It’s a fact: climate change has taken hold of the entire planet, which is gradually warming up. When we compare the years 1961-1990 with the period between 1991 and 2020, we see an average temperature increase of 1.3°C. This phenomenon has a huge impact on the vineyard and requires Maison Ruinart to really rethink its methods. As a witness to the temperamental force of nature, the Ruinart Blanc Singulier cuvée has become a symbol of climate change, perpetuating the pioneering spirit of a Maison that blends tradition and innovation.

Here is its story.  

Talking about the history of grape harvests, Florence Boubée-Legrand, winemaker at Maison Ruinart, refers to 1976, one of the first years to face a heat wave.  Since then, the seasons with an early ripening have multiplied—and it’s sometimes necessary to ask vineyard workers to cut their vacations short.  “Starting from 2003, which was a real turning point, no fewer than seven harvests began in August. And since 2017, we have had an early year every other year”, confirms the winemaker. Fluctuations, unpredictability, extremes: both in the soil and in the vine, the phenomenon stirs up disruption, and Champagne is shifting from a cool to a temperate climate. Subject to a steady increase in average temperatures and milder winters, the vines sometimes awaken earlier — running the risk of potentially destructive spring frosts. The number of days between flowering and harvest has also decreased, averaging from 100 to 87 days. This acceleration influences the characteristics of the grapes, with a higher sugar content and lower acidity. Roughly translated, the aromatic profile and balance of the vines change over time. Maison Ruinart adapts to this new expression of its terroir and accepts it as a challenge of nature. 

A gentle slope, vines overlooking adjacent forests, green hands silently and skillfully tending the bunch in every season: at first glance, the scenery of the Taissy vineyard is strikingly like that of its neighboring plots. However, the eye is quickly drawn to three intriguing silhouettes standing there benevolently. Created by NILS-UDO, “Habitats” provides a home for birds, squirrels, bees, caterpillars, and ladybugs. More than just an artistic installation, perpetuating the Maison's historical commitment to artistic expression and creativity, this German artist's work—composed entirely of wood and vine branches—is a call for reflection and regeneration, to which it contributes.

Another flagship initiative of Ruinart’s commitment to resilient biodiversity is a vast agroforestry project that lays the foundation for the viticulture of tomorrow. The idea is to plant 20,000 trees and shrubs and install 195 insect hotels and nesting boxes built to become refuges for local wildlife. By creating ecological corridors, these refuges connect different areas within a territory, fostering the development of diverse yet interconnected ecosystems.  This restoration of the biodiversity also facilitates root development, improving soil structure. Initial indicators already demonstrate the effectiveness of these installations, with an upsurge of arthropods, nematodes and earthworms in those areas. Certified as High Environmental Value and Sustainable Viticulture since 2014, Taissy is now more than ever a land that is already adapting to tomorrow.

Documenting a year in Champagne, (RE)CRAFT, the film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and his co-director Jeremy Frey, presents an artistic and committed vision of the challenges that the production of champagne must overcome. The film pays tribute to the region’s excellence through a series of encounters with experts and key figures in the field, including oenologists, winemakers, and cellar masters.

Climatic variations are causing a more vigorous maturation and a chardonnay with unique aromatic expressions. This transformation coincides with the challenge of producing wine in an era marked by global warming. More than 20 years ago, Maison Ruinart boldly defined its style by presenting its first Blanc de Blancs. This was a daring move during a time when a 100% chardonnay champagne was not widely accepted. Now, the Maison is once again demonstrating its pioneering spirit. Combining visionary winemaking expertise and a commitment to innovation, a new cuvée has been born: Ruinart Blanc Singulier.

As a testament to climate change and ever-evolving nature, Ruinart Blanc Singulier embodies a year unlike any other. Precisely because the unpredictable cannot be predicted, Maison Ruinart makes a promise... to not promise to produce an edition tinged with such exceptionality every year. "2019 stands out with a new temperature record for Champagne: a scorching 42.9°C in July, an alltime high. This underscores the dry summer, marked by three brief yet intense heatwaves. These conditions also led to an exceptionally short vine cycle, with just 81 days from flowering to harvest, one of the shortest on record. Nature gifted us this cuvée, and it is impossible for us to predict when she will call upon us again to renew ourselves, yet again, and expand the Blanc Singulier collection", explains Frédéric Panaïotis. This round and powerful texture, this almost honeyed natural sweetness, the fruity and floral register, its luminous golden yellow robe that characterizes this Edition 19 when it warms up will, therefore, likely remain unparalleled

To discover Ruinart Blanc Singulier Edition 19, Maison Ruinart invites you to Reims, in the Champagne region. Book your visit here.

Florence Boubée-Legrand, oenologist at Ruinart