Charles de Cazanove Champagne
Zbetween tradition and modernity
The brand Charles de Cazanove Champagne, one of the oldest in the region, has learned to combine tradition, modernity and dynamism through two centuries of dedication to champagne.
In the 16th century, a glassmaker from the Bigeault family travelled to Venice, then the world centre of the glass industry, to expand his skills and experience. On his return he added the name Casanova to his own, the "New House", and gave it the French form "Cazanove".
The growth of a brand
In 1811, Charles Gabriel De Cazanove, a young man aged 24 from a family of glassmakers, founded his own champagne house in Avize, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs.
However, it was not the founder but his son Charles Nicolas, born in 1818, who contributed most to the growth of the brand. A businessman and chairman of the Epernay district horticultural society, he applied his botanical knowledge to the fight against phylloxera and made Charles De Cazanove a respected company.
In its time, the house supplied, among others, Prince Metternich, an Austrian diplomat and politician, and the French presidents during the Third Republic: MacMahon, Sadi Carnot and Emile Loubet.
In 1902, Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom and Ireland, was received in Paris as the prelude to the entente cordiale with the champagne Charles De Cazanove Brut, whom he loved very much. Edward VII had it specially imported from France with his own label.
From generation to generation
After the death of Charles Nicolas De Cazanove in 1903, his sons Franck and Joseph handed over the business to the following two generations. Joseph's son Roger de Cazanove, who took over the house in the 1920s, was deported to Germany and died in captivity in the Nazi camps. His brother Hubert followed him and died shortly before the fighting ended. Roger and Hubert de Cazanove's nephew, Mr. Chiroussot, ran the business for several years until 1954, when Amaury de Cazanove, grandson of Charles Nicolas, took over.
Amaury called at Sylvain de Sournac's Champagne de Cazanove. Sylvain de Sournac was a good administrator and skilful businessman and was able to increase the turnover of the house tenfold. The arrival of Amaury de Cazanove was accompanied by the Banque Vernes, which took over part of the capital, which it sold on to Martini.
Thus, in 1958 the company was under the influence of Martini & Rossi and from 1983 it was under the control of the Moët - Hennessy group, which finally decided in 1985 to separate the company and sell it to SA Magenta - Epernay, a dealer and distributor of prestige brands, better known by the acronym S.A.M.E.
Maison Charles de Cazanove Champagne was 2004 bought out and has become the flagship of a champagne family.
A growing reputation
Today, Maison de Cazanove works on the reputation of Champagne and its people. As a special partner of the "Comédie de Reims", it is involved in various artistic projects and is particularly committed to cinema and music. In May 1991, the house celebrated the 40th anniversary of the "Cahiers du Cinéma" in Cannes and became a partner of the 45th edition of the "Comédie de Reims" in 1992.
In 1992, Charles de Cazanove Champagne, in collaboration with the Epernay Council, invited the filmmaker Jean-Pierre Mocky to spend a week in the Champagne capital. He presented his film "Le mari de Léon" Léon's husband" at the eh Cannes Festival and gave a preview of the people of Epernay on June 1st. Since 2002, the house has supported and accompanied the "Flâneries Musicales de Reims".
An ancient tradition, open to progress
Today Champagne Charles de Cazanove has efficient oenological and technological facilities and produces over 3 million bottles per year. Most of the vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks, but when necessary, some wines spend their time in oak barrels to achieve the wonderful fullness that oak barrels offer. The wines mature in the traditional champagne chalk cellar.
Authentic wines from noble terroir, produced according to ancient tradition and open to the best that progress can offer the champagne lover, Charles de Cazanove champagnes are enjoyed all over the world.
Address:
Charles de Cazanove
8 place de la République
51100 REIMS - FRANCE
33 (0)3 26 88 53 86
Fax : +33 (0)3 26 05 00 96