Founded by Messrs Pommery and Greno (the latter still appears on the neck label in tribute) this champagne made its name when Louise Pommery took control after the death of the husband.

In 1868 she oversaw a huge building programme, including French and Belgium miners digging 18km of tunnels into the chalk, connected with 120 barrel and ribbed vaulted galleries. A monumental staircase of 116 steps lead down to these, 30m underground and at a constant temperature of 10C. Above ground the buildings were constructed in the then fashionable English  Elizabethan Neo-Gothic style. Domaine Pommery is now listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.

In addition Madamme Pommery in 1874 created the Brut style of Champagne, in contrast to the usual sweet sparkling taste, finding commercial success in Britain.

Pommery, previously under LVMH, is now owned by Paul-Francois Vranken – becoming part of the largest private vineyard ownership in Europe with 392ha in Champagne (Monopole is another owned House), 40ha Pinglestone in Hampshire UK plus others in Provence, Carmargue and Douro.

The group have high ‘green’ commitments. Provence and Camargue have converted to organic. Pommery have since 2014 held double certification; both “Sustainable Viticulture” (controlling inputs, practising bio-diversity, reducing energy usage) and “High Environmental Values” (HEV).

Pommery was the first Champagne house to reduce the weight of bottles – since 2003 they have been 75g lighter which saves a massive 4,300 tonnes of glass.

They are sponsors of PGA golf at Wentworth, Boodles Tennis, Chelsea Flower Show and, in tribute to the significance of Madame Pommery, many women’s events.