In the historic heart of the Champagne region, time has not stood still over the past 500 years. Our affection for the terroir goes hand-in-hand with our constant attention to quality in the quest for ever higher standards.
Origins
Apvril Le Philipponnat (the ‘Le’ was subsequently dropped during the French Revolution) was the earliest member of the family to settle in Champagne. Captain of a Swiss military unit from the canton of Fribourg, he joined the French military during the war between Francis I and Italy. He is known to have married Marie d’Ambonnay, through whom he owned vineyards in Mareuil and Ay. The House dates its establishment in the Champagne region from 1522. Apvril is mentioned as the owner of Ay on this date in the will of Dom Jean Royer, the last Regular Abbot of Hautvillers.
In 1696, Apvril’s descendants, who were often ‘Royal Mayors’ of Ay, registered the family coat of arms in the Armorial de France. Today, this same coat of arms adorns all the House’s bottles.
The labels of Philipponnat, vineyard owners and wine merchants, were among the first to bear the signature of sparkling Champagnes as early as the mid-19th century.
Later, in 1910, Auguste and Pierre Philipponnat gave the family business a broader and more modern scope by creating their own company and acquiring the Château de Mareuil cellars.
Over the course of its long history, the House of Philipponnat has developed twenty hectares of vineyards of Premiers and Grands Crus, ideally located in the heart of the Champagne region, while maintaining special relationships with their partner viticulturists, who entrust the House with their output. They supply grapes for a broad but very balanced range of Champagnes that are both rich and distinctive.
Fine Crafting
Our progress is a human achievement, the work of 16 generations. This know-how has been passed down from fathers and mothers to sons and daughters. Everyone has made their own contribution, enriching their part of the heritage with inspiration or innovation.
The spirit of the House, steadfast harvest after harvest in its dedication to the land of Ay and Mareuil, embodies craftsmanship in its noblest form.
Its wines are not unique and original works of art, but rather the patient work of an artisan who, like a cabinet-maker, continues to hone his skills until he can produce a masterpiece. We see our work as more than just making something: we are driven by our love of ‘fine crafting’.
In the vineyards and cellars, each generation passes on its vision and experience, steeped in time-honoured traditions.
