Champagne Ruinart

The oldest Champagne house

Ruinart’s founding came just one year after Louis XV’s 1728 decree allowing the transport of sparkling wine in bottles—a turning point that opened international markets to Champagne. This positioned Ruinart at the forefront of a new era in wine, with Europe’s elite soon discovering its refined, effervescent style. The house’s Gallo-Roman chalk cellars, now a UNESCO-classified monument, provide the perfect ageing environment and an awe-inspiring backdrop to the Trophée Ruinart, a biennial competition for Europe’s finest sommeliers.

Small-scale production

Unlike many larger houses, Ruinart maintains a relatively small production of around 1.7 million bottles annually. Since WWII, the house has built a reputation for understated luxury, and today it forms part of the prestigious LVMH group, alongside Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon. Chardonnay is at the heart of Ruinart’s style—bringing freshness, finesse, and aromatic purity to each cuvée. This emphasis sets it apart from many Champagne houses that favour Pinot Noir or Meunier.

The wines

• R de Ruinart NV: A classic expression with a minimum of 40% Chardonnay, blended with Pinot Noir and Meunier and 25% reserve wines for depth and consistency.
• Ruinart Blanc de Blancs: Made from 100% Chardonnay, sourced mainly from Premier Cru vineyards—celebrated for its precision, elegance, and silky texture.
• Ruinart Rosé: A blend of 45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir, including 18% red wine—made using the assemblage method rather than saignée, resulting in a graceful, fruit-forward style.
• Dom Ruinart Prestige Cuvées: Named in honour of the house’s spiritual founder:
• Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs: A Grand Cru Chardonnay-dominant wine (70% Côte des Blancs, 30% Montagne de Reims).
• Dom Ruinart Rosé: It is based on the same Blanc de Blancs base, with 15–20% red Pinot Noir (from Verzenay and Verzy) added for structure and depth.