Alexandra Dudley interviews Perrier-Jouët’s Jonny Simms

A global, digital platform celebrating love and all that comes with it. There was only one champagne to drink as we toasted to the launch of The Wedding Edition. Perrier- Jouët is a champagne synonymous with love. Enjoyed all over the world, and famed for its timeless floral design, it is often chosen to celebrate life’s most special moments. This unique champagne house has its own love story too. Over an immaculate champagne paired lunch. Alexandra Dudley interviews Perrier-Jouët’s Jonny Simms; global ambassador for Perrier- Jouët and a fizzing fountain of knowledge on this unique champagne.

Alexandra 

There is a bit of a romance behind the birth of Perrier- Jouët. Can you tell us a bit about how the champagne house came to be? 

Jonny

Absolutely. Champagne itself is innately connected with romance, love and special occasions but the wonderful house of Perrier- Jouët is possibly the most romantic of them all because it actually starts with a love story. In 1810 a young couple named Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and Rose-Adélaïde Jouët get married. The following year, in 1811, they found a champagne business together and grow what is today one of the most respected champagne houses in the world. It is a business that started with a love and a story we are still telling today.

Alexandra 

How wonderful! Is the champagne house of 1810 still the main champagne house today?

Jonny

Absolutely, it’s the house, the buildings, the vineyards and critically the style of the wine that are  Adele and Pierre’s. The champagne that we know and love today is still that very same one.

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Alexandra  

Something that I love about Perrier- Jouët is that really delicate and lovely bubble that pairs so well with food. It is something that is quite special and unique to Perrier- Jouët. Where does it come from? 

Jonny

Ah, yes. Making wine is of course an art form but it is also a science. The process is very natural in champagne, but it is essentially nature being manipulated.  Without getting really techie about it, when we make Perrier- Jouët, we make sure our second fermentation finishes slightly earlier than many other champagnes. The second ferment is where the bubbles come from, the ‘puits de moise’ as some say, meaning the capture of the sparkle. We managed to make a champagne in a way where the pressure in the bottle is slightly lower than average meaning that the bubble is a finer and more delicate. It doesn’t make us better but it is what we do and we do it well. 

Alexandra 

You do it exceptionally well and it is certainly my favourite. Particularly because it pairs so beautifully with food. We are in Autumn now, are there any particular autumnal ingredients or dishes that pair really well with Perrier- Jouët champagne?

Jonny

Champagne is actually a very good food pairing wine, although people don’t think of it as such. It is the most acidic wine made in France, and so any dishes that are a little more indulgent, or slightly higher in oils or fats go wonderfully as the acidity cuts through beautifully. Something that pairs very well with champagne at any time of the year is actually fish and chips.

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Alexandra

Yes! Which I have actually experienced and enjoyed very much. We do have some chips on the menu later today.  

Jonny

Then you also have the rosé champagnes which can work particularly well with the sort of autumn fruits you might find at this time of year, figs, plums, blackberries. I will add that you want to watch the sugar when pairing Perrier- Jouët and ensure not to pair it with anything too sweet as this can overwhelm the flavour of the champagne. 

Alexandra

We are celebrating all things love and of course, weddings today. Is there a particular champagne from the Perrier- Jouët champagne house that you recommend for a wedding reception?

Jonny 

Well it is a wedding day and a very special day, so I would immediately direct people to our prestige cuvée range. The labelling and flower painted bottle is of course very famous but it is the beautiful wine that is most special.  

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Alexandra

It is a beautiful bottle. Incredibly romantic. 

Jonny

The floral design was done for us originally in 1902 by an art nouveau glassmaker. If you go back to the love story of Adele and Pierre, it begins with that beautiful bottle and on your wedding day why not why not go for the very best.

For more info visit: https://www.perrier-jouet.com/en-ww

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