The France of 1760 was in the midst of an age of new philosophical and rationalist thought known as ‘The Age of Enlightenment’. A movement for social change grew under the influence of writers like Voltaire and Rousseau, culminating in the French Revolution in 1787. It was in this context that François Delamotte, a magistrate in Reims, founded Maison Delamotte – the third Champagne House created. The basic method for making sparkling wine or champagne had been established by two Benedictine monks Frère Jean Oudart and Dom Pierre Perignon around the end of the seventeenth century. François Delamotte embraced this growing taste for champagne with the creation of the house that would later become Lanson, Maison Delamotte.
Maison Delamotte became Maison Père et Fils, reflecting the involvement of a younger Delamotte generation. From the outset, the core principles of the House were to encourage young talent and focus on the European market and its Royal and Imperial courts.
Nicolas-Louis Delamotte was François Delamotte’s youngest son and a Knight of the Order of Malta. In 1798 he succeeded François and adopted the Maltese Cross as the company crest. 11 years earlier the French Revolution had sparked a period of great upheaval, with key battles fought in the Champagne region. In spite of this, Maison Père et Fils established signigficant business outside of France, particularly in Germany and Northern and Eastern Europe.
Nicolas-Louis Delamotte formed a partnership with Jean-Baptiste Lanson, the son of farmers from the Ardennes.
In an agreement reached between the Delamotte and Lanson families, the House took on the name Lanson Père et Fils.
The Lanson House moved to new premises at 4 Boulevard du Temple, which would become 20 Boulevard Lundy in Reims.
Under Jean-Baptiste’s eldest son Victor Marie Lanson, who was now in charge, the House continued to pursue its aim of international expansion, increasing sales in Europe, but also, via London, further afield in the dominions of the British Empire.
Queen Victoria awarded a Royal Warrant to Maison Lanson Père et Fils, making it an Official Supplier to the Court of England- an honour that the Lanson House has held ever since.
Victor Marie travelled extensively and under his management the English market became increasingly important to the House. In 1882, the first exclusive agent contract was signed with Percy Fox in London, granting the merchant exclusive rights to distribute Lanson in the UK. This continued for 100 years.
Alfred Ulke became the House’s first agent in Germany. He introduced Lanson champagnes to the cellars of some key personalities in Germany, thanks to the contacts he had established in his former role as head of receptions at luxury Berlin establishment Hotel Adlon.
In this year Lanson made a vintage that would make history and establish its reputation as a great Champagne House known for its vintage champagnes.
Large stores opened in Paris, Brussels, Norway and Germany, thus reinforcing Lanson’s international presence.
Lanson became an official supplier to the Spanish Court.
Victor Marie’s son Henri and his grandson Victor Lanson formed a partnership, running the House together.
This year was marked by the acquisition of ‘Clos Lanson’ – now the only vineyard within the walls of the Champagne capital, Reims. Beneath the hectare of vines, the House also acquired three floors of cellars on Rue de Courlancy. At the same time Lanson moved into the former Maison Binet.
Lanson purchased the Dizy vendangeoir (press house). This former relais de poste for ‘Maison Neuve’ on the Reims-Epernay road was where Napoleon stopped in 1814 during the Campaign in France. Superbly located at the foot of Hautvilliers’ vineyards, the vendangeoir has been an integral part of Lanson’s life and spirit for three-quarters of a century.
Anticipating modern marketing techniques, Victor Lanson, Jean-Baptiste Lanson’s great grandson, re-named the House’s non-vintage champagne ‘Black Label’.
Victor Lanson, acting manager since 1928, became sole head of the company. A tireless globetrotter with a talent for public relations, he would expand Lanson’s presence around the world while maintaining its family-oriented spirit and high level of quality. He was known in the profession as ‘the ambassador of Champagne’.
On 7 June Britain’s King George V and Queen Elizabeth taste Lanson Extra Dry 1928 during an official visit to Niagara Falls.
On 19 June General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, and his officers drank Lanson 1933 during a dinner organised in their honour at the Waldorf Astoria, New York.
Lanson created its Brut Rosé, one of the first of its kind in Champagne.
On 22 June the Lanson 1952 Vintage was served during the crowning ceremony of King Olav V of Norway.
On 1 June the Lanson 1952 Vintage was served at the table of United States President John F. Kennedy and his wife during a dinner at Château de Versailles.
On 22 April Robin Knox-Johnston celebrated becoming the first man to circumnavigate the globe non-stop and single-handedly with a bottle of Lanson Black Label.
On 22 March French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing served Lanson 1969 to his guests, Vice President of the USA, Nelson Rockefeller, and his wife.
Lanson harvests the very first vintage of its Cuvée de Prestige, the Noble Cuvée Brut 1979.
Jean Paul Gandon becomes Chef de Cave (or chief winemaker) at Lanson, a position he still holds today. He originally joined the House in 1972 to run the vineyards and oversee relations with the wine-growers.
On 3 October François Mitterand, President of the French Republic, served Lanson’s Noble Cuvée to his guests for the 10th Conference of Heads of State of France and Africa. In the same year, a Blanc de Blancs was added to the Noble Cuvée range.
On the eve of the new Millenium Lanson sold a record 8 million bottles, making 1999 the best year in the House’s history.
On 4 August the Queen Mother celebrated her one hundredth birthday with Lanson.
Noble Cuvée Rosé was launched. Lanson became the Official Supplier of champagne to His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, the only champagne to do so.
Lanson joined Boizel Chanoine Champagne (BCC), a family-owned group in Champagne. Philippe Baijot, a native Champagne resident and one of BCC’s founders, took over management of the House.
Lanson unveiled a new refined and more stylish look. The new ‘Lanson Cross’, based on the Maltese Cross adopted originally by Nicolas-Louis Delamotte in 1798, became the Lanson Champagne hallmark.
Lanson Extra Age was created ready to be served at celebrations marking the House’s 250th anniversary the following year. Extra Age is a cuvée made from the three exceptional vintages, 1999, 2002 and 2003. It is based exclusively on Premiers Crus and Grands Crus.
The 250th anniversary of the Lanson Champagne House. A party was held at the Château of Versailles on 30th September to celebrate and Magnums of Lanson Extra Age were served to guests. Boizel Chanoine Champagne was renamed Lanson-BCC.
On 10 May L’Académie de Lanson was launched - a concept to inform and engage with all champagne drinkers.
