For Charlotte Castagne-Chaudron, Champagne is deeply connected to family, land, and tradition. It is a heritage that has been passed from one generation to the next and continues to influence the way she approaches the industry today.
As the eighth-generation wine-grower behind Leo De Verzay Champagne, Castagne-Chaudron remains at the heart of the brand, connecting her family’s vineyard in Verzenay with a contemporary Champagne experience designed for a new generation of consumers.
Located in the Montagne de Reims, Verzenay is recognized as a Grand Cru Champagne village, a distinction associated with the quality and reputation of its terroir. The village provides the geographic and cultural foundation for Leo De Verzay.
The brand’s identity reflects Castagne-Chaudron’s experience as a grower and the traditions of her family. Champagne has long been defined by heritage and craftsmanship, but Leo De Verzay presents those qualities through a more contemporary approach, combining the traditional character of Champagne with an emphasis on presentation and experience.
Each Leo De Verzay bottle features a certified Swarovski crystal, making the bottle a distinctive part of the experience. The cuvées are aged for a minimum of three years in the bottle, adding another element of time and craftsmanship to the brand.
For Castagne-Chaudron, though, the vineyard remains the true foundation.
Her family’s generations of experience in Champagne provide the basis for a brand seeking to introduce the character of French Champagne to consumers across international markets. Leo De Verzay combines that heritage with a contemporary interpretation of luxury.
The approach has become particularly visible through the brand’s development in the United States.
Scott Disick, an equity partner in LDV USA, has played a visible role in the American venture, helping introduce Leo De Verzay to audiences within lifestyle and entertainment communities. His involvement as a co-owner has helped the brand connect with new consumers while retaining the identity established in France.
The company’s U.S. expansion gained momentum in 2023, when Leo De Verzay announced availability throughout Florida through restaurants, bars, clubs, and wine and spirits stores in partnership with Republic National Distributing Company.
Florida offered an environment closely aligned with the brand’s contemporary positioning. South Florida, particularly Miami, is known for its connection to hospitality, entertainment, fashion, and luxury, providing an opportunity for Leo De Verzay to reach consumers through a different side of Champagne culture.
Appearances by Disick at selected venues helped bring the Champagne directly to American consumers, connecting its French origins with the lifestyle environment surrounding its U.S. expansion.
Still, the story behind Leo De Verzay begins somewhere else.
It begins in Verzenay.
For Castagne-Chaudron, the vineyard remains the starting point for the brand. Her role as an eighth-generation wine-grower gives Leo De Verzay a direct connection to the Champagne region and to the knowledge accumulated by generations of her family.
That heritage matters as Champagne continues to evolve.
Consumers increasingly want to understand the story behind the products they purchase, including their origins, craftsmanship, and identity.
Leo De Verzay addresses that interest by combining the authenticity of its French roots with a contemporary approach to luxury.
The Swarovski crystal creates a recognizable visual identity. The Grand Cru heritage of Verzenay connects the brand to its French terroir. And the growing U.S. presence allows a new generation of consumers to experience that heritage through modern lifestyle and hospitality settings.
Castagne-Chaudron remains central to the story.
As the eighth generation of her family connected to Champagne, she represents the continuity between the vineyard’s past and Leo De Verzay’s future. Her role is to continue that family tradition while allowing it to reach consumers in new markets.
As the brand continues developing in the United States, the connection between Verzenay and America is becoming an increasingly important part of its identity.
From a Grand Cru village in the Montagne de Reims to hospitality and lifestyle destinations across the United States, Leo De Verzay is presenting Champagne through a contemporary lens while remaining connected to the heritage from which it began.
At the center of that journey is Charlotte Castagne-Chaudron, whose family’s generations of Champagne experience provide the foundation for the brand’s next chapter.
Follow Charlotte Castagne-Chaudron and Leo De Verzay on Instagram for updates on the brand’s continuing journey.
