Perrier-Jouët reaffirms its reputation for excellence in London
Pernod Ricard-owned Champagne house Perrier-Jouët has shown it is sharpening its focus upon London while also not losing sight of its regenerative wine-making goals. db reports.
This week marked Perrier-Jouët winemaker Séverine Frerson’s first vins clairs masterclass hosted in London, a move that set the winery’s intentions as a business in motion and illustrates how it has no plans to stand still.
The winery, which has also recently named Charlotte Kristensen DipWSET as its UK brand ambassador, introduced a tasting through its vintages and revealed a closer look at each of its vineyard harvests and showed how it had assessed each variety’s profile alongside any climatic changes and seasonal shifts.
London representation
Welcoming Kristensen to the team, Maison Perrier-Jouët global wine advocacy and education manager Fabyola Soares said: “Thank you very much for our new brand ambassador in London. I’m happy to tell you that from now on, Charlotte will represent us here in this beautiful city.”
Speaking to the drinks business Soares said: “In her new role, Charlotte will host an exclusive calendar of Perrier-Jouët experiences, from intimate tastings and training sessions to collaborations with sommeliers, restaurants and luxury venues. Her expertise and enthusiasm will help bring to life the maison’s distinctive blend of floral Chardonnay finesse, timeless Art Nouveau heritage, and its ever-evolving dialogue with nature — inspiring both the trade and Champagne lovers alike.
Maison Perrier-Jouët UK brand manager Izzy Taylor told db: “This partnership marks the next step in Perrier-Jouët’s commitment to re-establishing its presence in the UK luxury fine wine scene, continuing its legacy of crafting moments of beauty, creativity and celebration around its floral, intricate and refined cuvées.”
The focus for the masterclass involved Frerson, Perrier-Jouët’s first ever female winemaker, who joined the maison in 2018 and since 2020 has been experimenting with regenerative techniques, revealing how things were going for the harvests.
Frerson highlighted how techniques such as “planting flower and vegetal cover crops” were allowing for the house to learn more about how to “adapt to the environment” and essentially enhance the diversity of the fauna and flora in the vineyard for the longer term.
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Additionally, guidance throughout the afternoon was on Perrier-Jouët maintaining “consistent levels of complexity and silkiness” for each of its vintages – a move that illustrated how the house was signalling that it was making progress, both with its moves towards regenerative viticulture, but also its forward-thinking approach to solidifying its reputation in the capital.
Preserving freshness
Frerson pointed out that she would “identify beneficial effects” from her close assessment of the vines and noted how “cover crops preserve freshness as well as protect the vines”. She also added how “regenerative viticulture will remain closely connected to Perrier-Jouët’ in the future”.
The masterclass, which took place at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Lucky Cat. offering views across London’s skyline, saw Perrier-Jouët emphasise how part of its evolution was about preserving its style credentials.
Perrier-Jouët was founded in 1811 and from the start it has chosen the Chardonnay grape variety as the signature of the house, defining its own floral style and, for more than two centuries, the maison has evolved in close relationship with nature, guided by the free spirit of its founders and the exuberance of the Art Nouveau movement.
In terms of its wine signature, Perrier-Jouët cuvées are recognised for their “characteristic floral aromas”. Plus, their “intricate mouthfeel” reflects what is understood to be Frerson’s precise, plot-by-plot selection of crus, careful choices in terms of vinification, and blending expertise. The goal? “To create a complex yet harmonious wine style that reveals the rich nuances of Chardonnay and allows nature to attain its fullest expression”.
Describing how to balance heritage alongside its upcoming plans to look ahead, Soares told the room: “We are here to share the history. We’re here to share a little bit about the harvest and how Séverine is working to preserve the floral and intricate style of Maison Perrier-Jouët despite climatic change and despite all the evolution, because Champagne has more than 2,000 years as a wine and Champagne has been evolving.”
Consistency and coherence
Perrier-Jouët wishes to retain its reputation as an admired Champagne house, as much as embody a winery that sets its sights on the future. As Soares explained: “The style we want to preserve with consistency and coherence. It is a style created by our founders.”
Speaking about joining Perrier-Jouët, Kristensen spoke avidly about her fondness for the Champagne house and added: “Perrier-Jouët has always had a bit of magic for me – the florality, the Chardonnay-led elegance, the Art Nouveau flair woven through everything they do. Working more closely with the Maison feels like such a natural and exciting next step. I’m really looking forward to creating experiences that bring its story and its wines to life in fresh, engaging ways across the hospitality industry. “
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