In 1880, Louis-Alexandre Marnier revolutionized liqueur production by combining Cognac with bitter orange essence (Citrus bigaradia).
The history of Marnier-Lapostolle begins in 1827, when Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle founded a distillery for high-quality fruit liqueurs in Neauphle-le-Château, a small town near Paris. His products quickly earned an excellent reputation. In 1876, his granddaughter Julia married winemaker Louis-Alexandre Marnier from the Sancerre region. This marriage united the two family names and laid the foundation for the Marnier-Lapostolle brand.
In 1880, Louis-Alexandre Marnier revolutionized liqueur production by combining Cognac with bitter orange essence (Citrus bigaradia). Initially known as “Curaçao Marnier,” the liqueur was later renamed Grand Marnier, a name emphasizing both the quality and the French origin of the product. The iconic bottle, inspired by the shape of traditional Cognac stills, was introduced in 1892 and has remained unchanged to this day.
Today, Marnier-Lapostolle is an internationally active company specializing in the production and marketing of spirits. In addition to the renowned Grand Marnier, the portfolio also includes products such as Cognac Bisquit. In 2016, the company was acquired by the Italian Campari Group, while retaining the involvement of the Marnier-Lapostolle family. The family remains actively engaged in the company and continues to participate in strategic decisions.
A major family project is the Lapostolle Wines vineyard, founded in 1994 in Chile. Under the leadership of Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet, the winery was established in the Apalta Valley region and has gained international recognition for sustainable viticulture and high-quality standards. Today, the company is managed by the seventh generation, Charles de Bournet Marnier-Lapostolle.
