This month we look at two great figures of France and their influence in Champagne. Pierre Charles Taittinger from the esteemed Taittinger house founded in 1931 after purchasing the third oldest champagne firm known nack in 1734 as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux. We discuss his role during the first and second world war and his continued influence in Paris until 1940.
Next is Charles de Gaulle whose influence against German occupation during the second world was no short of heroic and his rise to becoming the first President of France changed the course of history for all leaders to present day – Emmanuel Macron. His love of Champagne Drappier was evident, so much so that in 1990, the house created a cuvée in his honour.
This is much like the house of Pol Roger naming a cuvée after Sir Winston Churchill who used to drink a glass of Pol every day. Good man!