Centre Vinicole – Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte acquires Henri Abelé

The Centre Vinicole – Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte (CV-CNF) has announced the acquisition of champagne house Henri Abelé, which has been part of the Freixenet Group since 1985.

The deal was signed in Paris and the parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details of the transaction.

Champagne Henri Abelé sells around 300,000 bottles in the on-trade and has been a long term official supplier to the royal courts of Europe.

It benefits from Freixenet’s distribution network and from Yvon Mau (both subsidiaries of the Henkell-Freixenet Group). Henri Abelé does not own vineyards but has long term contracts with wine growers mostly from the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs vineyards.

Our decision to buy this jewel, which is part of our local wine heritage, opens a new chapter for the Centre Vinicole – Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte in the history of our Appellation,” said Christophe Juarez, CV-CNF CEO. 

“It includes a complementary development model to distribution channels always keen to list exclusive products with high added value. Our vision relies on a long term perspective and we trust this external growth acquisition will provide new impetus to our unique business model.”

Henri Abelé, which dates back to 1757, is located in Reims’ historical city centre with large traditional chalk cellars. On its side, Nicolas Feuillatte is the youngest of all the major champagne houses and the largest wine growers’ brand, with its flagship estate located on the hillsides of the Côte des Blancs.