Piper-Heidsieck was founded nearly 240 years ago in 1785 and has enjoyed a fascinating, star-studded history ever since. They became the first Champagne House to feature on film in Laurel and Hardy’s 1933 ‘Sons of the Desert’ and were a firm favourite of Marilyn Monroe, who once famously stated: “I go to bed with a few drops of Chanel N° 5, and I wake up each morning to a glass of Piper-Heidsieck; it warms me up.”
Piper-Heidsieck’s historical success has been shaped by a forward-thinking, pioneering spirit which continues today. In 2022, Piper-Heidsieck was one of the first Grand Marques, alongside Charles Heidsieck, to achieve B-Corp Certification, illustrating an ongoing commitment to improving both their social and environmental impact on the planet. In a similar vein, they also joined the International Wineries for Climate Action. Concurrently, the quality of Piper-Heidsieck’s wines has never been finer, leading them to become the most-awarded Champagne House of the last Century. Their chief winemaker, Émilien Boutillat, is one of the youngest in Champagne’s history and has been driving standards even higher at Piper-Heidsieck since 2018. Émilien’s exceptional talents led him to be named ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ by the IWC in both 2023 and 2021 and shortlisted for 2024.
Piper-Heidsieck’s ‘Essentiel’ range is made in limited quantities. The range includes an Extra Brut, Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut and Blanc de Noirs, crafted from grapes specifically selected from around 50 ‘crus’ across Champagne. A combination of 30% reserve wine, low dosage (often six grams per litre) and extended lees ageing (at least three years) results in elegant wines with notable ageing potential.
