#19 Champagne Pommery with Madame Nathalie Vranken

It’s been 150 years since Madame Louise Pommery launched the Maison’s first ‘brut’ champagne. The matriarch, one of the pioneering ‘iron ladies’ famed for propelling the industry forward during difficult times, was a revolutionary. Her idea for a dryer style of champagne, forever changed champagne wines whilst opening-up a whole new opportunity abroad. Pommery is, today, one of Champagne’s leading brands. It was acquired by the Vranken family in 2002 who have taken a serious approach to preserving the Maison’s legacy. The Maison’s fabled fairy tale like castle on the outskirts of Reims is immediately identifiable, perched atop a labyrinth of Gallo-Roman chalk crayeres which is home to an annual program of art installations. The exhibitions are curated by the Maison’s co-owner, Madame Nathalie Vranken, who sees an emotional correlation between art and champagne. It was my pleasure to interview Madame Vranken during her recent visit to Australia.