Pierre Peters Champagne
Photos cannot describe the contribution to the development of the Champagne region by the house of Pierre Peters.
Will be the story.
Once upon a time, there was a winemaker named Pierre Peters. Yes, that Pierre Peters – the one who started the famous RM Champagne brand we know today back in 1946. Before that, the winery was named after his father, Camille Peters.
Now, Pierre had three sons. The eldest was Jacques, who showed great promise in winemaking. He first honed his skills at Jacquard before moving to Veuve Clicquot. When it was time to pass down the family business, everyone expected Jacques to take over. But in 1969, his career at Clicquot seemed more promising. He eventually became their Chef de Cave, a position he held until 2006. Talk about a career! He spent 20 years working his way up to a job he then held for almost 30! Beyond helping to build the reputation of the second-largest brand and creating La Grande Dame, Jacques also mentored Dominique Demarville (the next Clicquot Chef de Cave), Frederic Panaiotis (Ruinart), and Cyril Brun (Charles Heidsieck).
So, what happened to the family business? Somewhat reluctantly, the middle son, François, took it on. Staying in the shadow of his more successful brother, he had to find his own path to recognition. In the early 70s, he created an association of récoltants (grower-producers), now known as the Club des Tresors (or Special Club). He championed the idea of small producers, the terroirs of the Côte des Blancs (specifically the Cru Chétillons – was the first Special Club Cuvee), and the name of his father, which became synonymous with the winery. Did his older brother help him? We don't know for sure, but it seems their relationship was strained.
Besides building the winery's reputation, François also raised a wonderful son, Rodolphe. By the mid 90s, Rodolphe had degrees in marine biology (he wanted to be like Cousteau!), enology, and an MBA. He greatly assisted his father from the late 1990s onward. In 2007, he became the head winemaker for the estate. Rodolphe is the man who created Fleur de Miraval Champagne.
And when that happened, his now-retired uncle Jacques appeared. He said he had been following his nephew's successes from the earliest stages and was confident that Rodolphe was the best representative of his generation and the best successor to his father's (Jacques's father, Pierre) legacy. Only after this did the brothers, both retired, become true brothers again – no longer competing, but instead chatting, playing golf, and opening old bottles made by their father and grandfather.
The family's tradition of talented heirs continued with Rodolphe's son, Victor. This young man's bright and amusing artwork graces the rare and expensive cuvée, L'Etonnant Monsieur Victor. Jacques died in 2021, unfortunately.
The wines are made exclusively from the estate vineyards. Péters owes 19 ha of vineyards of Chardonnay located in the top communes of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize and Cramant. Also, Péters has a nursery of Chardonnay vines bearing mind that a lion's share of Chardonnay Grand Cru plantings come from Pierre Péters estate,
We are happy to have Pierre Péters Champagne at Why Wine with direct allocations.