Champagne Mercier — Épernay Icon Since 1858

Champagne Mercier — Épernay Icon Since 1858

Champagne Mercier is a Négociant-Maison in Épernay, founded in 1858 by Eugène Mercier – who was just 20 years old at the time. Today part of the Moët Hennessy group (LVMH), led by Chef de cave Christophe Bonnefond. The headquarters is located at 68-70 avenue de Champagne, right in the heart of the champagne capital.

History

Eugène Mercier founded his Maison in 1858 during the Second Empire under Napoleon III. In 1871, he began construction of his cellars in Épernay and simultaneously established a direct railway connection to Paris – revolutionary for champagne transport at the time. After six years of construction, the 18-kilometer-long underground cellars were completed in 1877. Visitors could tour the facilities in carriages pulled by four horses.

Eugène Mercier was a marketing pioneer. In 1889, he presented the Foudre géant at the Paris World's Fair, the largest wine barrel in the world, built for assemblage. It won second prize – right behind the Eiffel Tower. In 1891, French President Sadi Carnot visited the Maison and personally rode through the cellars.

In 1900, Mercier staged two spectacular events for the World's Fair: A Bar volant in a hot air balloon that took visitors to 300 meters high. The balloon broke free during the exhibition and flew all the way to Belgium – all passengers returned safely. That same year, Mercier produced one of the very first commercial advertising films with the Lumière brothers. In 1904, a Paris-Épernay car race followed, ending right at the gates of the Maison on Avenue de Champagne.

The Cuvées in Detail

Brut

Entry-level Cuvée with apple, pear and light brioche notes. Aged 18 to 30 months on lees, Dosage 8 g/l. Uncomplicated, fresh, easy-drinking.
45% Pinot Noir · 40% Meunier · 15% Chardonnay · 8 g/l · 24 months

Blanc de Noirs

Iconique Cuvée focusing on black grapes. "Un parti pris intense et gourmand," as the Maison itself puts it – powerful and fruit-forward.
100% black grapes

Brut Réserve

Réserve line of the Maison, mentioned in the environmental sheets.
Brut

Brut Millésimé

Vintage champagne of the Maison, details currently not publicly communicated.
Vintage

Rosé

Rosé Cuvée in the range, details currently not publicly communicated.
Rosé

My Tastings

• Brut · September 29, 2025

Facts

Sources for this portrait: Maison website, own tastings, CRM data and cross-checks. Fields without sufficient verification remain open.