The Grand Dames of French Champagne !
Born Jeanne Alexandrine Louise Mélin she married Alexandre Pommery a Champagne producer in 1839.
Upon Alexandre's death in 1860, she took over the Pommery family business.
She purchased 120 limestone and chalk pits, so-called crayères, carved underneath 12 miles (19 km) of the city of Reims by Roman soldiers during their occupation of Gaul.
These unique cellars allowed her to store and age thousands of bottles in a temperature-controlled environment (a constant 10 °C).
She would later change the face of Champagne for her English customers, by making the first ever 'brut' Champagne, with no added sugar.
Upon her death, she became the first woman to receive a French state funeral with 20,000 people gathering in the streets of Reims to honour her great contributions to the city and the Champagne industry !
Karim
