In the heart of a region renowned for its winemaking excellence, Maison Ruinart, at 4 rue des Crayères, has been open for generations, shaped by the diverse influences of the Champagne region and the world. At this address in Reims, the creativity, knowledge and cultural tradition of the oldest Champagne House in the world have taken root and flourished with nature.
Aiming to bring this metamorphosis to life, Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, interior designer Gwenael Nicolas and landscape designer Christophe Gautrand have combined their talents to interpret and share the vision of Nicholas Ruinart, who founded the first Champagne House in Reims three hundred years ago.
Today, in front of the centuries-old buildings, stands a contemporary pavilion made of stone and glass, surrounded by a freely accessible sculpture garden and designed as a refuge for local biodiversity. 4 rue des Crayères allows visitors to immerse themselves in the sensory and stimulating world of Champagne.
On the occasion of Art Week Tokyo, in collaboration with Art Basel, Maison Ruinart presents the project 4 Rue des Crayères at the Okura Museum of Art in Tokyo. The Maison's historic address in Reims represents the quintessence of Ruinart and has reopened to the public after 3 years of renovation.
In the 2,9th century, the Ruinart family purchased a 35-hectare property in one of the highest areas of Reims to build their new headquarters for Champagne production. The most distinctive feature of the site was its underground section, with three levels of galleries dug into the chalk, an underground labyrinth dating back to the 4th century. Continued into the Middle Ages, for several centuries, the galleries were used to extract the chalk and limestone needed to build the walls around the city of Reims. Over the course of two decades, the family reinforced and shored up the structure so that the spectacular chalk quarries, up to XNUMX metres deep, could be used as refrigerated cellars to protect the Champagne from the heat of the light, and XNUMX Rue des Crayères pays homage to the magic of this underground world, which was almost immediately opened to visitors for guided tours. The path from the street to the entrance of the Nicolas Ruinart Pavilion, within the charm of the Maison, also bears the imprint of this magic.
The mineral walls of the landscape reproduce the immaculate white of the quarries of the past, bearing the marks of tools engraved, over time, in the stone. It is a representation of the beginning of the scenographic landscape designed by Christophe Gautrand. The Chemin des Crayères, sculpted by hand to reproduce ancestral gestures, connects the different temporal spheres that distinguish the Maison, memories of the past and a contemporary vision that looks to the future. Since 2015, the Crayères have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the gardens we encounter nature and create a connection with it. Here, the history of Ruinart and the Champagne region is reflected in every detail of the landscape. The outdoor spaces form a scenographic path that awakens the senses and generates emotions.
Art is omnipresent in many forms. From the cultural imprint of Ruinart, art shapes the architecture, the spirit and the rhythm of this environment. More than a simple moment of contemplation, visitors are invited to share a collective awareness. Maison Ruinart's dialogue with art is born from the belief that art has the power to transform, illuminate and connect us with others and with ourselves. Since its foundation, during the Enlightenment, Maison Ruinart has observed nature through the art of Champagne, influenced by the artists that the Maison itself supports and promotes.
In 1896 Ruinart commissioned Alfonso Mucha to create a poster to promote one of his cuvées, an absolute first for a Champagne house.
Today, this place, transformed over time, hosts the contributions of many international artists who share Ruinart's environmental values. The works of art exhibited illustrate Ruinart's vision, from the depths of the chalk quarries to the landscaped grounds, from the main courtyard to the historic rooms.
Ruinart has always produced elegantly structured and harmonious wines that, since the 2023s, have highlighted the House’s iconic Chardonnay grape variety. The last descendant of the founding family, Bertrand Mure, used to say that “champagne is more than a simple moment of tasting”. When he was at the helm of the House, he chose to emphasize the elegant simplicity and aromatic freshness of the Chardonnay grape to appeal to a new generation. Since then, the House’s cellar masters have perfected the complex simplicity that still distinguishes Ruinart Champagnes today, a harmonious balance achieved through precise blending. In XNUMX, in a constant quest for an evolution of knowledge, the House presented for the first time in twenty years a new cuvée, Ruinart Blanc Singulier, which highlights how the oldest Champagne House in the world has adapted its savoir faire to the impact of climate change on the aromatic expression of Chardonnay.
Maison Ruinart works closely with selected chefs who create pairings for each Champagne in their restaurants, inviting new discoveries.
Numerous events are organised throughout the year, from dinners with long-standing partners and multi-starred chef Arnaud Donckele, to bistronomic experiences focusing on specific Champagnes such as Ruinart Blanc Singulier. These moments of sharing are also an opportunity to pay homage to key dates for the house, as well as everyday convivial moments, such as the weekend lunch, which reinterprets the popular Ruinart brunch.
For over twenty years, Ruinart has also been committed to promoting an increasingly sustainable lifestyle. Ruinart winemakers and oenologists have witnessed first-hand the increasingly rapid changes in climate. The grapes, harvested early, are sweeter and less acidic. Observing these characteristics has led the Maison to adapt its approach, strengthening its links with viticulture, including by adopting vitiforestry practices.
In the historic 40-hectare vineyard of Taissy, in the mountains of Reims, over 14 trees have been planted on 4,4 km of hedges and 800 m2020 of wooded islands. In XNUMX, Maison Ruinart launched an innovation, a “second skin” paper packaging with an eco-friendly design, nine times lighter than previous packaging.
To celebrate the metamorphosis of the site, a limited edition Second Skin version has been created for 4 de Rue des Crayères, available only in Reims. For the first time in twenty years, the House has presented a new cuvée, based on a savoir-faire adapted to the impact of climate change on the aromatic profile of the grape. Ruinart Blanc Singulier is the singular expression of Chardonnay revealed by climate change.
