Jacques Joseph Bollinger founded Champagne Bollinger in 1829 with vineyards that have produced Champagne since the 17 th century. Jacques Joseph immediately began building a lucrative export business with dry Champagne that gained a worldwide reputation for its signature style.

The founding Bollinger died in 1888, and his sons—Georges and Joseph—took the reins. They acquired vineyards in the villages of Louvois, Bouzy, and Verzenay all while expanding exports. When Georges died in 1918, his son Jacques, a distinguished French Air Force pilot in WWI, took the helm. Jacques purchased vineyards and cellars, substantially expanding Champagne Bollinger’s capacity.

Jacques died in 1941, in the midst of the German occupation. His wife Lily saw the winery through the difficulties of war, which included nearly catastrophic bombing and severe shortages of fertilizer and fuel. After the war, Champagne Bollinger thrived under her leadership, and Lily became an ambassador for Champagne Bollinger and Champagne in general. Her words on the subject are still widely quoted:

I drink my Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty.”

Today, Ghislain Montgolfier, the great grandson of founder Jacques Joeseph, and the nephew of Jacques and Lily Bollinger, is president of Champagne Bollinger. Etienne Bizot, a great-nephew of Lily’s, serves as Managing Director.