Leclerc Briant is a trailblazing Champagne house producing wines of singular energy and nerve. Lucien Leclerc founded the winery with four hectares of vineyards in Cumières in 1872. The business moved to Épernay in 1955 when Bertrand Leclerc married Jacqueline Briant and formed the négociant firm which still carries their name. Leclerc Briant was an early adopter of organic practices beginning in the 1960’s and was one of the first to bottle single-vineyard Champagnes starting in the 1970’s. In the late 1980’s, Bertrand and Jacqueline’s son, Pascal, began integrating biodynamic principles and part of the production has been Demeter certified since 2003. Today, enologist Hervé Jestin continues the legacy of this visionary house.

In 2012 the winery was purchased by locals Hervé Jestin, who came on as full time, and Frenchman Frédéric Zeimett; along with an American couple who were investing in hospitality and Champagne: Mark Nunelly and Denise Dupré. The couple also own the Royal Champagne hotel, which has been spectacularly remodelled.