Séverine Frerson leaves Piper for Perrier-Jouët

Séverine Frerson has been named as Hervé Deschamps’s replacement as cellar master at Champagne Perrier-Jouët, only a few months after she was appointed head of Piper-Heidsieck.

In a surprising move, Frerson will become the first woman to hold the position of cellar master at Perrier-Jouët (and the eighth overall) when she takes over at a date not specified in the announcement.

She replaces Deschamps who has performed the role for over 20 years although the pair will work together over a transition period in order for Deschamps to pass on the basis of the house style.

Frerson herself is currently cellar master at Piper-Heidsieck, a house she has been at for the past 16 years although her tenure as cellar master only dates to May of this year, making her departure a sudden one.

Christophe Danneaux, Champagne vice president and Perrier-Jouët business director, said: “The history of Maison Perrier-Jouët is marked by Rose-Adélaïde Jouët, who founded the Maison with her husband Pierre-Nicolas Perrier in 1811. She was a woman of great character, determination and daring, just like Séverine Frerson, whose love of wine, focus on quality and attachment to the terroir are aligned with the philosophy of our Maison.”

Piper-Heidsieck meanwhile has announced that Émilien Boutillat will be its new cellar master in Frerson’s place.

Having compiled a litany of work experience around the world, Boutillat was most recently cellar master for Cattier and Armand de Brignac from 2014 to the present.