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History of Mercier Brut & Rose Champagne

The House of Mercier Champagne was founded in 1858 by Eugene Mercier, who amazingly was only 20 years old. His aim was to bring a top-class Champagne to the general public from his estate in Epernay.

It took six years to excavate the 18 kilometres of tunnels that became the Mercier cellars, with the work being completed in 1877.

Eugene Mercier showed his excellent marketing savvy when he opened his cellars to the public in 1885. Staff were assigned to welcome & guide visitors through the cellars. They were able to enjoy the work of local sculptor Gustave-Andre Navlet who had been commissioned to carve high reliefs from the chalk. These tours helped to increase awareness of the Mercier brand. One visitor of note was the French President Sadi Carnot.
Mercier Brut & Rose Champagne Mercier Brut Champagne Mercier Brut Rose Champagne Mercier Brut Rose Champagne  
At the 1889 World Exhibition Eugene Mercier's giant Champagne vat, with its 200,000 bottle capacity stole the show. It took eight days, 24 oxen and 18 horses to move the 20 tonne vat from Epernay to Paris.

Eleven years later Eugene saw in the Twentieth Century by screening the first ever promotional film. The Lumiere brothers produced the documentary that showed the various stages of Champagne production. Whilst audiences watched the film in amazement, thousands nearby were treated to a sample of Mercier Champagne whilst enjoying the views of Paris from the Mercier hot-air Balloon.

Sadly this great pioneer of Champagne died in 1904, but not before he had put the House of Mercier firmly on the map of Champagne. His sons took up the reins of this fine company with justifiable pride and under their leadership the House of Mercier continued to thrive.

66 years later the house merged with Moet & Chandon and then in 1987 joined the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Group.