This summer, Maison Taittinger is opening its doors! Completely redesigned for a better experience, you will discover the new face of its historic site on the hill of Saint-Nicaise in Reims. The true beating heart of the Maison’s activities, Saint-Nicaise is THE place to discover, visit and taste the Taittinger universe.
To support this reopening, we tell you here, in several episodes, its history and what connects it to the Taittinger family.
Three new visitor routes for the complete Tattinger experience
Since 22 July, the Maison Tattinger has reopened its historic site of Saint-Nicaise in Reims, where visitors can expect an exceptional welcome. Both the setting and the eno-tourism experiences on offer have been completely redesigned, with three immersive options each offering a unique adventure.
Of course, the Maison Tattinger’s crayères (chalk cellars), listed as a World Heritage site, maintain pride of place in the depths of the Saint-Nicaise hillside. Their galleries are home not only to our iconic bottles, but also to the vestiges of the 13th-century abbey and etchings in the walls dating back to the war: every detail is intact, and showcased like never before.
These unique, spellbinding surroundings not only tell the story behind the birth of champagne and the handing down of ancestral traditions, or the Tattinger saga and the family’s entrepreneurial and artistic streak: rather, they serve as the starting point and the beating heart of a vast experience – visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, and aural – that showcases the many facets of champagne, triggering a host of emotions within the visitor: surprise, curiosity, enchantment, serenity, admiration, delight, and pleasure…and now, there are three ways to experience it all.
Two or three cuvées to sample
“L’Instant Rosé : Introduction to the brand” is the first level of exploration. Lasting 1 hour and 10 minutes, this route blends a visit to the cellars with a tasting in the grand central bar, of two iconic cuvées: Brut Réserve and Prestige Rosé. “We felt that offering two or three cuvées was the minimum needed to enable people to appreciate and compare them,” explains Audrey Malacain, Director of the Tattinger Experience.
Lasting 90 minutes,“L’Instant Gourmet : Wine pairings” takes the visitor slightly further into the world of Tattinger, offering (after an immersive descent into the cellars) a gastronomic perspective on champagne: served in a private lounge, the experience finishes with wine pairings designed by chef Philippe Mille, Meilleur Ouvrier de France (a unique and prestigious award in France, indicating the highest level of mastery of one’s craft) for two cuvées (Brut Millésimé and Prestige Rosé). Champagne is the wine that most epitomises the French art of living, and its culinary heritage: a message the Maison Taittinger champions each year through its International Culinary Prize, soon to be further expressed with the opening of a restaurant on site in 2025.
And finally, “L’Instant Signé : The art of the blend”. Over the course of 1 hour and 45 minutes, this route delves deep into the history, culture, heritage and art of champagne, with an extended visit of the cellars priming visitors for a singular tasting experience: three cuvées (Brut Réserve, Prélude “Grands Crus”, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs) presented in a lounge resembling an artists’ workshop, with club chairs and striking art on display.
“Slow down with us!”
Three options, three perspectives, and three unique atmospheres, each one illuminating the Tattinger spirit. “We decided to prune and separate the routes rather than mixing everything into one,” explains Audrey Malacain. “We’ve refined each one, as we do when creating our blends.” The garden, the “Chromatique” store and the forthcoming restaurant “Polychrome” will also tempt visitors to linger after their experience. “We wanted to give visitors the option of taking their time, just like we do with the champagne-making process.In a fast-moving world, we’re saying: Come and slow down with us! It’s what sets our experience apart.”
