Pommery Champagne: How It’s Made, 8 Charming Wines (2024)

Pommery is known to be avant-garde, for pioneering new wine styles, using innovative winemaking practices, and building a cult brand. Among other innovations, the winery (under Madame Pommery) was the first to make Brut Champagne in 1874 - a sharp departure from the fashionable sweet Champagnes of the 19th century!

How is this Champagne made? Which bottles should you add to your investment portfolio?

In this article, we’ll explore the inspiring history, unique vineyards, and winemaking techniques of Pommery. We’ll also discuss the best Pommery wines of 2024 and how to invest in them easily.

A Quick Introduction To Pommery

The Pommery Champagne House (Domaine Pommery) is located in the beautiful city of Reims, in the Champagne region of France. (Not to be confused with Pommery in Meaux, a place close to Reims, which produces mustard and vinegar!) It is owned by the Vranken-Pommery Monopole Group.

Pommery perfectly blends traditional and modern practices to create luminous, lively wines. The three main wine styles are 

• Brut Royal (a multi-vintage blend)
• Millésime (100% grands cru wine)
• Cuvee Louise (a blend of three grand crus)

La Maison Pommery is situated close to other popular wineries like Mumm, Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin, and Taittinger. If you ever drop in here, don’t forget to visit the nearby Villa Demoiselle museum as well!

Fun fact: Winston Churchill is estimated to have drunk 42,000 bottles of wine between 1908 and 1965, and Pommery Champagnes were one of his favorites!

Now, let’s see how this popular winery got started.

The Inspiring History of Champagne Pommery 

Domaine Pommery was founded as Pommery & Greno by Alexandre Louis Pommery and Narcisse Greno in 1858, to trade wool. 

Upon the death of Alexandre in 1860, his wife, Jeanne Alexandrine Louise Melin (Madame Pommery) transformed la maison Pommery to produce premium Champagne as the Champagne trade was booming. She also transformed the crayeres (Gallo-Roman chalk quarries) into a 12-mile long underground cellar, which can store more than 20 million bottles today.

Madame Pommery recognized the potential for dry sparkling Champagne in the United Kingdom. She altered her Champagne recipe to create “Pommery Nature” which didn’t have Champagne’s typical sweetness and acidity - but was “as dry as possible, soft and velvety”, and “without rigidity”. This Pommery style came to be known as “Brut.”

Pommery Brut transformed Champagne and also catapulted Pommery’s Champagne production and fame.

Under Madame Pommery, the Pommery style of wine also evolved to one of finesse and cheery lightness, thanks to the slow ageing in the chalk cellars.

After the death of Madame Pommery, the winery was passed down to the next member of the Pommery family, her daughter Louise. 

The winery remained in the Pommery family till 1979 - after which it was sold. It went down several hands before being bought by Moet Hennessy in 1994. 

But, Moet Hennessy didn’t believe in Pommery’s ideology and compromised on the quality of Champagne to expand Champagne production. In 1996, they sold Pommery after retaining a major part of its fertile vineyard.

Today, this Champagne House is a part of the Vranken Pommery Monopole Group - which also owns the famous Heidsieck & Co Monopole.

How is Pommery Champagne Made? 

The Champagne House produces wines with cheerful lightness using grape varieties of different harvest quality. However, the distinctive taste of the Champagne depends on its blend, winemaking, and how long it’s kept to age. 

Let’s look at the winemaking process followed in Domaine Pommery:

• Champagne Pommery is made of grapes from the 300 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards on the Montagne de Reims and the Côtes de Blancs. The harvested grapes undergo fermentation in the winery’s vat - which is situated right behind the Pommery cellars. 
• After fermentation, the different wines are blended by the cellar master, Clement Pierloto, to give Champagne the signature Pommery aroma and flavor.
• Pommery cellars are one of the finest in Reims where their Champagne bottles mature at 10 degree celsius. The chalk in the cellars retain humidity during summers and heat during winters. 

Pommery now aims to make its vineyard sustainable. 

The winery is transforming into an eco-friendly brand with the help of Thierry Gasco, the winery’s cellar master. Under his guidance, Pommery went on to become the first wine house to achieve an ISO 14001 environmental certificate in 1996.

Moreover, Vranken Pommery Monopole has been awarded ‘Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne’ and ‘High Environmental Value’ since 2014. Vranken Pommery employs organic viticulture in all their vineyards in Camargue and Provence.

Pommery Wine Styles

Let’s take a closer look at the prestigious cuvees of Champagne Pommery.

1. Cuvée Louise

Crafted in 2004 as a tribute to Louise Pommery, this wine originates from the three Grand Crus in Camargue - Avize, Cramant, and Ay. Cuvée Louise is produced in three different styles - Millesime, Brut Nature, and Rose. 

2. Les Clos Pompadour

The Les Clos Pompadour is produced from the three Champagne grape varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. This wine has impeccable freshness and finesse.

3. Champagne Brut

Brut Champagnes, like Pommery Brut Royale and Pommery Nature make up to 85% of the total Champagne trade in the world today. Pommery Champagne Brut Royal is made by blending nearly 40 different Champagne vintages to give a refreshing aroma, acidity, and finesse. This iconic Champagne changed the image of Champagne as a dessert wine.

This remarkable Champagne Brut bottle is known for its joyful lightness. There are six different styles of Brut:

• Pommery Champagne Brut Royale
• Brut Rose
• Pommery Blanc de Blancs
• Pommery Apanage
• Grand Cru Royal
• Royal Blue Sky 

4. Pop

These mini, stylish Champagne bottles are a favorite among Champagne lovers. Fruity and refreshing, they’re perfect for parties and barbecues. This lively Champagne has four different varieties - Pop, Silver Pop, Pink Pop, and Gold Pop.

Now, let’s look at a few popular Pommery vintages.

Best Bottles of Champagne Pommery to Buy in 2024 (Including Taste and Prices)

Here’s a list of our favorite bottles of Pommery Champagne. 

1. 1961 Pommery Cuvee Speciale Blanc de Blancs, France

This complex Chardonnay sparkling wine is known for its exquisite taste. This Blanc de Blancs has a pale gold hue with a lasting effervescence and floral notes of acacia and jasmine. 

1961 Pommery Cuvee Speciale Blanc de Blancs, France: $384

2. 2004 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime with Glass, France

This premium vintage from the Champagne region has prominent aging notes of toast and almond. It also has tasting notes of citrus fruit like lemon, grapefruit, orange, and red fruits like strawberries and raspberries.

2004 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime with Glass, France: $335

3. 2003 Pommery Les Clos Pompadour, France

On the palate, this Champagne gives notes of citrus fruit and yeast, with nice creamy bubbles. It also has light notes of honey, earth, oak, and brioche. 

2003 Pommery Les Clos Pompadour, France: $342

4. 1989 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime, France

This great wine is golden-colored with notes of cherry, apple, and yellow plum, creating a complex impression on the palate. It is rich in vanilla, butter, and bread notes on the nose.

1989 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime, France: $298

5. 2004 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Nature, France

This intense, fresh, and fine sparkling wine is rich in spices, oyster shell touches, lemon, and has fresh floral notes. It has a green yellow color and a supple texture along with a long finish. 

2004 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Nature, France: $238

6. 2000 Pommery Grand Cru Brut Millesime, France

This gold colored great wine gives off rich notes of apple, pear, and lychee along with a fine mousse and long lasting bubbles. It has notes of butter, bread, and butterscotch on the nose, . 

2000 Pommery Grand Cru Brut Millesime, France: $195

7. 1969 Pommery Coteaux Champenois Bouzy Rouge, France

This spectacular Pommery red wine was made from the best Pinot Noir grapes of Coteaux Champenois appellation. It is known for its freshness and is best enjoyed with chicken and turkey.

1969 Pommery Coteaux Champenois Bouzy Rouge, France: $169

8. 2000 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime, France

This vibrant Champagne is made from Pinot Noir grapes and is full-bodied, fresh, and rich on the palate. It also has strong notes of hazelnuts, almonds, vinegar, quince, red fruits, cream, and yeast.

2000 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime, France: $141

Is Pommery Champagne a Good Long-Term Investment?

As with all Champagnes, vintage Pommery bottles can be kept for around a decade, and the non-vintage ones can be stored for 4-5 years.

When it comes to ratings, around 10 of its vintages were rated above 95 by popular wine critics. The 1999 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime was given a 97 by Edward Cuvee. The Cuvee Louise 1990 Jeroboam scored a 98 from Ken Gargett.

The value of these Champagnes have also been increasing over time: 

• The 1996 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime went up by 50% in 6 months (from Aug 2020 to Feb 2021).
• The 1989 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime grew by 74% in 15 months from November 2019.

So, have you decided to own a bottle of precious Pommery Brut Royale?

Invest in it (hassle-free) through Vinovest!

Invest in Pommery And Other Fine Wine Through Vinovest

Vinovestis an online wine investment company that lets you invest in premium wines from the best wine brands around the globe. Vinovest can store your bottles and deliver them to you whenever you want - wherever you are. 

How Does It Work?

You can invest in your favorite wines in a few easy steps:

• Sign up on the Vinovest website.
• Answer a questionnaire to help experts determine your investment preferences.
• Fund your account with a minimum of $1,000.
• Build a rewarding wine portfolio!

And, watch your account grow as you mix up a refreshing Kir Royale using this recipe!

Benefits Of Using Vinovest

1. Buy and Sell Wines At Best Prices

Vinovest sources wines directly from winemakers (or top wineries), global wine exchanges, and trusted wine merchants at the best possible wholesale prices.‍

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Vinovest’s Master Sommeliers combine their expertise with Artificial Intelligence-driven investment algorithms to build a carefully curated portfolio of investment-grade wines, including en primeurs.

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Vinovest goes the extra length to trace your wine’s provenance and make sure it’s authentic. 

4. Comprehensive Insurance and Security

Vinovest will monitor your precious wines 24/7 using security cameras. There are power back-ups in case the primary method fails to maintain perfect climate control. Vinovest also offers a full insurance policy at market value, protecting each bottle against breakage, theft, and loss.

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Wine investment is believed to be an expensive affair. 

But, you don’t have to worry if you partner with Vinovest!

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Want to gift your Cristal Champagne to your Champagne lover buddy?

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Add a Delicious, Pommery Champagne To Your Cellar!

Pommery is a coveted brand producing ageworthy, elegant wines with exceptional flavor. 

You can add sparkle to your wine collection by investing in one of its prestigious bottles like the Brut Royal easily through Vinovest. 

So, sign up now to buy wines from Pommery and other world-class wineries!