Champagne Bollinger is one of the most respected landmarks of quality and luxury, and the house's track record for consistent top quality is second to none. Bollinger is the foremost exponent of the Pinot Noir grape in Champagne. Most of the house's wines contain about 2/3 Pinot Noir, and therefore the Bollinger wines are stronger than most other Champagnes. The proportion of grapes from Bollinger's own 1st Cru and Grand Cru fields is extremely high in the wines. Bollinger's "standard champagne", Special Cuvée, for example, contains 80% grapes from Grand Cru and 1st Cru fields!
The story behind Bollinger champagne
The story began with Athanase de Villermont, the youngest son of a noble family. He was a soldier during the American Revolutionary War and inherited a large estate from his family in the Aÿ area. He then met Joseph Bollinger, a well-traveled German who had left his homeland to learn about Champagne and Paul Renaudin, a local man fascinated by the world of wine. The company Renaudin-Bollinger & Cie was founded on 6 February 1829. Joseph took care of sales and Paulus of the cellar. Athanase had founded a Champagne house that would prove to unfold over the centuries.
Joseph Bollinger married Louise-Charlotte, daughter of Athanase, in 1837. In time, their sons, Joseph and Georges, took over the Champagne House. From the phylloxera crisis to the turmoil of the First World War, they had to face some of the House's greatest challenges. Under the guidance of the two brothers, however, Bollinger achieved great recognition and expanded his vineyards considerably. In 1920, Jacques Bollinger, George's son, found himself at the helm of the house: a heavy burden for a 24-year-old. He faced the challenge with courage, supported by his cousins Pierre and then Yves Moret de Rocheprise; because the strength of Bollinger also lies in the strong family bond. Sophisticated, cultured and a fluent English speaker, Jacques increased Bollinger's prominence in the world. He guided the House with great wisdom through the difficult years of recession and World War II, and as mayor of Aÿ he was obliged to protect his village.
When Elisabeth Bollinger (née Law de Lauriston-Boubers) married Jacques in 1923, she also became passionately involved in the future of the house. She was only 42 when she lost her husband to the war. Without hesitation and with great pride, she agreed to take the title "Madame Jacques", by which she became known. She eagerly threw herself into her new role. During her many visits abroad, her charm was well received. Madame Bollinger was nevertheless a formidable businesswoman, she was also very much a perfectionist and would tolerate nothing less than excellent. She was always ready to innovate and was the driving force behind the very original Bollinger RD cuvée.
With her usual common sense, Madame Bollinger gathered around the family members most interested in following in her footsteps. First, she taught Claude d'Hautefeuille, her niece's husband, the ins and outs of the house. In 1950 he became director and launched an ambitious modernization programme. Madame Bollinger appointed its chairman in 1971 but remained closely involved until her death six years later. Madame Bollinger's nephew Christian Bizot took over from Claude in 1978. With his great journey ahead of him, he made a meeting with sommeliers, restaurateurs and wine merchants to promote the house's wines. A great chairman, was known for his obscenity and informality.
In 1994, none other than the eldest grandson of founder Joseph Bollinger was to become head of the house. After starting his career in Chile, Ghislain de Montgolfier continued to develop the house with the practice of excellence guiding the way. He continued with a policy of limiting the quantities produced rather than increasing the quality. A diligent owner, Ghislain had a great sense of humor and combined scientific rigor with enthusiasm for success. In 2007, he was elected chairman of the board of the Union des Maisons de Champagne and co-chairman of the Comité Champagne.
In 2008, for the first time in its history, the house was taken over by someone who was not a family member. Their choice fell on Jérôme Philipon, originally from Champagne region , who had led an impressive career. With the support of the Bollinger family, Jérôme Philipon has expanded his predecessor's program of modernization and investment. With him, the house has continued to maintain its traditional expertise while integrating the best of new technologies for the future development of the brand, both in terms of quality and commercial growth.
