At the beginning of the 19th century, the Reims-based company, Goulet Frères, traded in wool and manufactured blankets.
In 1834, François André Goulet decided to diversify the company's activities, moving into the production of Champagne wines in casks and bottles. In 1867, George and his brothers decided that he would keep the Champagne firm, while they would concentrate on the wool trade.
The name of the firm soon changed to "Maison Georges Goulet". In a short space of time, the growing renown of George Goulet wines enabled the company to become suppliers to the Dutch Court in 1879 and her Majesty Queen Victoria and the Price of Wales, the future King Edward VII, in 1886. From Great Britain, George Goulet Champagne spread throughout the British Empire: South Africa, India, Australia…
The 20th century saw a series of changes of ownership of the prestigious Champagne house before it was finally bought by the Charles Lafitte Champagne firm in 2003.

The "Belle Idée" was born in Cognac in 1848, with Jean-Baptiste Lafitte. The Charles Lafitte & Cie brand rapidly became a benchmark in the world of Wines & Spirits… The brand reached it's golden age in the "roaring twenties".
Numerous Champagne firms rely on Charles Lafitte & Cie to supply them with their distilled "Esprits de Cognac", used in the dosage of commercial champagne. But we had to wait until 1983 for the first bottles with their distinctive long black necks to appear on the European market. Always a leading brand with the well-informed consumer, Maison Charles Lafitte was delighted to with its acquisition of Maison George Goulet en 2003. 1983-2003 - a marvelous birthday present.
The firm produces elegant and finely balanced Champagnes. The traditional blend, dominated by Chardonnay, has certainly played a major part in the firm's success. This gives unvarying Champagnes, gay and lively and a delight to every palate.

Contemporaries, with a passion for wines and the quest for excellence in their production, we can be sure that Jean-Baptiste Lafitte and François André Goulet would have enjoyed meeting each other. Today, united under the same label, they would be proud to present the Charles Lafitte 1834 range.