Bernard de Nonancourt
Encyclopedia
Bernard de Nonancourt was a French
businessman, member of the French Resistance
and president of the Laurent-Perrier
champagne house for more than fifty years. Under de Nonancourt'
s leadership, Laurent-Perrier expanded to become the world's third largest seller of champagne by 2005. He was known as "Le Grand Bernard" within the industry.
De Nonancourt's mother, Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt, purchased the Tours-sur-Marne
-based champagne maker that would become Laurent-Perrier in 1938. His older brother, Maurice de Nonancourt, was originally intended to inherit the company from his mother, but he would die in a German concentration camp during World War II.
Bernard de Nonancourt and his older brother, Maurice, both joined the French Resistance
following the German
invasion of France
. In 1945, Sergeant
de Nonancourt and his forces reached Adolf Hitler
's private wine cellar
located at Kehlsteinhaus
in Bavaria
. De Nonancourt blew off the steel doors leading to the cellar, uncovering approximately 500,000 bottles, including hundreds of cases of 1928 Champagne Salon
, which had been stolen by German soldiers in 1940. De Nonancourt, who served in the 2nd Armoured Division under General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
, was awarded the Croix de guerre
for his service.
De Nonancourt embarked on a series of apprenticeships and studies after the war in preparation to head the champagne house. He first studied at the École supérieure de commerce de Reims
. He then trained at several prominent French champagne houses, including Lanson, which had been acquired by the Nonancourt family at the time. Bernard de Nonancourt assumed control of Laurent-Perrier on October 1, 1948, following his four year apprenticeship
.
He remained the head of Laurent-Perrier for more than fifty years. He developed a reputation as an innovator while introducing new products to the Laurent-Perrier product lines. In 1953, de Nonancourt conceived the idea of a new cuvée
called, which was introduced in 1960 as Grand Siècle. De Nonancourt also oversaw the launch of Laurent-Perrier Brut Rosé in 1968. The introduction of the Brut Rosé pink champagne
in specially shaped bottles proved to be hit with consumers and a financial success for Laurent-Perrier.
The Laurent-Perrier house prospered under Bernard de Nonancourt, becoming one of the largest champagne producers in the world. Sales of Laurent-Perrier Group champagne increased one "hundredfold" between 1950 and 2000. During de Nonancourt's tenure, Laurent-Perrier rose from the one hundredth largest champagne producer to the world's third largest champagne house by 2005. De Nonancourt retired in 2005, assuming the role of honorary chairman and member of supervisory board
within Laurent-Perrier.
He died on the evening of October 29, 2010, at the age of 90. De Nonancourt was survived by his wife, Claude Merand, and four children. His funeral was held at the Saint Remi Basilica in Reims, France, on November 5, 2010.
His two daughters, Alexandra who joined the house in 1987, and Stéphanie, who joined in 1995, were members of the Laurent-Perrier Management board of directors at the time of his their father's death. They will become the heads of Laurent-Perrier.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
businessman, member of the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
and president of the Laurent-Perrier
Laurent-Perrier
Laurent-Perrier is a Champagne house founded in 1812 and is the main company of the Laurent-Perrier Group, whose other flagship brands include the houses of Salon, De Castellane and Delamotte. Laurent-Perrier Group also acquired Chateau Malakoff as of 2004...
champagne house for more than fifty years. Under de Nonancourt'
s leadership, Laurent-Perrier expanded to become the world's third largest seller of champagne by 2005. He was known as "Le Grand Bernard" within the industry.
De Nonancourt's mother, Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt, purchased the Tours-sur-Marne
Tours-sur-Marne
Tours-sur-Marne is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.-Champagne:The village's vineyards are located in the Vallée de la Marne subregion of Champagne, and are classified as Grand Cru in the Champagne vineyard classification....
-based champagne maker that would become Laurent-Perrier in 1938. His older brother, Maurice de Nonancourt, was originally intended to inherit the company from his mother, but he would die in a German concentration camp during World War II.
Bernard de Nonancourt and his older brother, Maurice, both joined the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
following the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
invasion of France
Invasion of France
The Invasion of France may refer to one of the following:* Invasion of France , a failed Austro-Italian invasion attempt against southern France supported by the British navy...
. In 1945, Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
de Nonancourt and his forces reached Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's private wine cellar
Wine cellar
A wine cellar is a storage room for wine in bottles or barrels, or more rarely in carboys, amphorae or plastic containers. In an active wine cellar, important factors such as temperature and humidity are maintained by a climate control system. In contrast, passive wine cellars are not...
located at Kehlsteinhaus
Kehlsteinhaus
The Kehlsteinhaus is a chalet-style structure erected on a subpeak of the Hoher Göll known as the Kehlstein. It was built as an extension of the Obersalzberg complex erected in the mountains above Berchtesgaden...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. De Nonancourt blew off the steel doors leading to the cellar, uncovering approximately 500,000 bottles, including hundreds of cases of 1928 Champagne Salon
Champagne Salon
Champagne Salon is a small producer of critically acclaimed Champagne made in the blanc de blancs style. Salon, along with Delamotte, is part of the Laurent-Perrier group since 1989. It is regarded as one of the greatest Champagnes on the market.-History:...
, which had been stolen by German soldiers in 1940. De Nonancourt, who served in the 2nd Armoured Division under General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
Philippe François Marie, comte de Hauteclocque, then Leclerc de Hauteclocque, by a 1945 decree that incorporated his French Resistance alias Jacques-Philippe Leclerc to his name, , was a French general during World War II...
, was awarded the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
for his service.
De Nonancourt embarked on a series of apprenticeships and studies after the war in preparation to head the champagne house. He first studied at the École supérieure de commerce de Reims
École supérieure de commerce de Reims
École supérieure de commerce de Reims , is one of France's leading Grandes Ecoles of management. Founded in 1928, it belongs to Reims Management School , a group of schools accredited EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB.- See also :...
. He then trained at several prominent French champagne houses, including Lanson, which had been acquired by the Nonancourt family at the time. Bernard de Nonancourt assumed control of Laurent-Perrier on October 1, 1948, following his four year apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
.
He remained the head of Laurent-Perrier for more than fifty years. He developed a reputation as an innovator while introducing new products to the Laurent-Perrier product lines. In 1953, de Nonancourt conceived the idea of a new cuvée
Cuvee
Cuvée is a French wine term derived from cuve, meaning vat or tank. The term cuvée is used with several different meanings, more or less based on the concept of a tank of wine put to some purpose:...
called, which was introduced in 1960 as Grand Siècle. De Nonancourt also oversaw the launch of Laurent-Perrier Brut Rosé in 1968. The introduction of the Brut Rosé pink champagne
Pink Champagne
Pink Champagne was a Swedish feminist punk band in the 1980s. It consisted of four women, Stina Berge , Ann Carlberger , Karin Jansson and Gunilla Welin . Kajsa Grytt was briefly a member...
in specially shaped bottles proved to be hit with consumers and a financial success for Laurent-Perrier.
The Laurent-Perrier house prospered under Bernard de Nonancourt, becoming one of the largest champagne producers in the world. Sales of Laurent-Perrier Group champagne increased one "hundredfold" between 1950 and 2000. During de Nonancourt's tenure, Laurent-Perrier rose from the one hundredth largest champagne producer to the world's third largest champagne house by 2005. De Nonancourt retired in 2005, assuming the role of honorary chairman and member of supervisory board
Supervisory board
A supervisory board or supervisory committee, often called board of directors, is a group of individuals chosen by the stockholders of a company to promote their interests through the governance of the company and to hire and supervise the executive directors and CEO.Corporate governance varies...
within Laurent-Perrier.
He died on the evening of October 29, 2010, at the age of 90. De Nonancourt was survived by his wife, Claude Merand, and four children. His funeral was held at the Saint Remi Basilica in Reims, France, on November 5, 2010.
His two daughters, Alexandra who joined the house in 1987, and Stéphanie, who joined in 1995, were members of the Laurent-Perrier Management board of directors at the time of his their father's death. They will become the heads of Laurent-Perrier.