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The Champagne Academy
Chairmans Report
2023
2023 Academicians
Chairmans Annual Report 2023
I firstly want to say what an honour it has been to Chair the Champagne Academy for 2023. I was invited to join the Academy in 2014, 10 years ago almost to the day, when I was a young Food & Beverage Manager working in the Luxury Country House Hotel world in the North of England. Already with a strong passion & a fledgling knowledge for Wine & Champagne, my induction into the Academy, with its truly fantastic course, and the network of Industry experts & professional I have met following, has helped my career get to where it is today, travelling the world talking about the Champagnes produced by G.H.Mumm & Perrier-Jouët.
As I took over from Andrew Fullerton, who I once again thank for his 3 amazing years as Chairman through the pandemic, I started to form a focus of how I saw The Champagne Academy, and what it meant to me & the Alumni as a whole. This is where I developed my ‘guiding light’ for my year as Chair.
The Three E's
Evolution - Not Revolution, after a few difficult years, led by Andrew Fullerton, we advanced a lot, now is the time to continue to drive the Academy forward, with measured actions.
Education - This is the heart of the Academy on the Maison’s side as well as the UK. With learning about Champagne, Maisons, Cuvees critical, and the sharing of that information around the country.
Equality - With many facets relevant, including, ensuring all Maisons are represented equally, ensuring we have a selection process that includes all Channels, a varied geography, and a mix of gender, experience & knowledge.
And so, the 2023 Year of events, which I will try to keep brief,
January – Alternative Cuvee Tasting - Bateaux London
The first event of the year started us off with the striking Bateaux. A great location, with a picturesque proposal, Champagne on the Thames. We did learn some lessons from this event, which I write here, so we may hope not to repeat. Champagne tasting on a swaying boat, with very low light fittings…not a great idea! But thanks to Nick & Craig for organising. We got to see some interesting wines as part of the Alternative selection, the Rosé Krug & 2005 Charles Heidsieck some of what stuck in my memory.
March – Vintage Tasting - Fora – Borough
As we hit spring, we tried to make the most of the slightly later sunsets, with our Vintage Tasting held on the top floor of Fora, in Borough London. In a contemporary space, with amazing views, we showcased the latest vintages from all the Grandes Marques. A modest evening helping us re-assess the houses once more.
May – The Champagne Academy 64th London Dinner – One Great George Street
The event, that as Chair, I get to organise & plan. Working with Presidential House, Champagne Bollinger, we found a timeless venue, in One Great George Street, on the same road as Westminster Abbey & the Houses of Parliament. Set in a magnificent Grade II listed, four-domed, Edwardian building, celebrating the greatest Engineers of yesteryear, we enjoyed a delectable 4 course meal, paired with our Presidential house wines, Bollinger & Vice Presidential Houses, Champagne Taittinger & Charles Heidsieck. Hosted by President, Guy de Reviore of Champagne Bollinger & myself, we had several of the 2024 Candidates join us as guests of the Houses & we saw the return of The Drinks Trust Charity Raffle.
September – Scotland Dinner – The Signet Library, Edinburgh
Craig Bonner, has once again stunned us all with the elegant beauty of Scotland, with the Signet Library. Fast becoming the ‘cannot miss’ event of the winter season, Scotland showed us again the quality of venue, food & hospitality it produces. The exquisite venue, lighting, table settings and floral decoration made it a magical environment to enjoy the wines in, and I want to thank Craig & the team at Heritage Portfolio for the passion & attention to detail in planning the evening.
October - Northern Dinner – The Chester Grosvenor, Chester
Every year we say we should look for a new venue on the North, but once again we found nowhere able to match the quality of the Chester Grosvenor, so we returned, this time with their new Executive Chef, Elliot Arkle at the helm, and within our audience, the renowned and Honorary Academician, Simon Radley, his predecessor. A delightful evening, with thanks to David Garlick for organising.
Good luck to the new committee & Presidential house finding a Grosvenor beater in 2024, though if we do come back, I’ll enjoy every sip & every mouthful.
October – Midlands Dinner – Mallory Court, Leamington Spa
2023 saw the inaugural dinner organised by Sonal Clare, for the Midlands. The Midlands has a strong & passionate contingent of Academicians, so I’m sure there was some pressure for Sonal, but he stepped up to the plate, finding Mallory Court to host the dinner. The food was excellent, and the service charming & friendly. The Maison’s have agreed the Midlands can be a test bed for trying new things with dinners, to see how we can keep the sense of occasion, but stay up to date with culture & hospitality, in a modern wine industry. A great start, and we look forward to seeing what Sonal brings to his dinners in the future.
November – Irish Dinner – The Merrion Hotel Dublin
My first experience of the Irish Dinner, of which I had heard stories of long Champagne fueled nights, so I really had no idea what to expect. The Merrion Hotel is a stunning property, and the food demonstrated, the culinary Mal also introduced his successor, in Lisa O’Doherty, who will organise the 2024 dinner in Dublin. Big shoes to fill, but I’m sure we will have a great experience later this year.
January 2024 – Alternative Cuvee Tasting – 1 Hotel London
Thank you to Nick for organising this, a great way to exhibit his beautiful new property, and a great space for our tasting. I said during the night, I was truly amazed and impressed by the enthusiasm in the room, and the genuinely diverse audience that joined.
2023 Course
We had a fantastic class of candidates this year, join us in Reims & Epernay in June. With amazing weather from day 1, almost losingh a few of us to sun burn and peeling skin from the start, we had a course of engaged and enthusiastic students, which I am happy to say all passed the course and have entered into our Alumni.
So please welcome our new Academicians,
-Sam Lawton -Gosia Pajak
-Farrah Scanlon -Jevgeni Kadilin
-Rostislav Petrov -Rosemary Williams
-Ashley Clarke -Donald Edwards
Before the top 3, we have a few special mentions;
-Steffan Griffiths, who performed well in the exams & tasting, but almost more importantly brought laughter, jollity & song to the week, lifting spirits at all hours!
-Alexandra Mawson, passed with Merit
-Agnieszka Sledz, passed with Merit
-Erik Simonics, passed with Merit
-Paul Richards, passed with Merit
And for the final 3;
Third Place - Matthew Whitten - St Austell
Second Place - Luma Monterio - Davy's Wine Merchants
First Place & Silver Magnum Winner - Philip Dunne - The Doyle Collection
The Houses
The Champagne Academy would not exist with out the support of the houses, so a big thanks now and always to them all for their commercial support as well as the individuals that support us directly, with their passion and dedication to the world of Champagne.
But of course, special thanks to our Vice Presidential houses, Champagne Taittinger & Charles Heidsieck, from Kevin McKee & Simon Stockton respectively.
And massive thanks to our Presidential house Champagne Bollinger, our President Guy de Rivoire and in his absence Charles-Armand. But especially to Elise Mather, who has been the driving force in the UK, and helped me make this year happen, with relatively few hurdles to master. Thank you all.
Drinks Trust
A short note about our Charity for this year, The Drinks Trust, we raised over £9,000 through our Charity raffles, which is no small amount, which The Drinks Trust have allocated to their ‘DEVELOP’ program, helping train and enhance the skills of young and new to the industry people, that will in turn drive forward the Wine & Hospitality sector. Thanks to Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust, for coming to the events, and inspiring everyone to give for a great cause, and some greater Champagnes.
Le Fin
And as I come to the end of my tenure, I breathe a deep sigh of contentment & relief, as I hope I have shepherded another year of the Academy in the right direction, and wish Nick Bromhead, the greatest of luck as he takes on the baton.
Onwards & Upwards, Santé.
Paul Walker
The Champagne Academy
Chair 2023
#ChampAcad
Paul Walker
Another Day, Another Maison
Maison Report
2023
La Grande Dame 2015 Rosé
250th Anniversary and History of Madame Clicquot
2023 marked a significant year for Veuve Clicquot, with Maison marking its 250 years of history with celebrations across the year. Veuve Clicquot honoured the legacy of Madame Clicquot, spotlighting her creativity and passion for innovation which led to several ground-breaking milestones in Champagne production: the creation of the first known vintage champagne, the invention of the riddling table, and the development of the first known blended rosé champagne - three inventions that revolutionised industry and were widely adopted by producers, becoming the basis of modern champagne production.
Madame Clicquot made her name into a brand of excellence and had it shine the world over. Her formidable contributions earned her the nickname of "La Grande Dame of Champagne". In 2023, Veuve Clicquot therefore continued to build on this heritage by creating, innovating and surrounding itself with bold and daring personalities, celebrating its 250th anniversary in fitting style with an ode to joy and optimism.
Solaire Culture
This year Veuve Clicquot celebrated its 250-year anniversary with the opening of Solaire culture at Piccadilly Circus, London. The Solaire culture exhibition shined a light on Veuve Clicquot’s 250 years of history taking visitors on an immersive journey through the house’s heritage to the modern-day bold and optimistic champagne house. Through the lens of an audacious female-only team, Veuve Clicquot established a dialogue between its legacy and the contemporary vision of the curator, Camille Morineau, and designer Constance Guisset to bring Solaire culture to life, featuring artists including the iconic Yayoi Kusama and the UK’s Cece Philips and Rosie McGuinness.
Bold Awards 2023
Since 1972, Veuve Clicquot has shown commitment to women and female entrepreneurs all over the world, even more notably through BOLD by Veuve Clicquot, an international program to increase women entrepreneurs’ visibility. This 51st celebration of Veuve Clicquot’s commitment to championing and supporting bold, audacious women continued throughout the duration of the exhibition with a dynamic programme of cultural events and a new BOLD room within the exhibition space showcasing the stories and inspirations behind our BOLD community.
The Bold Woman Award is a modern evolution of Veuve Clicquot’s Business Woman Award, which has been running since 1972 and is the first and longest-running international accolade of its kind. The panel of judges look for women who emulate the qualities of Madame Clicquot, an original trailblazer who back in 1805 was known for her enterprising spirit, as well as her courage and determination necessary to accomplish her goals.
In 2023 the ceremony was hosted at Veuve Clicquot’s Solaire Culture Exhibition, with exceptional female entrepreneur, Tessa Clarke, announced as the winner of the 2023 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot. The 51st woman to be honoured with the award, Tessa Clarke was recognised due to her inspirational work creating food sharing app, Olio. Karen Scofield Seal, CEO and founder of Oceanium, was awarded the Bold Future Award by Veuve Clicquot which celebrates up and coming female leaders of the future.
La Grande Dame 2015 Launch
While celebrating its 250th anniversary Veuve Clicquot released La Grande Dame 2015, showcasing Cellar Master Didier Mariotti's dedication to Pinot Noir. As Madame Clicquot used to say 200 years ago, “Our black grapes give the finest white wines” an affirmation that still rings true. La Grande Dame 2015 proved to be an exceptional sunny vintage for a wine full of tension and elegance. The wine's remarkable verticality was unveiled through the Pinot Noirs harvested from the Maison’s historical Crus. As a refined blend of Veuve Clicquot’s historical Grands Crus, La Grande Dame stands as the pinnacle of the Maison’s oenological prowess, possessing immense aging potential.
Additionally for this new vintage of La Grande Dame, master of colour and artist Paola Paronetto met the expression of Veuve Clicquot’s excellence with an exclusive collaboration. A chromatic symphony that echoes the harmony of the 2015 vintage. Paola created six unique gift boxes, produced sustainably, in a shower of hues from her very own colour palette, infused with emotion and optimism.
Stella McCartney Collaboration
In December 2023, Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot announced a collaboration on a pioneering grape-based alternative to animal leather – embodying both LVMH Maisons’ shared values and long-term commitments to sustainability, circularity and regenerative practices. The next-gen material is made from the by-products of Veuve Clicquot’s harvest and has been used to handcraft six Stella McCartney accessories, a selection of which debuted at the Summer 2024 runway show during Paris Fashion Week. Stella McCartney was additionally the guest of honour at Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Woman Award 2023 in Paris. The collection is available for purchase at Stella McCartney boutiques in March 2024.
2024
In 2024 Veuve Clicquot will take you on a new solaire journey. A journey to experience the ideal of a life under the sun, where the energy is positive, everything more audacious, more dazzling, more luminous. “The desire to travel, to share, or simply live outside.”
La Grande Dame will continue to showcase the best of Veuve Clicquot, with the highly anticipated launch of La Grande Dame 2015 Rosé later this year, marking the first time that an artistic design collaboration has been extended to Rosé.
Facebook - @VeuveClicquot
X - @VeuveClicquot
Instagram: @veuveclicquot
www.veuveclicquot.com
Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot Stella McCartney Collaboration
Maison Report
2023
Bollinger 2023
Champagne Bollinger has been part of the history of the Champagne region for 195 years. Founded in 1829 the House remains resolutely independent, and family owned.
As the dominant grape variety in the range, Pinot Noir is the very essence of Champagne Bollinger. Four new cuvées were launched in 2023 including R.D. 2008, PN AYC18, La Côte Aux Enfants Champagne 2013 and Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2012. The launch of PN AYC18 marked the release of the fourth in the House’s limited-edition 100% Pinot Noir series, exploring the unique interpretation of Pinot Noir from Aÿ 2018. March saw a celebration of the iconic R.D. 2008 launch at Spencer House. R.D. is a wine that has always been ahead of its time and embodies Madame Bollinger’s visionary spirit, disgorged only prior to release. It was also the first cuvée in history to put a disgorgement date on the label.
In September 2023, after more than two years of dedicated teamwork, Champagne Bollinger was proud to obtain their B Corp certification. This international certification sets very high standards in terms of social, societal, and environmental performance. It recognises the company's commitments by evaluating over 200 criteria focussed around five areas: governance, employees, community, environment, and customers. Maison Bollinger maintains its ongoing commitment to people, the land, and its roots.
Champagne Bollinger looks forward to celebrating its Bicentenary Year in 2029, with many ambitious plans already in full swing, including a renovation of their historic site in Aÿ. Over the coming years, the team will be hard at work to complete major projects that reflect and reaffirm Bollinger’s longstanding values. These projects will include a cathedral-like cellar open to the vines, holding 5,000 228L barrels and an oenotourism site set in the heart of the vines to house tasting rooms, a hotel, and a restaurant.
Bollinger continues as the Official Champagne of England Rugby. The fabulous Bollinger Tent returned to the West Fan Village at Twickenham Stadium, where fans could come together to celebrate on match days. Bollinger’s sponsorship continued with the 23rd year of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, the UK’s longest running prize for comic fiction. The prize is awarded to the novel deemed to best capture the spirit of the late PG Wodehouse and was won by Bob Mortimer in 2023 for his brilliantly funny debut novel The Satsuma Complex.
Here's to many more prosperous launches, events, and milestones to come in 2024, and the Champagne Bollinger team hope to raise a glass with you at the upcoming Champagne Academy events!
Bollinger
Maison Report
2023
Ruinart chooses artist Eva Jospin for 2023 Carte Blanche commission
The Contemporary & Conscious Jewel of Champagne since 1729
Ruinart is the world’s first established Champagne House, founded in 1729. It is recognised as a Chardonnay specialist, with this grape harvested from vineyards in the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, at the heart of all the cuvées. Today, art, sustainability and art de vivre define the universe of Ruinart, together with a strength derived from three centuries of history.
Every year, since 2018, Ruinart has invited an international contemporary artist to share his or her vision of the champagne house. Maison Ruinart has entrusted its Carte Blanche 2023 to Eva Jospin for a new artistic interpretation of its history and know-how. Eva Jospin, a French visual artist known for her evocative installations and sculptures born from wild landscapes, brought her unique perspective to Ruinart's terroir. Her Carte Blanche Commission, PROMENADE(S), transformed the Ruinart Art Bar at Frieze London into a captivating space from 11th to 15th October. Eva Jospin's artistic reinterpretation extended to the creation of a collection case around a Jeroboam of Blanc de Blancs. In this masterpiece, the wooden box became a canvas for a miniature crayère, sculpted from layers of recycled cardboard—a testament to Ruinart's commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The Maison's dedication to preserving savoir-faire and supporting wine professionals was evident in the success of the 2023 Ruinart Sommelier Challenge. This event, held at The Conduit Club on 20th February, aimed to raise awareness and foster advocacy among gatekeeper sommeliers. Frédéric Panaiotis, Ruinart Chef de Caves, hosted the event, which included a blind tasting, a technical master class on 'Climate Change and Grape Ripening Dynamics.
@ruinart @ruinart_winemakers
Ruinart
Ruinart Sommelier Challenge
Maison Report
2023
Krug 2023
The House was established in Reims in 1843, by Joseph Krug, a visionary non-conformist with an uncompromising philosophy. Having understood that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate. Paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine, as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines from many different years allowed Joseph Krug to fulfil his dream.
With a very original approach to Champagne making, he decided to go beyond the notion of vintage to create the most generous expression of Champagne, every year. Thus, he founded a House in which all Champagnes are of the same level of distinction.
A cornerstone of Krug’s savoir-faire, individuality is the art of understanding that each individual plot of vines, through its wine, is in itself a single ingredient in Krug Champagne. Every year, the House of Krug pays tribute to one humble Single Ingredient, a playful ode to a pillar of our craftsmanship: Individuality. Krug does so by inviting renowned Krug Ambassade Chefs to create food pairings to accompany the latest Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée and Krug Rosé.
In 2023, we celebrate a beacon of generosity and vitality, and the first fruit to be elected Single Ingredient: the vibrant citrus called lemon. in honour of the Single Ingredient, Krug invited 12 Krug Ambassade Chefs to join Krug Cellar Master Julie Cavil on a trip to Brazil into the roots of the lemon. An inspirational journey that inspired the Chefs to create zesty pairing recipes for Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition and Krug Rosé 27ème Édition.
Krug
Presidential Report
2022
A WORD FROM 2023 PRESIDENTIAL HOUSE
CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER
Mr Chairman,
Academicians and Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
2023 marks the beginning of the 5th round of a rotating Champagne Academy Presidency set by alphabetical order. We are therefore extremely proud to become the new Presidential House this year.
The Academy has an extraordinarily rich history of which we have been a part ever since 1956. We, along with the other Houses, value the vital role of promoting Champagne within the UK wine industry, giving it the praise and recognition it truly deserves.
2022 threw new challenges, notably with an industry-wide Champagne shortage. We worked hard to meet the high demand for Champagne. The 2022 harvest, much to everyone’s relief, was a healthy and plentiful one that will allow to replenish stock in the coming years.
We would like to warmly welcome the class of 2023, made up of 16 worthy candidates, who will experience an unforgettable weeklong course in Champagne from 11th to 17th June. This wouldn’t be possible without the full support and commitment of the other 15 Grand Marques Houses and, in particular, our Vice-Presidential Houses of Charles Heidsieck & Taittinger.
We must also thank our new Chairman, Paul Walker, and all the Committee who work hard to keep the Academy alive, relevant, and prestigious.
In the meantime, we look forward to the year ahead, filled with an array of sparkling Champagne Academy dinners and tastings. We hope to raise a glass with you there!
Our warmest regards,
The Bollinger Family
Bollinger
Chairmans Report
2022
2022 New Academicians
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2022
What a year 2022 has been!
We finally had the chance to welcome everyone back to a normal year of events and most importantly welcome our 16 extremely patient and eager Candidates on to the Course.
The year began with an Alternative Cuvee tasting at the Serpentine Gallery where we were fortunate enough to taste some amazing wines that were on show. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens, the excitement was obvious and this was exactly the start to the new year we needed. At the start of April we held a long awaited Vintage tasting at the Royal College of Surgeons. A beautiful venue which again was a perfect setting for some fabulous Champagnes. Knowing the pressure the Houses were under with Vintage Champagnes in particular we all felt privileged that all the Houses put out their most recent vintages to taste. The buzz in the room was fantastic as was the engagement from each and every visitor.
May saw the annual London Dinner take place in the stunning surroundings of The Institute of Directors in Pall Mall. Attended by Clovis Taittinger and Rachel Debenham from Taiitinger France this was an incredible evening and reassured us that a form of normality had finally returned. The Dinner was even more special as many of the Candidates who were to depart on the Course the following month were in attendance. The Champagnes we had waited on for 2 years were finally allowed to be opened and everyone was certainly in the mood to celebrate. I would like to pass on sincere thanks to Martin Dibben for his help with organising this event as things still weren’t exactly running smoothly with the return to large scale events and therefore a lot of hands on experience was required and as we know there is no better man!
The 12th of June was a date that saw an event which was two years in the making. Having been instructed by France that the Presidential House must complete a course and have a years’ worth of Candidates before passing the baton this day had great significance. I met with ten of the extremely patient, enthusiastic and excited Candidates at St Pancras to have a glass of Taittinger and breakfast before departing on the first leg of what would probably be the most memorable week of their working lives. A super bunch of people from across the trade all eager to finally get started after the 2 years of waiting.
In France we met with the other 6 Candidates and immediately headed off the Royal Champagne to meet with our hosts for the week. It was an incredible experience for them all and for myself I treasured the opportunity of getting to share what I knew awaited them over the coming week. I was humbled speaking to our hosts and friends from the Maisons on how much they actually knew of what was happening within the Academy and of all the hard work that had been carried out by the Committee during lockdown. The changes we have made seemed to have reinvigorated their interest which led to an extremely energetic atmosphere.
I will let the words of the others describe the week they experienced and many of them have reports available on our Course section on the website. As you can imagine however, the hospitality, friendship, experience, professionalism and dedication we were shown cannot be matched anywhere else. The end of the week was amazing for everyone as this year the highest results ever achieved meant that the top 7 finished within only a few marks of each other. On the day however it came down to the one winner who was an absolute credit to us throughout the week. Extremely well done to Caroline Palma de Azevedo who won the Silver Ice Bucket. I want to take this opportunity to thank all 16 Candidates for welcoming me to share their week and for dedicating themselves fully to the Course and also to the Academy since graduation. I hope to enjoy many more glasses with you all at events in the future.
Find out more about the course & our new Academicians here: https://www.champagneacademy.co.uk/post/meet-the-class-of-2021
https://www.champagneacademy.co.uk/post/and-the-winner-is
The End of September saw yet another incredible Scottish Dinner held in the beautiful surroundings of Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh. Another extravaganza organised by Craig Bonner our Scottish Organiser and helped by the ever wonderful Frans Mortengren. Opening with a blind tasting of the 16 Houses the night was an incredible journey of local produce and amazing champagnes. The Blind tasting on this occasion may have caught a few Brand representatives out (Cannot say who) which again showed the importance of keeping education of what we do to the forefront.
The end of October was not only the end of the month but also the end of an Era! The Midlands Dinner has always been one of my favourites to attend purely down to the skill, passion and attention to detail of one man, Kevin Skeet. It was with great sadness but also honour that I presided over Kevins last event as our Midlands Organiser. The venue, food and impeccable organisation in the beautiful surroundings of the Grand Hotel in Birmingham will be a night I will always remember. Kevin, I thank you on behalf of the Committee, The Academy and Shippers as well as anyone who has ever attended one of you events. I would like to congratulate Sonal Clare on taking over from Kevin as our Midlands Organiser and knowing him I am sure he will bring something very creative to what we offer.
October also took us back to a regular venue which was also the same venue as the first ever Academy Dinner I attended as a guest. The amazing work or David Garlick and the team at the Chester Grosvenor is always another highlight of our annual dinners. It was also heart-warming to meet so many past Academicians at this event in particular who all took the time to introduce themselves. Again the Champagnes on the night match the food perfectly and having had a new Head Chef take the reins for the first time the celebration within the team of the kitchen was evident.
This years Irish Dinner was another sell out in the Merrion Hotel in Dublin. The tasting of the 16 Houses had Academicians pouring which was absolutely brilliant as it allowed the time to speak to each of them and also about their experiences of the Academy. To see the support of the Academy in Ireland was brilliant and is something we should try and bring closer to what we do on yearly basis. Sitting beside Peter the GM of the Merrion, who is also an Academician, was a superb insight into the growth and interest in Academy. The food as always was amazing and the matching to the Champagnes on the night was perfect. Mal has done a great job with these dinners and has managed to find a balance of relaxed but yet still theatrical events.
February of 2023 saw the Alternative Cuvee tasting on Bateaux at London Embankment. At this I was finally able to hand the Chairmans chain to probably the most patient and dedicated Vice Chairman in the history of the Academy, Paul Walker. The Alternative Cuvee tasting to me is one of the most enjoyable events of the year as it is relaxed and casual in its approach. The main aim is to showcase a Champagne we may never have tried before but it is also a chance to speak to a Shipper who is as much a part of what we do as anyone else.
As it’s finally my farewell I would like to give a huge thanks to everyone on the Committee as they really have supported me through the last 3 years and worked towards our shared vision of reaffirming our position within the Champagne world. Every single member has given their time and expertise to help make the Academy relevant and I look forward to working with them over the coming years as part of the Committee. I would also like to single out Val who managed not to shout at me too much and I appreciate her support as we know it has been very different than what has come before. Paul Walker has been a huge help again and has probably had more to do than any other Vice Chair in our past. Our decision that we would work towards a shared vision has worked very well and he has been a massive support to everyone on the Committee and has led the development of our digital redesign. I wish him well in his year as Chairman. I congratulate Nick Bromhead on becoming Vice Chairman and Craig Bonner on becoming Secretary for 2023. All members deserve a personal thank you which I will do in person as they are each owed hugely for what they have contributed.
All the Houses and Shippers have my deepest gratitude for their help and support throughout my time in office. Their encouragement and enthusiasm was a great strength when dealing with lockdown. Support from Taittinger as Presidential House has been unwavering and I thank Kevin McKee for taking so many phone calls and helping me steer our way through Covid and Champagne Shortages along with everything else. Clovis, Rachel and Sophie in France have been very hands on with everything we have tackled over the last 3 years and I pass on my sincere thanks. I look forward to sharing a glass with you all at a future event.
I look forward to seeing you all at one of our events and I thank you all for your support!
Andrew Fullerton
2022 Course Final Exam
Harvest Report
2022
2022 HARVEST REPORT
After a rainy and somewhat challenging viticultural year in 2021, we were delighted to have beautiful weather in 2022, bringing with it healthy, mature grapes and a wonderful ‘solar’ vintage!
The summer of 2022 will be remembered for its harsh heatwaves and severe droughts over Europe, but luckily the vineyards of Champagne managed to escape the adverse effects of these conditions. Chalk certainly played its role in retaining and distributing moisture to the roots in the particularly dry months of July and August.
Much to everyone’s relief after an industry-wide Champagne shortage, 2022 proved to be a plentiful year with healthy yields. For Champagne Bollinger, it was the most generous year since 2009! This was, in part, due to the low yields of 2021 as the vines were able to put reserves into the wood and roots. 2022 was also an exceptionally disease-free year.
2022 was only the sixth harvest in the past twenty years that started in August. Harvest began on the 26th of August, with all villages in the Marne region reaching ripeness at the same time. The harvest period was sunny, with the warmest ever recorded temperatures (averaging 20°C/ 68°F). According to the CIVC, the recorded time from floraison to picking was 85 days.
The grapes had excellent ripeness (we aim for 10.5% alcohol content across the three grape varieties) and were perfectly balanced in acidity. This is the case for all 3 grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. If we were to compare 2022 to a past vintage, based on the level of maturation and balance of acidity, this would most likely compare to 1959.
The team look forward to seeing the results after tasting the vins clairs, but all the contributing factors are there to potentially create a La Grande Année vintage. La Grande Année vintages are only created in the most exceptional of years and we hope that 2022 will join the club.
Champagne Bollinger
Bollinger
Maison Report
2022
2022:
2022: while we all breathed a sigh of relief at a year that seemingly would not have any lockdowns, the political and economic landscape still had more in store for us.
As the on trade desperately tried to recover from its rough time during Covid, cost of energy and the ability to hire staff forced many into closure or reduced service times. The Pound dropped to the lowest it has been since our last recession and wage growth remained nearly 5% lower than inflation.
As ever, Champagne Taittinger attempted to navigate this landscape with empathy while bringing a spirit of optimism. We continued to work closely with our loyal customers to make sure they were as well equipped for the storm as they could be. We had our bi-annual ‘export conference’ where all the distributors for Taittinger from around the world convened in Reims to share experiences, ideas and align to the House’s plans and visions for the coming years.
In spring we launched Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2009 – a beautiful vintage but not an easy one to launch thanks to its miniscule volumes. In November we launched Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2012 with a party befitting of such a wine. Hosted by our good friends at BAFTA in their fabulously refurbished headquarters in Piccadilly, it was a joy to have all our friends and partners in a room together.
We were very happy to celebrate our partnerships in full again: the BAFTA campaign was back with a vengeance, beginning with the film awards in February and ending with the Scotland awards in November. Across our many beloved partnerships we celebrated the arts, sports and, for the first time, dogs with the inaugural Goodwoof festival at the Goodwood estate. We were also particularly happy to see our theatre partners up and running at full capacity again after arguably being hit the hardest by the previous few years.
2022 also delighted us with its harvest: both plentiful and of beautiful quality. We were also thrilled to welcome so many guests to our home in Reims; the desire to travel was back in full force and we loved showing our home to more friends, customers and press than ever.
Looking forward, the only thing we can be certain about is our uncertainty. It is safe to say that none of us know what to expect from this year: will volume demands remain high or will we finally see the effects of the cost of living crisis?
No matter what happens, we look forward to working closer than ever with our partners, with an energy and a thirst to drive forward.
As our cellars are now closed in Reims for refurbishment, we have a brand new offering at our Historic building Le Demeure des Comtes in the centre of town. Why not keep an eye on our blog – theinstantwhen.taittinger.fr to see what we get up to?
theinstantwhen.taittinger.fr
Taittinger
Maison Report
2022
Pol Roger
With the difficulties of 2020 and 2021 now behind us, Champagne Pol Roger was delighted to enjoy a full year of activities, tastings and relative normality in 2022. The year began with the energetic releases of the Brut Vintage 2015 and Rosé 2015 in early Spring. These were followed by a launch event where Hubert de Billy, 5th generation family owner, announced the release of the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2013. Later in the year, the Blanc de Blancs 2015 was also launched to great acclaim by the trade and consumer.
With the spectre of the pandemic having faded away, 2022 offered a full calendar of events. Champagne Pol Roger was able to host the 69th Oxbridge Varsity Blind Wine Tasting, as well as a duo of competitive blind wine tastings for Business School Alumni, and the Brewers’ Livery Company in the Summer.
The Maison also sponsored the London Masterpiece Art Fair, one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary art fairs. In the realm of sports, the Barbarian FC were back in action against New Zealand, as well as a historic match against Bath Rugby, the fifth game since 1894, where both Pol Roger-sponsored teams battled it out for a Magnum of Brut Reserve. The Real Tennis World Championships and Bathurst Real Tennis Cup Competition returned to the UK after a two- and four-year absence respectively, both of which also benefiting from Pol Roger sponsorship.
Lastly, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials were back for the first time since 2019 and, coupled with Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, rounded off a busy Summer of activities.
The demand for Pol Roger – through the entire range – continued to astound. Whilst the 2022 vintage in Champagne was significant (both in terms of the quality and volume), Pol Roger are still working to make up the shortfalls from the 2020 and 2021 vintages, in the context of strong demand internationally.
Looking ahead to 2023, Champagne Pol Roger is excited to host the 70th Oxbridge Varsity Blind Wine Tasting Competition in March. Pol Roger have hosted the competition since the early 1990s and are immensely proud to help increase its profile. The Maison will also be sponsoring the Badminton Horse Trials and the Royal Windsor Horse Show, further cementing its support of equestrianism.
The 2022 harvest was one which required rather more foresight than perhaps in previous vintages. From a technical standpoint, potential degree across all the varieties was 10.7% ABV, with total acidity at 5.3g/L and a pH of 3.16. However, after the varying challenges of the 2020 and 2021 harvests, it was the reserve that was at the forefront of the vignerons’ minds. The exceptional quality and quantity of grapes in 2022 was such that the yields were eased to 12,000kg/ha (as compared to 10,000kg/ha in 2021 and the restrictions of 8,000kg/ha in 2020). A welcome relief for all.
Pol Roger
Maison Report
2022
Brand Information Overview
January 2023
Originally founded in 1812, family-owned Champagne Laurent-Perrier has been defined by its pioneering role in innovating champagne throughout its history. Internationally recognised as one of the foremost names in champagne, its success can be attributed to a deliberate policy of challenging conventional techniques, whilst honouring traditional values. The Laurent-Perrier portfolio consists of eight champagnes from the prestigious Grand Siècle, to the iconic Cuvée Rosé and the latest addition to the range the Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature which was launched in 2019.
Laurent-Perrier’s success must also be attributed to the energy of the de Nonancourt family, in particular the late Bernard de Nonancourt, who assumed control in 1948. Working in a demanding business environment, Bernard preserved the independence of his champagne house and its related values, taking the house from one of hundreds to its current position as one of the region’s leading houses. These same principles guide the current management team led by his two daughters, Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt and Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt.
Laurent-Perrier is committed to ceasing all practices or actions which may irremediably damage the environment. This pledge is translated and put into action in all activities, showing a continual respect for the environment and natural resources. The House’s long-term policy in grape growing and wine elaboration is based on sustainable methods.
Commercially 2022 continued to see stock shortages and high demand, as consumers continued to treat themselves to our champagnes at home while also enjoying them in the on trade. Sales of our prestige cuvee Grand Siècle were particularly strong as we built awareness through the trade. As a result our champagnes remained on allocation all year. The good news is that the 2022 harvest was both high quality and high volume, but given the long aging our champagnes require, we expect stock shortages to persist for some years.
After covid restrictions were lifted in early 2022, Laurent-Perrier focused on re-establishing its trading relationships with the on trade including profiling restaurants and hotels across the country serving Laurent-Perrier through a menu promotion in partnership with the FT. We also reconnected with our loyal customers at Taste of London in Regents Park where we delivered the launch of the Personalised Butterfly Tin, which underlined Laurent-Perrier’s sustainability values and was well received at Selfridges and across the UK press in the Summer. For the festive months, we launched the latest iteration of the Cuvée Rosé robe, The Bamboo Robe, via a private event at the Royal Albert Hall and achieved highly impactful press coverage including British Vogue.
In 2022 Champagne Laurent-Perrier announced the release of Grand Siècle Iteration No. 25 in bottle, based on the assemblage of three complementary vintage years: 2008, 2007, and 2006. This is the most recent iteration of this rare and unique prestige cuvée which uses the art of assemblage to recreate ‘the perfect year’. To launch the newest iteration, Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt hosted high profile journalists at Michelin-starred restaurant Elystan Street in London. Our media guests discovered the vision behind the wine and its unique characteristics.
In October, London-based fine wine merchant Jeroboams created the first ever Grand Siècle immersive tasting room where private clients were invited to taste a limited-edition collection of Laurent- Perrier Grand Siècle Iterations: No. 22, No. 23 (in magnum), No. 24 and the latest release, Iteration No. 25.
Laurent-Perrier
Maison Report
2022
Out-of-the-Ordinary
2022 was the second of two extraordinary years in terms of shipments of Champagne Lanson to the United Kingdom. We experienced the continuation of healthy sales through our retail partners and an amazing bounce back by our hospitality customers, especially in Central London.
After a two year hiatus, 2022 saw the long awaited return of Chesterton’s Polo in the Park at Hurlingham. It was the perfect setting to Launch our Lanson Le Rosé Fruit Market Limited Edition. A beautiful, elegant activation of our Rosé Champagne with inspiration drawn from our love for sharing and campaign inspired from the cuvées flavour profile.
The 135th Championships, Wimbledon returned to full tournament capacity and saw record consumption as many returned to the grounds having not been able to enjoy live tennis in SW19 since 2019. We entertained over 200 celebrity and trade guests in our No.1 Court suite, where we launched our Le Vintage 2012 to our global customer base.
September saw the release of Maison Lanson’s prestige cuvée, Noble Champagne. Noble Champagne is offered in two expressions, Brut and Blanc de Blancs from vintage 2004. Previous, current and forward vintages were matched with a canapé menu curated by Lanson’s Chef Ambassador Ollie Dabbous, Head Chef at Michelin Starred restaurant HIDE.
The 2022 harvest was “out-of-the-ordinary” because the conditions were so optimal: wonderful yields (around 14,000 kg/Ha), irreproachable grape healthiness and ideal ripening conditions. At Lanson, we started in the Montgueux crus from 20th August and the 29th August for all other crus. Something rather rare to touch upon is the major increase in the degree of maturity during the harvest. 2022 enables us to put 2021 behind us, a challenging and painful year during which growers put everything they had into the vines for months, only to deal with the challenges experienced throughout the season (frost, hail, mildew). By looking back into the Maison Lanson archives, two vintages experienced similar maturity to 2022; those of 1976 and 1959.
In 2023 we are looking forward to Le Black Creation 257 replacing our flagship cuvée Le Black Label. In September we will move on from 2012 to 2013 Le Vintage whilst also releasing our Noble Champagne 2005.
Lanson
Maison Report
2022
FINALLY.........
Finally life as we remembered it had returned; hugs and handshakes once again replaced elbow bumps and the trade could return to what they do best, engaging each other and consumers with the personal experience of champagne.
It was, once again, a busy year for Champagne Louis Roederer, following the philosophy Frédéric Rouzaud, the seventh generation owner that ‘if you are not in perpetual motion, each stagnation has an impact that is magnified over time’. As such, 2022 saw the launch of the sublime Cristal 2014, succinctly summed up by Joanna Simon as “Magnificent. Exhilarating”. This was followed by the second release of the Coteaux Champenois ‘Cuvée Camille’ 2019, the two single vineyard expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as the new iteration of the Collection multi-vintage, 243 which was revealed at the Maison Marques et Domaines Icon Tasting.
Adding yet a new dimension to the Roederer portfolio, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon came to London to present a special project he has been working on since arriving at the Maison in 1989, the late release vintage series. This is a selection of vintages from the 1990s showcasing the Pinot Noir from Roederer’s historic vineyards in the Grand Cru of Verzy. This was a carefully curated selection of 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999 in bottle and magnum. Tiny volumes were kept back, and deliberately bottled at a lower dosage, the idea was to showcase extensive post-disgorgement aging, to put the focus on the wine rather than the bubbles and to show its huge gastronomic potential. It is undoubtedly as much a project of passion as it is of intellectual exploration and hedonistic pleasure.
Roederer were humbled to again receive the Most Admired Champagne Brand in the World from Drinks International, Giles Fallowfield noted that “Louis Roederer …[has won] …the past three surveys on the trot, an accolade no other brand has ever achieved. This is no accident, it is the result of a lot of hard work’. Roederer were also honoured to win the inaugural Golden Vines Gucci Award for Sustainability in recognition of their exceptional commitment to sustainable viticulture.
Another first for Louis Roederer was the creation of the Louis Roederer Photography Prize for Sustainability, a prize aimed at upholding two key tenets of the Roederer philosophy; encouraging a focus on sustainability in all walks of life, and in supporting the arts, particularly photography. The theme was ‘terroir’ with a brief to explore the impact of man on nature. At an awards night in London, the winner, Akosua Vikoria Adu-Sanvah, selected by a internationally renowned panel of judges who are amongst the most eminent names in art curation, collection and photography. Her work showcased the impact of the acidification of the oceans. The prize money she used towards a second trip to Cape Horn with a team of Chilean oceanographers to continue her work in raising awareness of this issue.
Roederer continued their long-standing sponsorship of the Spirit of Summer and the Spirit of Christmas, which despite the challenges of covid and rail strikes saw the Roederer champagne bars buzzing with action. Our sponsorship of the Royal Academy of Arts continued as it saw a returned to a full programme of exhibitions as well as the important Schools Auction, raising money for this historic charity that has seen so many famous artists hone their craft.
For a third year Roederer sponsored the Louis Roederer BAME Educational Bursary in collaboration with BAME Wine Professionals. It was with delight that we saw last year’s winner, Jonathan Vardan achieve distinction in WSET level 2 and go on to win a place on the level 3 course this year. He was joined by Aasha Prajapat and Glenn Saxon winning a place on the level 3 course. We wish them all the best of luck in this exciting step forward in their wine journey.
And so it is with excitement that Champagne Louis Roederer look forward to another year of adventure, innovation, friendship and delicious champagne.
Santé!
Louis Roederer
Maison Report
2022
CORDON ROUGE STELLAR & LA TABLE DESS CHEFS
GH MUMM CORDON ROUGE STELLAR:
This year GH Mumm reached for the stars! The Reims-based Maison launched Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar (a blend of Mumm Cordon Rouge made with grapes from the 2016 harvest, which includes a majority of Pinot Noir), the first wine to be enjoyed in the space. To make this reality, Mumm collaborated with a key international space player, Axiom Space, founded by the American NASA astronauts. Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar is compliant with the AOC Champagne specifications as well as space requirements.
The ultimate goal is for this champagne to participate in the pursuit of space exploration. Space travellers will be able to enjoy a product that comes from Earth’s soil as well as the savoir-faire of humankind, a symbol of our culture. Champagne allows us to recreate an emblematic ritual of celebration and conviviality that brings us together.
Jean-François Clervoy from European Space Agency (ESA) said of Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar: “In space, there is a loss of temporal reference points and terrestrial habits. For both balance and well-being, it is essential to maintain a link with Earth and its culture. As a terrestrial symbol of the art of living, champagne has this universal appeal.”
Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar will be present on the Ax-2 flight this spring.
GH MUMM, LA TABLE DES CHEFS:
This Spring GH Mumm is celebrating the opening of Maison Mumm’s public restaurant at the redesigned Maison Cordon Rouge in Reims with a genuine Chef’s residency experience. This will be a creative space for emerging talents in gastronomy with each resident Chef bringing in a new vision on food & champagne pairings.
GH Mumm
Maison Report
2022
Moët & Chandon 2022 review
For almost 280 years, Moët & Chandon has been the champagne of choice for celebration, and 2022 was certainly no exception. With the easing of Covid restrictions, 2022 was a year filled with spreading the magic of champagne nationwide. From opening the world’s very first Moët & Chandon bar, and celebrating the Platinum Jubilee, to Royal Ascot and the British Fashion Awards, Moët & Chandon shared it’s generosity of spirit and unique savoir-faire with fans across the country
2022 marked a milestone moment in Great Britain’s history, with the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Having long been associated with the Royal Court, Moët & Chandon was proud to release two limited-edition Impérial and Rosé Impérial Platinum Jubilee Cuvées. Featuring elegant platinum labels, inscribed with a commemorative message, the Moët & Chandon Jubilee Cuvées were served at Jubilee celebrations throughout the country – a fitting tribute to such a landmark event.
Continuing its Royal associations, Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage was, once again, the Official Champagne of Royal Ascot. With six bars across the racecourse, serving Moët & Chandon Impérial, Rosé Impérial and Grand Vintage, it was the ultimate start to the summer season and highlight of the British cultural calendar. Guests were hosted in the newly-refurbished Moët & Chandon box and iconic Veranda enclosure – both offering unparalleled views of the finish line.
From Ascot to Knightsbridge, Moët & Chandon welcomed Harrods shoppers with the launch of the world’s very first Moët & Chandon bar. Featuring a sleek, sculpted bar design, and dramatic effervescence-inspired chandelier, it is the largest stand-alone champagne bar in the world. With the official opening marked by friends of the Moët Maison - Douglas Booth, Laura Carmichael, Gemma Chan, Jourdan Dunn and Raven Smith – the bar quickly became a hotspot to enjoy champagne and perfectly paired bites throughout the summer.
2022 also marked an exciting stage in Moët & Chandon’s sustainability journey, which saw it removing gift boxes across its largest sales channels. These were replaced with neck tags made from seeded wildflower paper, which enabled shoppers to learn more about the initiative before planting the tag. In partnership with SUGi, the savings from the gift boxes have been used to plant pocket forests to promote biodiversity in urban areas. Several have already been planted, with more planned for 2023.
In December, Moët & Chandon honoured the long-standing relationship with fashion as the official partner of the British Fashion Awards. Alongside providing champagne for a star-studded guestlist at the Royal Albert Hall ceremony, Moët & Chandon hosted the Gold Studio. Presenter and influencer, Yomi Adegoke interviewed winners and guests to bring an exclusive backstage content.
Ending the year in style, Moët & Chandon brought the magic of effervescence to Londoners with Skate at Somerset House. A milestone moment in the festive calendar, the Skate Lounge by Moët & Chandon offered a stylish spot to begin festivities with a glass of Moët & Chandon or classic champagne cocktail.
In 2023, Moët & Chandon looks forward to another year of sharing its unique magic and savour-faire with champagne lovers around the world - stay up to date with our latest news through the links below:
Facebook - @MoetUK Twitter - @Moet_UK
Instagram: @MoetChandon
Website: www.moet.com
Moët & Chandon
Maison Report
2022
120TH ANEMONE ANNIVERSARY
2022 saw Maison Perrier-Jouët celebrating the 120th anniversary of the iconic anemones created by the Art-Noveau artist Emile Gallé back in 1902. This culminated in a gastronomic & artistic experience in Hotel de Crillon in Paris as well as sponsorship of the Art Fair Unique Designs Paris where Maison Perrier-Jouët unveiled the collaboration with the artist Garance Vallée. Garance created a LEB for Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs. For Maison Perrier-Jouët, she shares her vision of one nature, in which all life forms are united in symbiosis, to the point of forming a single entity.
Perrier-Jouet
Maison Report
2022
KRUG
Behind every precious drop of Krug stands the dream of a visionary. One man who, long before others, understood that the essence of Champagne is pleasure. So, over 170 years ago, Joseph Krug broke with convention to follow his vision. To create the most generous expression of Champagne every year, regardless of climatic unpredictability. Joseph’s bold experiment proved a triumph and he succeeded in creating Champagne like never before. And like no other Champagne House since. To this day, the House of Krug lives and breathes his enduring philosophy, creating only prestige Champagnes since 1843.
Krug has remained a Champagne House on a human scale, preserving its savoir-faire and defending its unparalleled quality by choosing to offer a limited number of bottles. By overturning conventions and establishing its own rules, Krug divulges all the exuberance and expression of its Champagnes. Making Krug Champagnes arises from a long, painstaking and very human process; an art.
At the end of 2019 was the first encounter between the House of Krug and Ryuichi Sakamoto. After a creative journey of 18 months, they teamed up to create a series of musical experiences entitled SEEING SOUND, HEARING KRUG. A symphony that translates into music a unique proposition in Champagne, three creations from one single year, 2008: Krug Clos du Mesnil 2008, Krug 2008 and Krug Grande Cuvée 164ème Édition. Three stories, three sources of inspiration, three visions, three blends born in 2008 at the hands of Krug Cellar Master Julie CAVIL.
In 2008, the score was extraordinary, imparting exceptional elegance on the fruit. The gentle conditions of the season, which coincided with one of the coolest years in the last decade, allowed the grapes to develop slowly and tranquilly, with no stress on the vines. Thus, when time came to harvest, the grapes were remarkable. ‘Suite for Krug in 2008’ is a chance to discover three expressions of an unforgettable year in Champagne from the House of Krug.
True to its refined maverick spirit, the House of Krug once again transcends reality through new music pairing experiences. With the firm conviction that music is a universal language that can trigger new sensations, KRUG naturally partnered with Ryuichi SAKAMOTO to create a unique music pairing experience through an unprecedented symphonic composition.
The House of Krug has long understood the influence of sound on taste perception. Building on the notion of food pairing and translating this idea into music, the House of Krug invites Krug Lovers to discover its Champagnes through music-pairings. To create the unique scores that will accentuate certain facets of each Champagne, the House of Krug has invited Ryuichi Sakamoto to translate his perceptions of their flavours and aromas into music.
In November 2022 the SEEING SOUND, HEARING KRUG experience became available in London. Featuring musical immersions that reproduce the full experience of a live orchestra, through 3D music technology. Guests enjoyed the immersive symphonic experience of ‘Suite for Krug in 2008’ through Devialet Phantom speakers and a mesmerising light design to elate their senses.
@krugchampagne
Krug
Maison Report
2022
Ruinart 2022 review
The Contemporary & Conscious Jewel of Champagne since 1729.
Ruinart is the world’s first established Champagne House, founded in 1729. It is recognised as a Chardonnay specialist, with this grape harvested from vineyards in the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, at the heart of all the cuvées. Today, art, sustainability and art de vivre define the universe of Ruinart, together with a strength derived from three centuries of history.
Every year, since 2018, Ruinart has invited an international contemporary artist to share his or her vision of the champagne house. Maison Ruinart has entrusted its Carte Blanche 2022 to Jeppe Hein for a new artistic interpretation of its history and know-how. The Champagne House has always promoted art as a way to understand the world around us, connect with each other and heighten our awareness. Jeppe Hein reflects this commitment through an installation that awakens our senses and touches our hearts, while placing each of us at the centre of a delightful participatory experience. As a long-time patron of contemporary art, Ruinart currently supports over 36 art fairs worldwide, and since 2016 have been the official Champagne Partner of Frieze London, Frieze Masters and Frieze New York.
From the 12th – 15th October the Ruinart Lounge was live at Frieze London, where guests were invited to explore Jeppe Hein’s ‘Right Here, Right Now’ exhibition. For Jeppe Hein, making and tasting champagne – from the moment the grapes are harvested to the moment the wine sparkles in your mouth – is a total sensory experience. He translated the essence of this into an art installation to be experienced RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. An installation that appeals to the five senses and summons the four elements – earth/soil, water/rain, air/wind and fire/sun – which are essential to champagne making.
Committed to preserving savoir-faire and supporting wine professionals, Ruinart was proud to launch the 2022 edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge. Bringing together sommeliers from across the UK, the 2022 edition focused on understanding the impact of cork on champagne, in particular during the ageing process. Participants explored the physical properties of this porous yet extremely stable material and its influence on a wine’s oenological signature.
In 2022 Maison Ruinart presented a new vintage, Dom Ruinart 2010, a champagne made from 100% chardonnay grapes from exceptional terroir. In 2010, the Maison decided to replace crown caps with cork for Dom Ruinart, enabling us to age these precious bottles on lees for longer. It took more than a decade to reach its full potential. More than ten years of supervised rest in the depths of the Maison’s chalk quarry cellars in Reims. Dom Ruinart 2010 is the result of this precise work. It is the most accurate reflection of a particular year, but also a specific ageing process that revealed all its facets and subtleties. It required a leap of imagination and vision to recognise the characteristics of this future vintage in the vineyard.
Because in 2010, very little suggested that it would be a great year: a very cold winter, dry spring and early summer, rainy August and rot that arrived at the end of the ripening.
@ruinart @ruinart_winemakers
Ruinart
Maison Contacts
Bollinger
20, Boulevard Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
51160 Aÿ
ADRESSE
TITULAIRE
Guy de Rivoire
Tel: +33 (0) 6 31 55 78 18
Email: g.derivoire@champagne-bollinger.fr
SUPPLEANT
Victor Dumont
Tel: +33 (0)
Email: v.dumont@champagne-bollinger.fr
ASSISTANTE
Angélique Renault
Tel: + 33 (0) 3 26 53 25 50
Email: hospitality@champagne-bollinger.fr
UK SHIPPER
Elise Mather
Mentzendorff & Co Ltd
1st Floor,The Woolyard
52 Bermondsey Street
London SE1 3UD
Mob: 07725 602 079
E-mail: Elise@mentzendorff.co.uk
IRELAND SHIPPER
Woodford Bourne
C/o Robt. Robert Bourne
79 Broomhill Road
Tallaght DBLIN 24
Tel: +353 1 40 47 300 Fax: +353 1 45 99 342
Email: e.needham@woodfordbourne.com
Maison Contacts
Committee Contacts
Craig Bonner
Vice-Chairman / Scotland Dinner Organiser
2017
Committee
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