Ruinart (champagne)

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Ruinart is the oldest Champagne house, exclusively producing champagne since 1729. Founded by Nicolas Ruinart in the Champagne region in the city of Reims, the house is today owned by the parent company LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

The uncle of Nicolas Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, for whom the house's flagship wine is named, was a close friend of Dom Pérignon,^[1]

The family lineage ownership lasted until financial assistance from Baron Philippe de Rothschild was taken in 1950, and in 1963 the entire business was sold to Moët & Chandon] before it became part of the LVMH group.^[2]

[edit] Production

Of the prestige cuvées, Dom Ruinart is a blanc de blancs, i.e. made entirely of Chardonnay, was first released with the 1959 vintage. The Dom Ruinart Rosé, first released in 1962, resembles the Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs with the addition of 15% vinified red Pinot Noir.^[2]

The cuvées named R de Ruinart include both Brut non-vintage and vintage wines, with the non-vintage minimum 40% Chardonnay, with 25% reserve wines, while proportions vary in the vintage wine. There is also produced non-vintage Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, 100% Chardonnay, and Ruinart Brut Rosé, typically 45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir, with addition of red wine instead of by saignée method.^[2]

[edit] References

^ K. Gargett, P. Forrestal, & C. Fallis The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine pg 167 Global Book Publishing 2004 ISBN 1740480503
^ ^a ^b ^c Kissack, Chris, thewinedoctor.com. Ruinart.