Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1. Origins of the Henriot Legacy
2. Expansion into the Marguet Vineyards
3. Innovation in the Face of Phylloxera
4. Henriot-Marguet Viticultural Museum
5. Global Recognition and Enduring Value
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Origins of the Henriot Legacy
In the 16th century, the Henriot family settled in Champagne. In 1794, Nicolas Simon Henriot, a fabric merchant, married Apolline Godinot—niece of the renowned scholar Abbé Godinot, whose pioneering research advanced viticulture. This union laid the foundation for what would become the Champagne Henriot House.
Following Nicolas’s death, Apolline founded the Maison in 1808 under the name “Veuve Henriot Aîné". Her vision, fortified by familial and scientific legacy, positioned Henriot champagne at the pinnacle of refinement. By 1881, its reputation was such that Prince Frederick of the Netherlands reconfirmed his royal endorsement of the House.
Expansion into the Marguet Vineyards
In 1875, Ernest Henriot—Apolline’s grandson—ended a two-decade partnership with Charles Camille Heidsieck to establish his own label, Henriot et Cie. Just five years later, his nephew Paul Henriot married Marie Marguet, uniting two distinguished vineyard holdings.
This marriage significantly expanded the estate’s vineyard surface, which soon totaled 250 arpents across Champagne’s finest crus. These included:
Côte des Blancs: the largest section, stretching over six kilometers from Avize to Vertus;
Épernay and Chouilly: premium "lieux-dits" in the heart of Champagne;
Montagne de Reims: parcels located on the eastern edge of the Côte de Bouzy, bordering Ambonnay and Trepail.
Innovation in the Face of Phylloxera
Though phylloxera had devastated Bordeaux and Burgundy by the late 19th century, Champagne remained temporarily unscathed. However, this immunity lasted barely a decade.
Ernest Marguet—decades ahead of his time—recognized the threat and began testing American rootstock grafting techniques long before their general acceptance.
Despite the scientific support for his work, Marguet faced prolonged opposition from Champagne authorities, who, driven by commercial interests, ignored the warnings of the nation’s top researchers.
His foresight, however, proved pivotal for the future resilience of Champagne vineyards.
Henriot-Marguet Viticultural Museum
As early as 1883—eight years before phylloxera appeared in Champagne—Marguet was ordered by the prefect to uproot his experimental plots. These vineyards, though controversial, had already become a living museum of viticultural science.
More than 50 American rootstocks were grafted and cultivated there over 40 years, divided into seven distinct pruning systems and fifteen planting methods.
None of the experimental plots suffered productivity loss during the phylloxera crisis.
The Henriot-Marguet vineyards became renowned for their consistent, high-quality harvests—testament to the visionary dedication of their owners.
By 1919, the estate’s commitment to experimentation was evident when three entire freight trains—each with 70 cars—unloaded viticultural supplies and materials onto Henriot-Marguet vineyards. These operations underscored the estate’s ongoing pursuit of excellence.
Global Recognition and Enduring Value
Beyond producing remarkable wines for trade, the Henriot-Marguet House also crafted exclusive cuvées for connoisseurs, bottled under the label Le Champagne des Vignobles Henriot-Marguet.
Guests were offered four scenic tours across the estate’s holdings:
Itinerary 1 Massif de Saint-Thierry and Vallée de l’Ardre
Itinerary 2 Montagne de Reims
Itinerary 3 Vallée de la Marne
Itinerary 4 Côte des Blancs
Scenic Wine Routes in Champagne (V.H.M., Le Champagne, Paris, 1922). This historic map highlights the four picturesque circuits through Henriot-Marguet vineyards
Each Grand Cru contributed to a wine of remarkable harmony and authenticity, made exclusively from locally harvested grapes. Under French law, this ensured a guarantee of origin both unique and irrefutable.
Despite the value of their land and grapes, the estate sold directly to customers, maintaining attractive prices. This strategy was particularly beneficial in a market flooded with flashy bottles often filled with inferior content.
By the early 1920s, Champagne des Vignobles had reached consumers across Algeria, Tunisia, Argentina, Uruguay, Austria, Belgium, the Belgian Congo, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, China, British and Dutch India, Japan, and even as far as Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
The Henriot-Marguet legacy exemplifies a unique fusion of science, foresight, and respect for terroir. From their early advocacy of American rootstock to their devotion to quality grands crus and direct customer relationships, their story reflects a vision that extended beyond borders—and beyond its time.
Today, their contributions still echo through the vineyards of Champagne, reminding us that great wines are born not only from the land, but from those who dare to understand and preserve it.
Source
Les Vignobles Henriot-Marguet, in L'Illustration économique et financière, La Marne, numéro spécial, Reims, 26 avril 1924
TAGS CHAMPAGNE HENRIOT CÔTE DES BLANCS MONTAGNE DE REIMS PHYLLOXERA AMERICAN ROOTSTOCK GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE VITICULTURAL HISTORY CHAMPAGNE HERITAGE BRANDS HISTORICAL CHAMPAGNE HOUSES
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