France, Champagne

The House of Laurent Perrier can lay claim to another famous Champagne widow. In 1881 Alphonse Pierlot gifted his Champagne House to his cellar master Eugene Laurent, who only lasted until 1887 when his widow Mathilde-Emilie Perrier took control of Veuve Laurent-Perrier & Cie. Mathilde guided the company through the early years of the 20th Century and the ravages of World War I. On her death in 1925, Eugenie Laurent inherited the company, but was unable to steer a successful path through the difficult inter-war years and in 1939, with another war looming, sold Laurent-Perrier to Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt, who's family still run the company today. Success for Laurent-Perrier came in the post-War years with the House joining the ranks of the more famous names. Their multi-vintage prestige cuvée - Grand Siécle - was launched in 1959, and the iconic saignée method rosé followed in 1968.