Champagne Bollinger’s New Cellier
Laying the first stone in Bollinger’s Bicentenary Journey
Champagne Bollinger unveils the first act of its Bicentenary journey with the inauguration of an iconic new production facility.
A cathedralesque cellar open to the vines
Designed with the Aÿ landscape and the Maison’s heritage in mind, this new Cellier is a cathedral-style winery with north-facing floor-to-ceiling windows to let in natural light.
40% larger than its predecessor, all Bollinger’s oak vinification work — the Maison’s historic winemaking signature — can now take place in a single location. With the space to accommodate over 5,000 228-litre oak barrels, Bollinger now has the largest capacity for oak vinification in Champagne. Streamlining operations in this way reduces handling of our wines, resulting in unprecedented consistency throughout the ageing process.
Craftsmanship and the transmission of skills
In keeping with the Maison’s status as an "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant" (Living Heritage Company), the preservation of rare craftsmanship is at the heart of this project. The Cellier has its own cooperage, run by our resident cooper, which allows the Maison to meticulously monitor the ageing process, barrel by barrel and vintage by vintage.
The Cellier was built in tribute to Gilles Descôtes, the former Chef de Cave at Maison Bollinger. His skills and uncompromising standards have left an indelible mark on the Bollinger style, an impressive legacy that will nurture this new place.
A sustainable vision rooted in the long term
Champagne Bollinger has always cultivated excellence with the utmost respect for the environment. Although the new Cellier incorporates buildings dating back to the nineteenth-century, it has been built according to BREEAM “Very Good” certification guidelines.
It benefits from the most efficient technologies for heating and cooling requirements, regulating maturation conditions to the natural rhythm of the wines, while integrating a steam-cleaning process for the barrels that significantly reduces water consumption.
Three new tasting areas
The building also includes three new tasting areas that will allow the Maison to share its unique expertise.
These privileged spaces will allow us to host enthusiasts and partners as close as possible to where we craft our wines, right in the heart of the Vieilles Vignes Françaises vineyard, reinforcing the immutable bond between production and transmission.