Ruinart is one of the best Cellar visits in Champagne. Public tours of the magnificent Cathedral like chalk cellars are conducted in English and in small group tours up to 10. The cellar visit takes 45 mins to an hour and is followed by a 1 hour tasting of your choice of Dom Ruinart or Dom Ruinart Rosé + Non Vintage Tasting in an elegantly appointed 18th century style tasting rooms. The top quality experience makes this House a must for connoisseurs of Champagne.
A private visit to Ruinart can be arranged and can include the Petit R private lunch or dinner VR immersive experience.
Option 1.
Two Great Doms Dom Perignon (1640-1715) and Dom Ruinart (1657 - 1709) were both Benedictine monks, and buried in the Abbey of Hautvillers. Dom Ruinart was a scholar and not involved in wine but probably inspired his nephew to create the first Champagne House in 1729. Ruinart is known for its emphasis on Chardonnay. Dom Perignon vintages are made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and on a private tour to Dom Perignon you can taste the 2009 Vintage or if you prefer we can reserve a public Grand Vintage tour at Moet where you can taste the 2004 Brut & 2002 Rosé.
Option 2.
Ruinart & 2 Family Vineyards in the Montagne de Reims
We we will visit 2 Grand or Premier Cru Vineyards in the Montagne de Reims focusing on the Pinot Noir. We might drive though Verzenay, and Mailly, where you can taste the single grape varieties, blends as well as visit the production facilities of family growers. If available we can also arrange a tasting lunch at a Grand Cru vineyard.
Option 3.
Ruinart & 2 Grand Cru Vineyards in the Cote de Blancs
If you love Chardonnay and Ruinart we can also visit the Grand Cru Chardonnay producers in the Cote de Blancs for comparison tastings of various styles of Chardonnay plus a visit to the vineyards as we drive through villages like Avize and Mesnil sur Oger.
Lunch Options
There are several nice restaurant options, with a 3 course prix fixe of 39€ - 55€pp (ex drinks).
▸ One Michelin Star restaurants in the Montagne de Reims or downtown Reims
▸ Bistronomic brasserie in Reims
▸ A 5 star elegant hotel with vineyard view
First established in 1729, Ruinart sold 170 bottles in 1730; 3000 bottles in 1731; growing to 36,000 in 1761. In 1768, Ruinart acquired its Gallo-Roman chalk quarries and over the following years, 5 miles of tunnels were hollowed out 125 feet under the city of Reims for the purpose of storing its bottles. Classified as a historical monument in 1931, these Crayères provide stable temperature, absence of vibration and perfect humidity levels.
Since 2000, Ruinart continues its commitment to art by supporting more than 30 major international art fairs and its annual commission of a contemporary artist. This connection with art is a heritage is rooted in 1896 when Ruinart commissioned the famous Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha to create a advertising poster for the House which itself has become highly collectible in its own right.
Saturdays and Sundays from July, two services of 30 people max, 11.00 and 13.00 enjoy the exceptional setting of Maison Ruinart for a traditional weekend brunch.
Developed by Valérie Radou, Head of the House, local specialties and essential dishes of the House, will be accompanied by two glasses of R cuvées from Ruinart, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs or Ruinart Rosé. Hot drink (tea, coffee or chocolate) Fruit juice 2 glasses of Champagne (R, Blanc de Blancs, Rosé or Vintage) Eggs (flat, scrambled, Benedicte) Delicatessens, Salmon. Cheeses, Pastries, Salad, Pancakes & Cakes.
