valin production center.

The art of blending is central to Laurent-Perrier’s philosophy. Unlike many Champagne houses that focus on single-vintage prestige cuvées, Laurent-Perrier’s flagship Grand Siècle is a blend of three exceptional vintages. This approach aims to recreate what the house calls “the perfect year,” combining freshness, complexity and aging potential that no single vintage can provide alone. Grand Siècle is made primarily from Chardonnay grapes complemented by Pinot Noir from up to 11 Grand Cru villages. The wine is aged for at least ten years on lees before release.

Chardonnay plays a dominant role across most Laurent-Perrier wines except for Cuvée Rosé and Alexandra Rosé, which highlight Pinot Noir. The house’s expertise with Chardonnay results in Champagnes noted for their freshness, elegance and purity—qualities that distinguish Laurent-Perrier from other producers.

Laurent-Perrier has also been a leader in rosé Champagne. In 1968, it introduced Cuvée Rosé using a unique maceration technique that extracts color and flavor from Pinot Noir grapes without blending red wine into the base wine—a method still rare in Champagne today. This savoir-faire was further demonstrated with Alexandra Rosé Millésimé, first released in 1987 as an exceptional vintage rosé combining Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Grands Crus.

The house was also an early innovator in non-dosage Champagnes—wines with no added sugar after disgorgement. In 1981, Laurent-Perrier launched Ultra Brut®, predating the official creation of the Brut Nature category. In 2019, it introduced Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature: a zero-dosage Champagne made entirely from Chardonnay.

Laurent-Perrier’s range includes several notable cuvées: La Cuvée (a non-vintage brut), Brut Millésimé (produced only in outstanding years), Harmony (a demi-sec style), Héritage (a brut made exclusively from reserve wines), Cuvée Rosé and Alexandra Rosé Millésimé. Each wine reflects meticulous selection of grapes from among Champagne’s 319 villages—including 17 Grands Crus and 42 Premiers Crus—and long aging periods to ensure readiness upon release.

Recent years have brought significant recognition to Laurent-Perrier’s wines. In 2023, Grand Siècle Iteration N°26 was named Wine of the Year by critic James Suckling with a perfect score of 100/100 out of nearly 39,000 wines tasted worldwide. That same year, the greenhouse at Château de Louvois—part of the group’s historic properties—received UNESCO’s Pierre Cheval Award for beautification.

Laurent-Perrier continues to invest in both tradition and modernity. Its Clos Valin facility has expanded production capacity while maintaining strict quality standards. The Orangerie at Château de Louvois was recently restored in partnership with French heritage authorities.

The company’s leadership team remains closely involved with every aspect of production and global promotion. Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt represents the fourth generation of family management and works alongside Edouard Cossy to strengthen Grand Siècle’s presence among sommeliers, fine wine merchants and collectors worldwide.

With annual sales reaching €303.5 million as of March 2024—and nearly half generated by premium cuvées—Laurent-Perrier stands as a benchmark for excellence in Champagne. Its ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation and quality ensures that it will remain at the forefront of global wine culture for years to come.