Ernest Rapeneau founded his champagne and wine business in 1901 in the village of Hautvillers, the cradle of champagne. However, it was not until 1927, when the viticultural boundaries of Champagne were fixed, that Ernest began to specialise in the champagne trade.

This turned out to be an excellent decision as viticulture in Champagne was in the midst of a structuring phase. As a result of these essential regulations, he was able to select his wines more carefully and improve the quality of his business to a remarkable extent. Ernest Rapeneau was, first and foremost, a lover of champagne wines.

In 1936, the supremacy of champagne wines was finally acknowledged with the birth of the “Champagne Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” (AOC). This was a high point for his business, which already enjoyed an excellent reputation. He decided to broaden his range and extend his distribution network, encouraged by the widespread increase in champagne wine sales.

After fifty years’ hard work, he finally retired from business in 1965, leaving two of his sons, François and Bernard, who had joined the House in 1944, to run his company.

The personality of Champagne E. Rapeneau is based mainly on that of its founder and his descendants: everyone has been able to find his own place within this family business. For 4 generations, everyone’s aim has been to preserve, perpetuate, adapt and improve a priceless traditional heritage.