Jacquesson champagne makers of Châlons

Louisa Jaunay's marriage to Adolphe Jacquesson was the event that would eventually see the whole Jaunay family back in France after fleeing the Revolution. Of the three Jaunay children, her story is by far the most tragic, culminating in the premature deaths of her talented sons and the loss of the Jacquesson fortune.

Louisa Jaunay was born in London on 27 Sep 1813. She was baptised at St Georges Hanover Square on 24 Oct 1813.

Louisa met Adolphe Jacquesson while he was living at Jaunay's Hotel in London where he had been assigned to promote the relatively new wine, champagne, to the English. It was appropriate that he based himself in the hotel that was a very popular venue for the wealthy aristocracy and other notables from both sides of the English Channel.

Pictured: Jacquesson wine label featuring Napoleon tasting the wine

Jacquesson et Fils had experienced a long period of difficulties with its foreign agents who were failing to adequately represent the company in its overseas dealings. Adolphe was determined to supply the English with the wine they wanted - dry and strong - although he had some difficulty convincing his father of this preference! The reputation of the products of this firm were enhanced by the patronage they received from Napoleon after he visited the establishment in 1810. In his quest to attain the taste preferred by the English, Adolphe carefully studied Moêt which was the great success of the time and Jean-Rémy Moêt enjoyed even greater patronage from Napoleon.

Adolphe was quickly charmed by Louisa and after a short engagement they were married at St Martin in the Fields, London on 10 Feb 1830.

In 1834 Jacquesson et Fils employed Joseph Krug who quickly rose to prominence in the company. Following disagreements over the style and quality of the product, the partnership was dissolved by Krug in late 1842. However, the long standing friendship endured. A close relationship still existed between the two companies and families which continued after Joseph's death.

In November 1844 Adolphe invented the muselet, the wire cage universally used ever since to hold the champagne cork securely to the bottle. Previously corks were held in place with hemp rope knotted by hand.

While there is no doubt that Joseph Krug was a master blender of fine champagne and had the right business acumen, Jacquesson et Fils was by no means overshadowed by Krug et Cie. The house of Jacquesson took orders for a massive million bottles at the 1867 Universal Exhibition and in that year the Queen of Holland also made an official visit to the cellars at Châlons.