"I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and I drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it, unless I’m thirsty." — Madame Elisabeth Bollinger
Bollinger has remained one of the greatest Champagne houses for nearly two centuries thanks to its highly unique style and pristine Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the region. Set in the heart of Champagne, France, the Bollinger estate possesses one of Europe's richest family histories, with the Bollingers still working at the estate today. Wines like the Bollinger Special Cuvée and Bollinger RD are spectacular finds for any wine connoisseur, and their place in multiple James Bond films makes them more desirable than ever.
Bollinger History
Champagne Bollinger was founded on February 6, 1829, and was originally known as Renaudin-Bollinger & Cie. Its proprietor, Athanase de Villermont, was a French aristocrat who inherited the land from his family. After narrowly escaping the French Revolution, de Villermont had a strong desire to open a Champagne house but was unable to engage in any commercial activity because of his status as an aristocrat. As a workaround, he partnered with Paul Renaudin, a "Champenois" at Dom Ruinart, and Jacques Bollinger, a son of German nobility.
Renaudin agreed to manage the cellar and winemaking while Bollinger took charge of sales for the Champagne house. Soon after, Jacques Bollinger became the estate's proprietor and eventually changed its name.
After nearly six decades at the helm, Jacques Bollinger passed on ownership to his fourth-oldest child, Georges, who inherited an estate affected by the growing phylloxera outbreak and the looming First World War. Despite these obstacles, Georges Bollinger replenished the vineyard, though unfortunately passed away at the end of the "Great War." Next, in stepped his son, Jacques, at just 24 years old.
Jacques had returned to his native France after serving as an aviator in World War I and was even awarded the Legion of Honour and a Croix de Guerre. His transition from military uniforms to designer suits came naturally, as he effortlessly guided Champagne Bollinger through a global depression and the Second World War. His work also extended into the modern day, as he acquired possibly the estate's most iconic vineyard: La Côte aux Enfants. Sadly, Jacques passed away in 1941, leaving his wife, Madame Elisabeth Bollinger, in charge, a woman who would forever shape the estate's history.
Madame Bollinger took over at 42 with limited wine knowledge. Very little was expected of her, though she more than made up for this with her perfectionism and cunning strategies. She quickly became a champion of the estate, earning the nicknames "Madame Jacques" and "Aunt Lily," and worked tirelessly to compensate for the diminished workforce and limited supplies during the War. However, once France found its freedom and World War II had ended, Madame Bollinger began developing modern farming techniques, replenishing aging vineyards, and brought to fruition Bollinger RD, which remains one of the most in-demand Champagnes to the modern day.
Furthermore, Madame Bollinger made a trip to the United States, first landing in New York and continuing a nationwide press tour. It was here that Bollinger Champagne established itself as a premier cuvée in the New World. 30 years on, Madame Bollinger relinquished her control to the new generation, yet remains one of Bollinger's most transformative figures.
Following over three more decades of family ownership, Bollinger eventually succeeded control in 2008, when Jérome Philipon became the first non-Bollinger to be named the estate's proprietor. Throughout his reign, Philipon worked closely with the Bollinger family to ensure its original DNA never left the estate. And today, Charles Armand de Belenet holds the title of CEO. He has worked to keep the traditional craftsmanship while incorporating new technologies to carry Bollinger forward.
Bollinger Champagne Terroir and Vineyards
Champagne Bollinger is located in the village of Aÿ, in the heart of Champagne, France. The estate is home to 180 hectares of land spread across seven vineyards: Aÿ, Avenay, Tauxières, Louvois, Verzenay, Montagne de Reims, and Champvoisy in the Vallée de la Marne. Its sites are best known for being Pinot Noir dominant, holding a rare place within the world of Champagne. Further, Bollinger produces no Blanc de Blancs and only holds one vineyard dedicated to Chardonnay, an exceptionally rare feat in the region.
85% of Bollinger's vineyards are located in Grand Cru or Premier Cru sites, ensuring all fruit used in the cuvées is of the highest quality. One of its most notable vineyards is Montagne de Reims, a mountainous site surrounding the city of Reims in a semicircle; Bollinger cultivates nearly 104 hectares of Pinot Noir here.
Another standout for Bollinger is the La Côte aux Enfants plot on the outskirts of Aÿ. At just four hectares, the site was renovated by Jacques Bollinger in the 1950s and sits on a steep hillside. It is easily identifiable by locals for its white chalk cliff, which produces fruit of distinct minerality. Additionally, fruit from this site is unique in that it is vinified using whole clusters and stems in an ancient practice called "vendange entière."
During this process, the fruit is placed into a vat for fermentation without removing the stems. Only Pinot Noir is used in the process, becoming incredibly complex and structured.
Bollinger Wine Portfolio
Bollinger is one of the most unique Champagnes on the market, featuring blends with Pinot Noir compositions over 60%. As such, Bollinger Champagne is singular, luscious, full-bodied, and layered. The estate produces nine different wines, with its most notable labels being the Bollinger Special Cuvée, Bollinger RD, and Bollinger Rosé.
Bollinger Special Cuvée
Bollinger Special Cuvée is the estate's flagship label, originally named in 1911 and comprised of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Pinot Meunier. The wine is aged for twice as long as required by appellation regulations and is crafted with manual techniques, including the use of reserve magnums, which require hand-disgorgement and take a month to complete.
Once aged, Bollinger Special Cuvée is celebrated for its golden hues, velvet bubbles, ripe fruit and spice aromas, and pear and brioche notes on the palate.
Bollinger RD
Bollinger RD was first crafted by Madame Bollinger from a recently disgorged Extra Brut bottle, lending the bottle its name (R.D. is abbreviated for "Recently Disgorged"). The recent disgorgement provides remarkable freshness and a bold palate and remains one of Champagne's most radical cuvées.
These wines are Pinot Noir-dominant, with the remaining composition containing Chardonnay. It is Pinot Noir's richness that provides the backbone, while the unique barrel-aging techniques offer powerful aromas. Each vintage is fermented barrel by barrel in oak by Bollinger's own cooperage, the region's last resident cooperage.
Bollinger Rosé
Bollinger Rosé is a unique blend among Rosé Champagnes and a hidden gem in Bollinger's portfolio. All fruit is sourced from Poirier Saint-Pierre and the Montboeuf plots in Verzenay, comprising 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, and 14% Pinot Meunier. Once blended, Bollinger Rosé displays notes of red currant, cherry, and wild strawberry, and pairs best with fruity or tart desserts.
Bollinger James Bond Champagne
Bollinger has been the defining Champagne of all James Bond films and novels, as its original author, Ian Fleming, first introduced the wine in the 1956 novel Diamonds are Forever. Since then, Bollinger has routinely made appearances in Bond films, with the estate partnering with film studios to release collectible 007-themed limited edition gift box sets.
Add Champagne Bollinger To Your Cellar
Champagne Bollinger holds all of the qualities collectors desire in a fine wine: a historic legacy, innovative techniques, delectable bottles, and age-worthy blends that can last in the cellar for a lifetime. We are happy to present this exquisite Champagne in our collection, with an array of back-vintage Bollinger wines that are ready to pop or able to be cherished for decades in the cellar. Browse our selection of in-stock Bollinger Champagne today and add a bottle to your cellar.
