OUR HISTORY
The youngest of the great Champagne Maisons
A Champagne of visionaries
HENRI MACQUART, THE UNION MAN
Historic player in the world of Champagne, Henri Macquart had a vision of the Centre Vinicole, and made it a reality. Representing the growers at the CIVC, decorated by the French state, President of the Syndicat Général des Vignerons, France's Growers' Union from 1946 to 1960, he plays a significant role in the region's organisational body and the cooperative movement.
A surplus harvest in 1970, which created significant storage implications, made him realise it was time for growers in Champagne to join together to guarantee the sales of their grapes.
A commited and charismatic man of the soil at heart, Henri Macquart was backed by a number of devoted cooperative growers, who he had convinced to create a storage facility in Champagne. The Centre Vinicole de la Champagne was founded in 1972, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, led by a man of great wisdom, who would assure its presidency until 1981 and sit on the board as honorary President until 1997.
NICOLAS FEUILLATTE, THE FOUNDER
Nicolas Feuillatte was born in Paris in 1926 into a family of successful wine and spirits importer-negociants. After the Second World War, he decided to try his luck overseas and in 1960 became the USA's leading importer of African coffee. A man of passion, always on the look out for the next big venture, he went on to invest in the vineyards of Champagne. The first grapes are sold to negociants. In 1976, he created and produced the eponymous champagne for a close circle of "American friends". Its commercial success is immediate.
He sold his brand in 1986 to the Centre-Vinicole de la Champagne, and remains an incomparable ambassador to this day, constantly driven by a desire to create, innovate and invent.
Our champagnes
Drawing their strength and full flavours from a remarkable array of crus, enhanced by the subtle art of blending, Nicolas Feuillatte champagnes reflect the harmony, finesse and freshness of this unique region. An extensive variety of perfectly ripe grapes make up the champagnes in our range, vinified individually by cru or by area and by grape variety, together with a meticulous selection of Grands Crus and Premiers Cru. The mosaic of soils sculpt wonderfully nuanced champagnes.
