Taittinger

The story of Taittinger begins in 1932 when Pierre Taittinger, a young cavalry officer who fell in love with the Château de la Marquetterie during World War I, bought the estate from the Forest-Fourneaux house, which had been founded back in 1734. Pierre kept a promise he made to himself during the war, acquiring not just the château but also its precious vineyards planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir since the 18th century. The property had a rich history, once developed by Brother Jean Oudart, a Benedictine monk considered one of the founding fathers of champagne. Today, Taittinger owns 752 acres of vineyards across the most prestigious areas of Champagne: the Côte des Blancs, the Montagne de Reims, and the Vallée de la Marne. The house is one of the few to cellar its wines in the famous Crayères of Reims, ancient Gallo-Roman chalk pits dating from the fourth century that were later incorporated into the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise. These UNESCO World Heritage cellars provide the perfect environment for aging champagne, with constant cool temperatures and humidity.

The Taittinger family has guided the house through nearly a century of winemaking, passing the torch through multiple generations. After Pierre's death, his son François ran the business from 1945 to 1960, establishing the cellars in the historic abbey. François' brother Claude then took over and transformed Taittinger into a champagne house of world renown. In 2005, the family briefly sold the business to an American investment firm, but Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, Claude's nephew, fought to bring it back into family hands just one year later. Today, the house is led by Vitalie Taittinger, who became president in 2019, making her the first woman to hold this position at the house. She works alongside her brother Clovis and cellar master Alexandre Ponnavoy, a Burgundy native who joined in 2018. The family's commitment to quality and independence makes Taittinger one of the last remaining family-owned champagne houses.

Taittinger's winemaking philosophy centers on elegance, lightness, and a high proportion of Chardonnay, which gives their champagnes a distinctive delicate character. The house practices sustainable viticulture, using horse-drawn ploughing and grassing techniques instead of herbicides. They exceed minimum aging requirements for all their cuvées, with some wines resting on the lees for seven years or more. A small portion of their top wines spends time in new oak barrels, adding complexity. Vitalie Taittinger has brought an artistic sensibility to the house, viewing winemaking as a craft and emphasizing the importance of everyday moments of joy. The family believes that having their name on every bottle places demands and responsibilities on every detail, ensuring a commitment to both heritage and the future.

The house produces a range of champagnes, from their popular Brut Réserve to prestigious vintage cuvées. The Brut Réserve blends 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 25% Pinot Meunier from over 35 different vineyards. Their flagship wine is the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, made entirely from Chardonnay grapes sourced from five Grand Cru villages in the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. This prestige cuvée is produced only in exceptional vintage years and aged for up to 10 years in the chalk cellars before release. They also produce a Comtes de Champagne Rosé, composed of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Other notable cuvées include Prélude Grands Crus, Brut Millésimé, and Folies de la Marquetterie. Taittinger has even ventured beyond France, establishing Domaine Carneros in California and becoming the first champagne house to plant vines in England with Domaine Evremond in Kent.