Champagne Bollinger needs no introduction – the house is synonymous with luxury and tradition in the world of sparkling wine. Known for its rich history, dedication to quality and distinctive bold style, Bollinger has been a cornerstone in the world of Champagne for nearly two centuries!

A Brief History of Bollinger

Founded in 1829 by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger, the house of Bollinger has always been committed to crafting premium Champagne. Bollinger’s reputation of excellence was established early on, with its wines a favourite in the British Court. Bollinger is marked by Royal Warrant and is an official supplier of the British Crown.

The Bollinger family has managed the house with each generation ensuring the preservation of Bollinger's distinctive style, solidifying its position as one of the leading Champagne houses in the World.

"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, 17 October 1961.

In 2012 Bollinger were certified High Environmental Value (HEV). This certification rewards several environmental procedures implemented at the Maison.

In 2023 Bollinger became a Certified BCorp which is a fantastic achievement. They are only the second Champagne house to achieve this status after demonstrating a strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility. As a fellow Certified BCorp, we appreciate how difficult and intensive the BCorp Journey is and an accolade to be celebrated.

What Makes Bollinger Special?

Bollinger stands out in the Champagne world for several reasons, all rooted in its preservation of tradition and meticulous winemaking.

• 1.Pinot Noir Dominance – Bollinger Champagnes are known for their Pinot Noir driven blends. Pinot Noir accounts for over 60% of their vineyard holdings with the house focused on Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, which contribute to the robust and complex structure of their wines.
• 2.Oak Fermentation – Bollinger use old oak barrels for fermentation. This practise imparts subtle oxidative characters and a rich texture to their wines which is a hallmark of Bollinger's rich and robust style.
• 3.Extended Ageing – Bollinger Champagnes undergo an extended maturation on the lees exceeding the Champagne minimum requirements for both vintage and non-vintage Champagnes. This adds depth of flavour and the creamy mouthfeel that are Bollinger’s signature.
• 4.Reserve Wine – All Champagne houses keep a reserve of wines from previous years to add to blends for future years which maintains consistency, but none has taken to such levels of perfection as Bollinger. Bollinger maintains an extensive library of reserve wines, some aged for more than 15 years! Approx 10% of their reserve wine library is aged in Magnum bottles (800,000 Magnums)!! They are the only Maison to age in Magnum bottles. Ageing in magnum adds more complexity to the signature style of Bollinger.

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvee

Bollinger's Special Cuvée is one of the world's most successful non-vintage Champagnes. As mentioned, Bollinger are known as 'The House of Pinot Noir', crafting 60% of every blend from the difficult-to-grow grape, which is costly, laborious and difficult - but there's nothing that tastes quite like this delicious fizz!

Champagne Bollinger PN Series

Bollinger's PN Series is a testament to its dedication to innovation within tradition. Launched in 2020 to highlight the unique characteristics of Pinot Noir from different villages, the PN series is a celebration of terroir and the versatility of Bollinger's favourite grape variety. There will be a release every year.

Bollinger PN AYC18: As the fourth edition of Bollinger PN, PN AYC18 is a Champagne with a distinct style based on the Grand Cru village of Aÿ, blended with other villages, predominantly Tauxières and Verzenay, and based on the 2018 vintage. This is serious and rich wine full of honey, quince and candied citrus.

Bollinger PN VZ19: The newly summer 2024 released 5^th edition of Bollinger PN, PNVZ19 is a Champagne based on the Grand Cru village of Verzenay blended with other villages based on the 2019 vintage. Possibly the finest PN release to date and EWWines were lucky enough to celebrate the launch in Cornwall with Bollinger earlier this year.

Conclusion

Champagne Bollinger remains one of the most respected and beloved Champagne houses of the Champagne region, renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality and tradition. From its Pinot Noir dominant blends to its innovative PN series, Bollinger continues to set the bar for what Champagne can be; rich, interesting and deeply satisfying! Whether you are an aficionado or new to the world of Champagne, explore our range of Champagne Bollinger here.

Want to find out more? Why not join us for our November Tasting Evening with Champagne Bollinger. We are excited to be hosting this fantastic Champagne house for our last tasting evening event of the year.