Inspired by three centuries of history, MAISON RUINART is called the founder of the history of champagne — its elegance, sophistication, purity and unmistakable Chardonnay are the hallmarks of a contemporary yet timeless Champagne House with a bold approach as a key to its resplendent success.
MAISON RUINART was founded by Nicolas Ruinart on September 1, 1729, inspired by the intuition of his uncle, a Benedictine monk far ahead of his time.
JOURNEY INTO THE PAST
The founding of MAISON RUINART coincided with the beginning of the “Enlightenment” in France and the art of living in French. Cultural rise in France was followed by special attention to the attractive and beautiful aspects of life, appreciating the delicate and elegant taste, which was at the same time light and refined, graceful and unique. Therefore, the new wine MAISON RUINAR won recognition among representatives of high society.
Already in 1730, MAISON RUINART released its first bottle of champagne, which included the rare Chardonnay grape variety. This production was such a success that within six years he was considered one of the largest wine producers in all of France.
VISIT TO THE CHAMPAGNE CAVES
As in the 18th century, today MAISON RUINART uses three grape varieties for the production of their champagne — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The house’s own vineyards are located on 17 hectares, the company buys the rest of the raw materials from trusted producers and only from premier and grand cru sites.
The wine cellars of Ruinart Crayères, located in old chalk quarries, are classified and protected by UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These cellars are among the largest in Champagne. They are located at a depth of 38 meters underground and stretch for 8 km in length. Inside, the temperature is maintained at 11 degrees.
There are countless bottles of the precious drink waiting in the wings. Each bottle is aged for at least 4 years in unique conditions provided by nature itself, followed by fermentation and maturation. Ruinart Crayères is also an active production site, where, in addition to storage, bottles are decorated and labeled.
MAISON RUINART organizes interesting excursions that provide a unique opportunity to plunge into the beating heart of the Champagne region, where the most symbolic sparkling wine is born and aged.
RUINAR SELECTION
Champagne Ruinart is easily recognizable by its unusual bottle shape for Champagne wines, typical of the 18th century, but atypical for champagnes. The Ruinart house used it for its champagne, and this bottle shape has not changed throughout the time.
MAISON RUINART creates elegant, fresh and sophisticated champagnes with a refined structure. Acclaimed as the most remarkable white grape variety, Chardonnay is the essence of all the Maison’s cuvées. The grapes, carefully harvested on different terroirs, offer complementary characteristics. This precise selection and the art of blending guarantee the unique signature of each Ruinart cuvée.
Blanc De Blancs — The Emblem of the Ruinart Taste — The blend is 100% Chardonnay from various years
Rosé — The Combination of Freshness and Exotic
Millésimé — elegant blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with lovely notes of citrus and lime blossom and a fresh, long, complex and delicate taste, it will benefit even more with age.
Dom Ruinart — is made entirely of Chardonnay Grands Crus, Vintage
Dom Ruinart Rose — produced from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, has a rich, juicy taste with hints of hibiscus flowers and ripe citrus fruits.
Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 1998 — is a blend of pure Chardonnay only Grand Cru. This cuvée is made from grapes sourced predominantly from the Côte de Blancs. The characteristics of the vintage are the grapes’ high natural sugar content and excellent acidity levels, indicating exceptional overall balance and long-term aging potential.
RUINART & ART
Ruinart’s relationship with art has historical roots. Founded in the Age of Enlightenment, in a world of ideas, exchanges and culture, the House has always promoted the art of living that is dear to it.
Demonstrating boldness and innovation in his choice, the House commissioned the Czech artist Alfons Mucha to design his first advertisement in 1896. The poster, exhibited from the Morris Columns in Paris to the top of Mont Blanc, caused a sensation. Until now, this advertisement is the hallmark of the brand.
The connection to the arts continues today with many creative collaborations and the creation of the Ruinart Studio program, which aims to engage young talents to create beautiful and useful creations using materials derived from Ruinart’s activities.
Their creations stand at the crossroads between art and sustainability, and respect the values held dear by MAISON RUINART, such as innovation, ingenuity and creative intelligence. Expanding the boundaries of the possible, new customs and visions are embodied in poetic works of art.
MAISON RUINART will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2029 with a commemorative art-themed countdown. Until 2029, 10 works of art will be commissioned and presented in the heart of the Champagne region, where the MAISON has its roots.
Now visitors at MAISON RUINART can experience the performance “Movement” on site using the Aerocene app, which documents the artwork produced by Tomàs Saraceno. Through the flight of a floating structure, the artist illustrates the impact of climate change on vines.
MAISON RUINART is now one of the most reputable houses in Champagne, as its wines are supplied to the Champs Elysees, Queen Elizabeth II, the President of the United States, as well as to ministries, prestigious hotels and restaurants.
Maison Ruinart
Address: 4 Rue des Crayères, 51100 Reims, France
Contacts: visitesruinart@ruinart.com / +33 326 775 152
Instagram: @ruinart
Text: Marina Timo
Photo courtesy: EATWEEKGUIDE
