FAQ

Visit our Family Spirit page to learn more about the Taittinger family heritage, our passionate team, our history and the treasures of our vineyards and estate.

‘Taittinger’ is pronounced ‘teh-tahn-zhay’ in French. Its International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription is /tɛtɑ̃ʒe/.

Use our contact form to send us a message so we can respond as efficiently as possible. If you have a query about visiting us, please contact our visits team by calling +33(0)326858433 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr

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All current opportunities are listed on the Champagne Taittinger Linkedin page.

After becoming head of Champagne Taittinger in 2006, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger decided to entrust the future of the family business to the next generation, in keeping with the timeline he had set for himself. Vitalie Taittinger became President of Taittinger in January 2020, succeeding her father after his term of office ended on 31 December 2019. She is supported in her mission by Damien le Sueur (Managing Director) and her brother Clovis Taittinger (soon to be Managing Director), as well as the current management team and all the champagne house staff. By implementing this new governance structure, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger reaffirmed his family's commitment to quality and excellence, with deep respect for time, the land and its people at the heart of our wine-making.

Now the second largest vineyard in the Champagne region, extending over 288 hectares, the Taittinger estate is, by its very nature, deeply involved in today’s environmental challenges. As early as 2005, visionary Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger launched an environmentally responsible approach that the estate’s teams continue to uphold today.
Discover more in this article about our estate.

To find your nearest wine merchant or retailer, we recommend reaching out to the Taittinger local importer or contact us.

Please contact us for the latest public guide prices. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend reaching out to your local retailer directly.

We produce several cuvées, each with their own distinct character and qualities. A key ingredient in all our Taittinger champagnes, Chardonnay is the signature element that gives our wines their unmistakeable soul, defined by freshness, minerality and finesse.

Our range of champagnes can be categorised as follows:

• Timeless cuvées: Brut Réserve, Prestige Rosé, Nocturne, Nocturne Rosé
• Gourmet cuvées: Prélude Grands Crus, Brut Millésimé, Folies de la Marquetterie, Demi Sec
• Exceptional cuvées: Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Comtes de Champagne Rosé 
   

We also produce a special range dedicated to art and creativity, the Taittinger Collection, with each edition released in limited quantities. A true celebration of the bond between art and champagne, the Taittinger Collection pairs wine-making excellence with the creative expression of contemporary artists.

Our champagnes come in a range of bottle sizes to suit different occasions and preferences. Taittinger bottles come in the following sizes: standard bottle (75 cL), small bottle (375 mL), magnum (1.5 L), jeroboam (3 L), mathusalem (6 L), salmanazar (9 L), balthazar (12 L) and nabuchodonosor (15 L).

Please note that the availability of bottle sizes may vary depending on the cuvée and market. For more detailed information, please contact us or ask your local retailer.

Our capsules and bottles feature a distinctive seal bearing the effigy of Thibaud IV, Count of Champagne. A key figure of the Counts of Champagne dynasty, Thibaud IV was a warrior, a poet and a keen traveller, said to have brought back the ancestor of Chardonnay from his distant journeys. This seal, a tribute to Thibaud IV, proudly adorns our most prestigious cuvées, the Comtes de Champagne in particular.

We offer guided visits to the Taittinger estate’s historic cellars where you can discover our champagne’s unique style. Visitors can learn more about the champagne-making process and the Taittinger family heritage while tasting our iconic cuvées. However, please note that only the cellars are open to the public; the Taittinger vineyard is not accessible.

To find out more about our current tours and tastings, please visit our online ticket office or contact our visits team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr.

We would be delighted to welcome you to our historic Saint-Nicaise site in Reims, where you can discover the soul of our champagnes and the heritage of our family business. Immerse yourself in over 2,000 years of history on a guided tour of our cellars, hollowed out Gallo-Roman crayères, or chalk quarries, which have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The experience is rounded off with a guided tasting of our iconic cuvées.

To find out more about our current tours and tastings, please visit our online ticket office or contact our visits team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr

Our cellars are located at 9 place Saint-Nicaise, Reims, France. To book your visit, please use our online ticket office.

We offer several guided tour options, including a visit to our Gallo-Roman chalk quarries (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and a tasting of our signature cuvées.

Address:
Champagne Taittinger
9 place Saint-Nicaise
51100 Reims, France

How to find us:
- By car: parking available nearby
- From Paris: take the train (TGV) from the Gare de l’Est to Reims central station (45 minutes), then take a taxi (around 10 minutes)
- By public transport: take bus no. 4 to the ‘Saint-Nicaise’ stop

If you have any questions, please contact our visit team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr.

You can book your visit to Maison Taittinger in Reims via our online ticket office.

Please contact our visits team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr for more information.

For all private hire requests, please contact our visits team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 45 25 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr.

If you have not received email confirmation, please contact our visits team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr.

If you would like to purchase a visit as a gift for someone you know, please contact our visits team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr.

We limit the number of participants on our visits, but we will always do our best to help you reschedule your booking, subject to availability. To reschedule, please contact our visits team by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr.

Yes, our public visits, which can be booked online (https://book-a-visit.taittinger.fr/), are available in French and English. Our private visits are available in French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin, Russian or Belarusian, on request. Please feel free to contact us in advance by calling +33 (0)3 26 85 84 33 or emailing visites@taittinger.fr to arrange a visit in the language of your choice.

Our visits are suitable for people with reduced mobility. Seats are also available on request – please ask at reception when you arrive.

Yes, of course, our tasting rooms are even kitted out with play areas. However, please note that our cellars are kept between 8 and 12°C and visits can last 35 to 55 minutes, which may be uncomfortable for very young visitors.

In addition to our restaurant, our Polychrome bar gives visitors the chance to further explore Taittinger cuvées. All the cuvées from the champagne house are available by the bottle, as well as in other formats, for an exceptional tasting experience.

The bar also serves afternoon tea and seasonal tasting flights, allowing visitors to discover the many façets of Taittinger champagnes.

Open Monday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For further information, please contact polychrome@taittinger.fr

• Open Thursday to Monday
• 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (last orders at 1:45 p.m.)

It is possible to make reservations:

• via our experience booking platform: www.book-a-visit.taittinger.fr
• by telephone: +33 3 26 85 84 33
• by e-mail: polychrome@taittinger.fr

To access the restaurant via the cellar, please visit the reception desk.

Polychrome bar:

• 20 seats
• Open Monday to Sunday (high season)
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last orders at 6 p.m.)

Open Monday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, please contact boutique@taittinger.fr

As with wine, it is essential to store your bottle of Taittinger champagne horizontally. It’s best to keep it in a cellar or dry room, away from light and at a temperature between 10° and 12°C.

The length of time champagne can be kept for depends on the type of champagne, the vintage, storage conditions and personal preferences. Most non-vintage champagnes can be kept for around 3 to 5 years. Vintage champagnes (made from the grapes of a specific year), on the other hand, often have a greater cellaring potential and can be kept for 5 to 10 years or more.

However, some exceptional cuvées, such as champagnes de garde (‘for keeping’), like Comtes de Champagne, can be kept for several decades and evolve over time.

It is important to note that the way a champagne ages varies depending on each cuvée's specific characteristics. For more detailed information on the cellaring potential of your Taittinger champagnes, please contact us or ask your local retailer.

It is important to serve your champagne at the right temperature. We recommend serving it between 8 and 10°C, but this can vary depending on the type of champagne. For certain cuvées, such as vintage champagnes, rosés and prestige cuvées, the ideal tasting temperature may be higher to unveil their rich, complex aromas, particularly when serving with a meal. In this case, you can serve the champagne between 10° and 12° C, or even 11° and 13°C for certain cuvées.

Disgorging is a crucial stage in the champagne-making process. After fermenting in the bottle to create the bubbles, sediment forms in the bottle’s neck. Disgorging involves opening the bottle to eject the sediment using pressure, leaving the champagne clear. The bottle is then sealed with the cork and capsule.

As our bottles are gradually drawn out of the Taittinger cellars, we cannot provide a precise disgorgement date. We allow a minimum of 6 months between disgorging and sale to let the champagne find its full balance.

Champagne is generally served in flutes or tulip-shaped glasses. These glasses are designed to preserve bubbles and concentrate aromas, enhancing the taste experience. Flutes have an elongated shape that helps preserve bubbles and keep your champagne fresh. Tulip-shaped glasses have a wider opening which allows aromas to develop while maintaining a gentle effervescence. The aim is to showcase the unique characteristics of each champagne.

Immerse yourself in the art of tasting with our article on the Comtes de Champagne flute.

A vintage champagne is made from grapes harvested in a single exceptional year. Unlike non-vintage champagnes, which are made from blends of grapes picked in different years, a vintage champagne highlights the specific characteristics of the harvest year.

Discover Taittinger ‘vintage’ champagnes:

• Brut Millésimé
• Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs
• Comtes de Champagne Rosé

A ‘Grand Cru’ champagne is crafted from grapes harvested from vineyards certified with the highest quality rating in the Champagne vineyard classification. Grapes from these Grands Crus vineyards are renowned for their excellence and their ability to produce exceptional wines.

Discover Taittinger ‘Grands Crus’ champagnes:
Prélude Grands Crus (100% Grands Crus)
Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs (100% Grands Crus)
Brut Millésimé (70% Grands Crus)

Our Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs represents the finest expression of Maison Taittinger’s style. It is crafted exclusively from Chardonnay grapes sourced from the five Côte des Blancs villages classified as ‘Grand Cru’: Avize, Chouilly, Oger, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant.

Discover the importance of the terroir in creating Comtes de Champagne in our article on how a great wine is born.

To open your precious bottle, carefully remove the capsule – that’s the foil covering the cork. Next, untwist the small wire around the cork, called the œillet, to release the wire cage, or muselet. Hold the wire cage and cork securely with one hand while supporting the bottle at the base with your other hand.
Gently turn the bottle, not the cork, until you hear the celebratory pop. Today, it is recommended to uncork your bottle calmly and quietly, as an uncontrolled cork can reach speeds of up to 40km/h, so caution is advised. Find out how to give your guests an experience to remember.

Find out how to give your guests an experience to remember.

A champagne’s acidity and bubbles form the base of its texture. So when pairing your bottle with food, ask yourself how these two elements will interact with the flavours of your dish. How does your dish unfold on the palate? Then adjust the intensity to create a harmonious balance (fruity, fresh).
What types of pairings work? You can do almost anything with champagne, as long as the dish’s texture allows the bubbles and acidity to shine through! When it comes to flavour combinations, the more bitter the dish, the more contrast with a semi-sweet wine (fat, sugar) is needed. Similarly, spicier dishes pair best with sweeter wines.

Don’t miss our article on how to make a success of unusual food and wine pairings.

A ‘Blanc de Blancs’ champagne is made exclusively from white Chardonnay grapes. Unlike other champagnes which may blend several grape varieties, Blanc de Blancs is crafted from a single variety, enhancing the Chardonnay’s purity, finesse and freshness. Blanc de Blancs champagnes are often more delicate in aroma, with lively acidity and refined elegance. They are appreciated for their fresh profile and graceful ageing potential.

Discover Taittinger ‘Blanc de Blancs’ champagnes:

• Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Discover the subtleties of Blanc de Blancs champagne and explore its unique identity and history in our article.

Maison Taittinger has deliberately chosen to pay special attention to rosé champagne. Crafted from a blend of red and white grapes, its creation requires particular care. At Taittinger, we make rosés exclusively from a blend of grape varieties, resulting in three characterful cuvées: Prestige Rosé, Nocturne Rosé and Comtes de Champagne Rosé.

Discover our article on the subtleties of our Prestige Rosé champagne, a cuvée that rewrites the rules, deep in colour with aromas of red fruits (raspberry, strawberry, blackberry and cherry) and a wonderfully fresh character, resulting in a champagne of unparalleled elegance.