Champagne Ruinart

Champagne Ruinart – the world's first champagne house

There are stories bigger than their protagonists – and then there's Ruinart. On September 1, 1729, Nicolas Ruinart founded the world's first champagne house in Reims, less than twelve months after Louis XV had authorized the transport of bottled wine by edict. Ruinart was thus not only a pioneer but also a visionary: as early as 1730, Nicolas Ruinart brought sparkling wine to the European market, and by 1735 he had completely abandoned his original cloth-trading business to devote himself entirely to champagne.

The roots of this passion reach back even further. Dom Thierry Ruinart, Benedictine monk, scholar, and close confidant of Dom Pérignon, learned the secret of making sparkling wine at the Abbey of Hautvillers – and passed this vision on to his nephew Nicolas. In 1817 , the family was ennobled and henceforth called themselves Ruinart de Brimont. Claude Ruinart's descendants ran the house for over two centuries until they entered into a partnership with Moët & Chandon in 1963. Since 1987, Ruinart has been part of the luxury goods group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA – and has remained true to its identity.

The Crayères: Cellars as cultural heritage

Beneath the city of Reims lies the heart of Ruinart: a network of Gallo-Roman chalk tunnels, known as the Crayères . In 1768, Claude Ruinart acquired these 8 kilometers of tunnels, reaching depths of up to 38 meters, thus creating ideal conditions for the slow maturation of his champagnes. The tunnels were classified as a historical monument in 1931 and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2015. Here, non-vintage champagnes mature for 3–4 years , while vintage bottlings age for an average of 9–10 years – far exceeding the legal minimum requirements.

Style & Philosophy: Chardonnay as a Compass

What sets Ruinart apart from almost all other great houses is its unwavering commitment to Chardonnay. Every cuvée bears its unmistakable signature: freshness, minerality, floral elegance. While Ruinart works with all three classic Champagne grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier – Chardonnay always remains the guiding principle.

The grapes come from 40–50 selected crus , primarily from the Côte des Blancs and the northern slopes of the Montagne de Reims – both areas renowned for their exceptional Chardonnay quality. Ruinart cultivates its own 14 hectares of vineyards; the majority of the grapes, as is customary in Champagne, are purchased from long-standing partner growers. The grapes are harvested by hand, and vinification is carried out with minimal intervention.

Ruinart is consistently leading the way in sustainability: Since 2014 , the house has held the "High Environmental Value" (HVE) and "Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne" certifications. In 2020, Ruinart introduced the "Second Skin Case" —an eco-designed package made from 99% paper with a significantly reduced CO₂ footprint. Chef de Cave Frédéric Panaïotis is currently responsible for the house's style.

The Cuvées: Classics with a history

Ruinart made Champagne history early on: in 1764, the house created the world's first rosé Champagne. Today, its range includes some of the most famous cuvées in the entire Champagne region.

• R de Ruinart Brut (NV): The entry into the Ruinart world – an assemblage of 40% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir and 11% Pinot Meunier, enriched with 20–25% reserve wines from the two previous years.
• Ruinart Rosé Brut (NV): 45% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims meets 55% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne. Of this, 18–19% is vinified as red wine; the dosage is 9 g/l.
• Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (NV): The purest expression of the Ruinart style – made exclusively from Chardonnay, with aromatic depth, freshness and exceptional minerality.

With around 150,000 cases produced annually, Ruinart is one of the smaller Champagne houses – but one of the most famous and sought-after worldwide. Quality over volume, consistency over compromise: this is the philosophy that has guided this house for almost three centuries.

Ruinart at Vinoscout

At Vinoscout you'll find a carefully curated selection from the Ruinart range – from classic bottles to magnums, from accessible entry-level wines to festive rosés. Currently, ten products are available, including the Champagne Ruinart Rosé Brut (€89.95), the Champagne R de Ruinart Brut (€69.95), and the Champagne Ruinart Blanc de Blanc Brut (€89.95) – as well as magnums of both cuvées for special occasions. Prices range from €39.90 to €275.00.