Piper-Heidsieck

Founded in 1785 by Florens-Louis Heidsieck, a draper's son with no formal winemaking training and one stated ambition: to make a cuvee fit for a queen.

He got his wish in 1788, presenting his Champagne to Marie Antoinette herself. After his death, the business split across several branches of the extended family — the Piper, Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck houses all trace back to this same root.

Today it's owned by the Descours family's EPI group, having spent decades under Remy Cointreau before that.