Anemone is known in ancient Greek mythology as a flower that bloomed from the tears Aphrodite shed while mourning her dead lover Adonis. With its delicate petals and graceful curves that seem to scatter in the wind, the anemone was a fitting plant for artists to use when expressing subtle emotions. This sensibility drew attention in the European art world in the late 19th century and was often used as a central motif of the Art Nouveau movement, which rendered the organic lines of nature and the curvaceous beauty of flowers in art.
Art Nouveau is an art movement born in resistance to the uniformity of an industrialized age. It was an attempt to translate the curves of nature—plants, trees, flowers, insects—into visual and decorative arts. Émile Gallé, a French glass artist and plant lover, was a representative figure of the Art Nouveau period. He studied more than 3,000 plant species over his lifetime and reflected them in glass art, and in particular, some 400 species imported from Japan deeply influenced his artistic world.
In 1902, Octave Gallice, who ran the Champagne house Perrier-Jouët, commissioned Gallé to decorate four magnum Champagne bottles. Inspired by Japanese anemones, Gallé created a glass decoration of white flowers that wrapped around the bottles. The bottles were not shown to the public and were stored deep in the cellar until they were rediscovered in the 1960s, which led to the debut in 1969 of a prestige Champagne named "Belle Époque." It was a symbolic result in which art and wine became one.
Belle Époque means "beautiful times" in French. It refers to the era from the late 19th century to just before World War I when France flourished with art and optimism. Perrier-Jouët's Belle Époque series is now called the "flower of Champagne" that represents Perrier-Jouët. The graceful floral decoration on the bottle visually recalls the fragrant aromas of Chardonnay, the brand's flagship variety, and evokes artistic emotion beyond a simple bottle.
Perrier-Jouët was founded in 1811 by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier, from a merchant family in Normandy, and his wife, Rose Adélaïde Jouët, a winemaker and botanist. They valued the harmony of plants and nature and instilled in the brand the philosophy that "everything begins with flowers." Today, Perrier-Jouët carries on this spirit by planting flowering cover crops in its vineyards and practicing sustainable farming that maintains soil organic matter formation and biodiversity. In particular, it is also conducting regenerative viticulture trials on about 10 hectares, equivalent to about 41% of its estate vineyards.
In the mid-19th century, the founder's son, Charles Perrier, made a forward-looking investment in vineyards near Épernay. Bold for the time, these vineyards were later elevated to Grand Cru, the highest classification in Champagne. Based on these premium vineyards, Perrier-Jouët focused on Chardonnay, which played a key role in building the brand's delicate style. In particular, the limestone-based soils of the Côte des Blancs confer outstanding freshness, acidity, and minerality to the grapes, and the soil's abundant trace elements act as a key factor in creating Perrier-Jouët Champagne's signature floral aromas.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque is blended with 50% Chardonnay, 45% Fino noir, and 5% Fino meunier. The grapes are harvested by hand, then gently pressed by parcel to preserve each component's aromas and freshness as much as possible. The first fermentation is carried out with natural yeasts, and reserve wines are added as needed to bolster structure. The wine ages in bottle for six years before disgorgement, and in years when grape conditions are not sufficient, no wine is produced under strict quality standards.
The Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque 2014 vintage shows a pale, translucent golden hue, with elegant aromas of fresh fruit such as lemon, white peach, and pear alongside white flowers. Follow-on notes of almond, toffee, caramel, and honey add texture and depth. Fresh acidity and fine bubbles harmonize to fill the palate with sophistication. It pairs well with white-fleshed fish or shellfish, aged cheeses, and fine seafood dishes.
The wine received 94 points from Wine Spectator and also won the grand prize in the sparkling wine institutional sector at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. The official importer in Korea is Pernod Ricard Korea.