Few roles are as quietly influential as that of a cellar master, and few embody the future of champagne with such assurance as alice tétienne. As Cellar Master at Champagne Henriot, one of champagne’s oldest family run maisons, Alice brings a deeply terroir led perspective to a house defined by elegance, restraint and luminous chardonnay.
Founded in 1808 by Apolline Henriot, Champagne Henriot has always stood for clarity and finesse, with a long held belief that great champagne begins in the vineyard. Born and raised in the region and trained as an oenologist, Alice oversees both the vines and the wines, moving fluidly between parcels, cellar tastings and representing the house in France and internationally. Through a thoughtful, seasonally driven approach, she continues to honour more than two centuries of heritage while quietly shaping what comes next for champagne.
I love working in the Champagne industry because…
I was born and raised here, and Champagne is truly part of who I am. Working in this region means working with a mosaic of terroirs, a collective spirit between growers and houses, and a product that carries emotion and celebration in every bottle. It is a place where you can be both very rigorous and very creative at the same time.
Champagne Henriot is best known for…
Its luminous, Chardonnay‑driven style, and for a very strong historical link to the vineyards. Since Apolline Henriot founded the house in 1808, the ambition has been to reveal the light and finesse of our terroirs, especially through great crus of Chardonnay that bring elegance, verticality and clarity to all our cuvées.
My biggest achievement to date at Champagne Henriot is…
I would say structuring a long‑term, terroir‑focused vision that unites the vineyard, the winery and our partner growers. Through projects such as the Alliance Terroirs programme, launch in 2020, we work in depth on vineyard knowledge, sustainable viticulture and the precision of our selections, so that every blend expresses more clearly the diversity and personality of our crus.
At Champagne Henriot we are inspired by…
Our origins and by the figure of Apolline Henriot, a woman who, in 1808, dared to found her own maison in a very masculine world. We are also inspired every day by the vineyard itself: by the soils, the climates, the challenges of climate change, and by the close relationships we have with the families who grow grapes for us. Their know‑how and their attachment to their plots feed our creativity in the cellar.
The current Champagne or wedding trend I am loving is…
I really appreciate seeing more and more people choosing champagnes with strong identity and terroir character for important moments such as weddings, rather than very “polished” or neutral styles. There is a growing appetite for cuvées that tell a story – of origin, of vintage, of a particular grape – and that is very positive for diversity and authenticity in Champagne.
My favourite dinner pairing with Champagne Henriot is…
I often come back to the dialogue between Chardonnay‑based cuvées and delicate, textured dishes. A Henriot Blanc de Blancs or a cuvée where Chardonnay is shining is wonderful with dishes such as lightly citrus‑marinated scallops, a fine fish in beurre blanc, or even a simple, perfectly cooked poultry with jus. The tension and brightness of the wines lift the dish, while their generosity and complexity wrap it gently.
My favourite place in the world to escape and reset is…
The mountains or quite simply, the vineyard, especially in quieter moments of the year. Walking the rows, feeling the soils underfoot, observing the light and the changes of the season allows me to recentre myself. It is there that I reconnect most strongly with the reason why we make Champagne in the first place.
A recent moment, place or project that has influenced my creativity is…
Our in‑depth work on plots as part of our vineyard and Alliance Terroirs projects. Spending time tasting base wines from very specific parcels, comparing soils, exposures and viticultural practices, has opened new perspectives for me on how far we can go in precision and in expressing nuance in our blends. It is a continuous source of inspiration in the cellar.
And finally, what is next for Champagne Henriot…
Is to go even further in linking our wines to their origins, and in preparing the vineyard for the future. This means deepening our knowledge of terroirs, adapting viticulture to climate change, reinforcing sustainable and responsible practices, and continuing to craft wines of Champagne that remain faithful to the luminous, generous Henriot style while embracing the complexity and diversity of tomorrow’s Champagne.
We’re also incredibly excited about the release of a new vintage from our 6 founding Crus which is due to launch later this year.
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