From the beginnings to the future

The story of Henkell Freixenet starts in the early 19th century. After the invention of cuvée Champagne in 1670, E. Hubert founded the first Champagne winery in what is now Slovakia in 1825. A little less than 30 years later, Adam Henkell began manufacturing sparkling wines. The following decades saw the founding of more wineries that produced sparkling wines – among them the Italian Prosecco winery Mionetto in 1887 and the Spanish Cava winery Freixenet in 1914. Over the years and decades, we have acquired renowned wineries and spirit manufacturers, which has helped us become the world’s leading sparkling wine producer and a successful provider of wines and spirits. The Henkell Freixenet Group has subsidiaries in 30 countries worldwide and we export our brands to more than 150 states around the globe. Henkell Freixenet’s story is marked by change – be it past, present or future. But one thing is, and will remain, the same: in our work, we set high standards in terms of quality and craftsmanship, paired with a strong brand portfolio – to make products we know you’ll love.

1670

“BROTHERS, COME QUICKLY. I AM DRINKING THE STARS.”
Dom Pierre Pérignon, invention of cuvée Champagne

1825

E. Hubert founds the first Champagne winery outside of France in Slovakia

1856

Adam Henkell begins manufacturing sparkling wine in Mainz, Germany

1864

• J.J. Söhnlein founds the Rheingauer Schaumweinfabrik [Rheingau Sparkling Wine Factory] in Germany
• foundation of the Alfred Gratien Champagne winery in France

1887

Francesco Mionetto founds the Mionetto Prosecco winery in Valdobbiadene, Italy

1914

Pedro Ferrer and Dolores Sala Vivé begin producing Cava in Spain

1958

Rudolf-August Oetker takes over sparkling wine producer Söhnlein Rheingold Sektkellerei, Germany

1960

Spirits producer Gorbatschow Wodka becomes part of the company, Germany

1974

Schloss Johannisberg, known for its first-class Riesling wines, is integrated into the company, Germany

1990

Internationalisation begins in Eastern Europe

1992

Acquisition of Törley winery (Formerly Hungarovin), Hungary

1999

Bohemia, Czech Republic, joins the group

2000

Hubert J.E., Slovakia, as well as Gratien & Meyer and Alfred Gratien, France, become part of the group

2003

The group acquires Menger-Krug-Sekt, Germany, as well as S.C. Angelli Spumante & Aperitive, Romania

2004

Acquisition of Kupferberg Gold, Germany

2006

Pott Rum, Germany, is now part of the group’s spirits division

2007

Acquisition of Stolichniy winery, Ukraine

2008

Renowned Prosecco winery Mionetto, Italy, is now part of the group

2009

With Gin Lubuski, Poland, a further manufacturer of spirits is added to the portfolio

2010

Acquisition of spirits brands Kuemmerling and Fürst Bismarck, Germany

2012

• Addition of Cava winery Cavas Hill, Spain
• The group founds distribution companies in Latvia, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland

2013

• Acquisition of majority shares in Copestick Murray, United Kingdom
• The company founds further distribution companies – now in Finland and Norway

2016

Copestick Murray, United Kingdom, is acquired in full

2017

Mangaroca Batida is now part of the group

2018

• Henkell & Co. acquire a 50.67 % share in Freixenet, Spain
• Majority acquisition of Filipopolis, the leading importer of alcoholic beverages in Lithuania

2019

Sealing the alliance: Henkell Freixenet becomes the world’s leading producer of sparkling wines. Introduction of a joint logo.

2021

• Filipopolis, now called Henkell Freixenet Lietuva, is acquired in full
• Henkell Freixenet is now part of Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen KG