Champagne AR Lenoble, one of the few remaining champagne houses to be family-run and entirely independent.
In 1915 Armand-Raphaël Graser, then a wine merchant in Alsace, left his native region for Champagne. He settled in Damery in an 18th century building with typical Champagne architecture, now the company’s headquarters. From 1920 onwards he began to produce champagne which he sold under the brand ‘AR Lenoble’ – ‘A.R.’ as his initials and ‘Lenoble’ as a tribute to the nobility of champagne wines.
In 1947 he fell to his death when checking a vat during the grape harvest, and was succeeded by his son Joseph.
In 1973, upon Joseph’s retirement, the company found itself in a difficult financial situation following extremely bad management. However, Jean-Marie Malassagne – the grandson of Armand-Raphaël – was keen to keep the company in the family and took up the reins with passion.
In 1993 the Champagne region was not spared crisis, prompting Jean-Marie to hand over the business. His three children were consulted regarding potentially taking it on, failing which the company would be sold. His eldest son, a doctor and surgeon, declined the offer, and his youngest son had only just completed his studies and thus had no desire to attempt the venture. His daughter Anne, however – who was working at L’Oréal, far from the world of champagne – decided to return to the estate and join the company to bring it new momentum. Three years later, it was Antoine’s turn to join his sister after having cut his teeth in the agri-food sector.
The fourth generation is in place.
