Champagne Taittinger, France

I visited Champagne Taittinger in Reims, in the north-east region of France. Founded in 1734, it produces its champagne from 100% Chardonnay grapes, with its rosé from 70% Pinot noir and 30% Chardonnay grapes.

In 1734, Jacques Forneaux established a wine business in the Champagne wine region. Pierre Taittinger from Lorraine, France, bought the Chateau de la Marquetterie from the Forest-Fourneaux wine house in 1932.

From 1945-1960 Pierre’s third son Francois ran the company. He established the Taittinger cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, built in the 13^th century in Gallo-Roman chalk pits dating from the 4^th century. After Francois’ death in an accident, his brother Claude took over the business from 1960-2005, making Taittinger into a prestigious Champagne House. Claude retired in 2006 and his nephew Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger replaced him as head of the business. In 2020, Vitalie Taittinger became president after 12 years as director of marketing, and she is supported by her brother Clovis Taittinger as general manager.

In 2017, Taittinger became the first Champagne House to plant vines in England to enter the UK sparking wine market. In a joint venture with UK wine agents Hatch Mansfield, it planted vines in Chilham in Kent on 40 hectares of land. The first bottle is expected to be ready in 2023.

MARTINA NICOLLS

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MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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