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Ruinart (Ryuinar) is considered one of the oldest wine houses in France and produces exclusively champagne. The company is located in the city of Reims in the Champagne region and belongs to the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA group of companies. The company’s assortment includes seven types of premium champagnes, including millesimes made from harvests of a certain year.
Historical information
The Ruinart company was in 1729 after the issuance of a royal decree authorizing the transport of bottled wine. Prior to this, only barrels were allowed for transportation, which seriously hampered trade. The first owner of the enterprise, Nicolas Ruinart, was engaged in the sale of cloth, and the first buyers of wine were regular customers of the company. The first year was not very successful – only 170 bottles were sold.
Then there was a decline in the textile trade, and the entrepreneur decided to focus on winemaking. Ruinard supplied wines to the northern part of France and the south of Belgium, and already 30 years after the company was founded, sales volumes reached 36 bottles per year. Then the business passed to the owner’s son Claude, who managed to bring the brand to the international market and establish trade relations with Germany, the USA and Russia.
The growth of the company required the expansion of areas for wine storage. In the first half of the XNUMXth century, new cellars were built on the site of limestone quarries, which were developed by the ancient Romans. At the same time, the company significantly expanded the area of its vineyards.
The economic crisis of 1929 and the Second World War severely undermined the French wine industry. In 1946, the company had only two large buyers, and stocks of champagne were reduced to 10 bottles. The new owner of the company, Bertrand Mouret, had to start from scratch. The entrepreneur decided to reorient production to Chardonnay grapes, which later became a distinctive feature of Ruinart products.
From that moment on, the business of the company went uphill. In 1959, the first bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs champagne, the flagship product of the wine house, was released. In 1963, the company was bought by Moët & Chandon, which later became part of the LVMH concern, which unites luxury brands. More than 3 million bottles of champagne leave the lines of the factory every year.
Production features
Ruinart champagne still matures in cellars built on the site of a limestone deposit. The exposure period is from 3 to 10 years. The priority grape variety is Chardonnay, rosé and dry wines are made with the addition of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats. Masters of the company are constantly working to reduce the amount of sugar in wine to give it a delicate mineral taste. Throughout the entire production process, the raw material is protected from oxidation by nitrogen. Champagne is bottled, repeating the design style of the XVIII century.
Interesting Facts
- During the First World War, the building of the wine house was destroyed and the head of the company, Andre Ruinard, had to move to the cellars. When the premises were flooded, the businessman ordered the construction of a raft and organized an impromptu office on it, from where he continued to manage the company.
- Limestone tunnels, which are used by the company as a warehouse, received the status of a historical monument in 1931. The structures are now considered part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Types of champagne Ruinard
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, 12%
Champagne of pale gold color – a blend of wines of different years from Chardonnay grapes. The aroma mixes the smells of white flowers, peach and citrus fruits. The taste is fresh and balanced with a predominance of honey shades. Perfectly complements fish and seafood dishes.
Ruinart Rose Brut, 13%
Pink champagne is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, some of the wine materials for blending are aged for two years. The aroma is complex – at the start there are tropical fruits, which are replaced by rose and pomegranate. The flavor bouquet reveals the nuances of freshly picked grapes, to which shades of mint and grapefruit are added. Pairs well with Italian and Japanese cuisine.
«R» De Ruinart, 12%
The blend for dry champagne is made up of wines created from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, which are harvested by hand. The color of the drink is bright golden with a sheen, the structure is saturated with persistent bubbles that form a lush foam. The aroma is fruity, with hints of fresh pastries. The flavor range is distinguished by the predominance of notes of nectarine, pear and ripe apples. Wine emphasizes the taste of oysters and scallops, recommended for light snacks.
