How Madame Pommery rewrote the rules of champagne in 1868

A good summer aperitif begins with people who are ready for the evening. A fine glass of champagne certainly helps.

A good summer get-together starts with people looking forward to the evening. But a nice glass of champagne helps too, of course… During the National Summer Drinks, guests were welcomed with Pommery Apanage Brut 1874: a champagne with history, freshness, and enough character to naturally get the first conversations going.

Maison Pommery has been one of the established names in the Champagne region for well over a century and a half. An important chapter in that history was written by Madame Louise Pommery, who in 1868 had the old chalk quarries of Reims converted into impressive champagne cellars. A bold step for the time, but one that laid the foundation for the style for which the house is known today.

Pommery Apanage Brut 1874 was served during the National Summer Drinks. An ode to that heritage. The champagne was launched in 2024 in honor of a special anniversary: ​​150 years of brut champagne. The name refers directly to 1874, the year in which Madame Louise Pommery introduced the legendary Pommery Nature 1874. With this, she broke with the then-prevailing, often richly sweetened champagnes and set a new course. Drier, fresher, and progressive. The English aristocracy took a taste for it, and the rest of the world followed not long after. Sometimes a revolution simply begins with a good glass of bubbles.

The cuvée refers to 17 selected crus and is made from three vintage years: 2012, 2015, and 2018. A triple vintage champagne, therefore, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir playing the leading role. Meunier from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, among others, provides extra depth.

In the glass, the champagne opens with aromas of white flowers such as hawthorn and jasmine. These are followed by fresh citrus notes with a subtle hint of Sorrento lemon. As the wine develops further, softer accents of acacia honey, marshmallow, and brioche emerge. The result is a champagne that remains fresh, yet offers sufficient depth to continue surprising.

The cuvée ages for no less than 48 months in the historic chalk cellars of Butte Saint-Nicaise. Thanks to the relatively low dosage, the style remains crisp and refined, with beautiful minerality and an elegant finish.

Want to discover more about Pommery champagnes? Visit the website here.