Pommery Champagne

Pommery stands as a pivotal house in Champagne history, primarily due to Madame Pommery's creation of the Brut style in 1874. Located in Reims, the house emphasizes finesse and elegance in its cuvées, often leaning towards a Chardonnay-driven profile which imparts freshness and lightness. The estate is famed for its stunning architecture and unique underground chalk cellars (crayères), offering a unique visitor experience. Pommery produces a wide range, from its accessible flagship Brut Royal non-vintage to prestigious vintage and prestige cuvées like Cuvée Louise. It represents a blend of historical significance, architectural grandeur, and a consistent, refined Champagne style.  

Founded initially as Pommery & Greno in 1836, the house's destiny changed dramatically in 1858 when Madame Louise Pommery, widowed at 39, took the reins. Instead of selling the business, she decided to focus exclusively on high-quality Champagne production, a bold move at the time. Foreseeing a shift in consumer preference away from heavily sweetened Champagne, she instructed her cellar master, Victor Lambert, to create a dry style. After years of experimentation, Pommery Nature 1874 was launched, the first widely successful Brut Champagne, defining the style we know today. Madame Pommery was also a visionary in business development, acquiring 18 kilometres of ancient Roman chalk quarries (crayères) beneath Reims to cellar her wines in ideal conditions and constructing the impressive Elizabethan Gothic-inspired estate above ground. Her legacy established Pommery as a house of innovation, quality, and distinct style.  

• Appearance: Pale yellow with greenish hints, fine and persistent bubbles.
• Nose: Lively and fresh; often exhibits notes of citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit), white flowers (hawthorn, acacia), and sometimes subtle hints of red berries, with developing notes of brioche or baked bread as it ages.

Serving Temperature: Serve well-chilled, ideally between 8−10 ∘ C (46−50 ∘ F). Glassware: Use a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or a white wine glass to allow the aromas to develop. Traditional flutes are acceptable but less ideal for appreciating complexity. Occasions: Excellent as an apéritif, for celebrations, or paired with appropriate foods.

• Pommery's fresh and elegant style makes it versatile:
• Apéritif: Perfect on its own or with light canapés, gougères, salted nuts.
• Seafood: Oysters, shrimp cocktail, scallops, grilled fish, sushi.
• White Meats: Chicken or veal in light cream sauces.
• Cheese: Creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert, fresh goat cheese, Comté.

• Historic Pioneer: Experience the legacy of the house that invented Brut Champagne.
• Elegant Style: Appeals to those who prefer finesse, freshness, and lightness over richer, heavier styles.
• Consistency: Reliable quality across their range, especially the widely available Brut Royal.
• Iconic Estate: Represents a piece of Champagne history with its unique architecture and cellars.

Pommery is a historically significant and highly respected Champagne house. Its invention of the Brut style fundamentally shaped the industry. The Champagnes, particularly the flagship Brut Royal, offer a reliably elegant, fresh, and often Chardonnay-forward experience. It's an excellent choice for those who appreciate finesse over power in their Champagne and enjoy celebrating with a bottle linked to a revolutionary figure like Madame Pommery. While part of a larger group today, it maintains its distinct identity and quality.   Sources and related content