Bollinger Champagne — An independent, family-run house since 1829

Bollinger is one of the few Champagne houses to have remained family-owned and independent since its foundation in 1829 in Aÿ, a Grand Cru commune in the heart of Champagne. With 178 hectares of its own vineyards — Grand Crusfrom Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzenay and Verzy — and over 100 hectares of Pinot Noir, the house crafts champagnes of rare depth and structure. Each cuvée is aged in oak barrels managed by the house’s own cooper, who maintains a stock of nearly 4,000 barrels; the perpetual reserves are aged under cork in magnums for between seven and fifteen years. An official partner of James Bond since 1973 and certified as a B Corp in 2023, Bollinger embodies a vision of luxury based on high standards and longevity rather than merely the prestige of the label.

Buy Bollinger champagnes online

The Bollinger cuvées — Special Cuvée, Grande Année and Vieilles Vignes

The Special Cuvée — 80 per cent Grands Crus and Premiers Crus, predominantly Pinot Noir, aged for at least three years — is at its best as an aperitif or with oysters and scallops. The Grande Année, produced only in exceptional vintages and aged for at least five years in oak barrels, is best enjoyed with truffled poultry or Breton lobster. The Récemment Dégorgé and the Vieilles Vignes Françaises — 100 per cent Pinot Noir from ungrafted plots that have withstood phylloxera — deserve a pairing worthy of haute cuisine: foie gras, roast pigeon, fresh truffles.

Serve the Special Cuvée at 8–10 °C in a flute or tulip-shaped glass; the Grande Année reveals its complexity at 10–12 °C in a Burgundy glass. The Special Cuvée has a cellaring potential of 5 to 8 years; the Grande Année reaches its peak after 10 to 15 years. The R.D., having already been aged for a long time under cork by the house, is ready to drink as soon as it is opened.

Discover the full Bollinger range — Special Cuvée, Grande Année, Récemment Dégorgé, Vieilles Vignes Françaises — available to order from Pépites en Champagne. Careful delivery throughout France and across Europe.

Bollinger — 178 hectares of grand cru vineyards and a family-run estate

The house was founded in 1829 through a partnership between Count Athanase de Villermont, Jacques Joseph Bollinger and Paul Renaudin. Still owned by the Hennequin de Villermont family, Bollinger has remained independent whilst most of the major Champagne houses have joined luxury groups. Its vineyards comprise 178 hectares of grands crus and premiers crus — Aÿ, Bouzy, Louvois, Verzenay and Verzy among the grands crus, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Vertus and Bisseuil among the premiers crus — with Pinot Noir forming the backbone of the range.

Under the guidance of Charles-Armand de Belenet, cellar master, winemaking relies on oak barrels from the estate’s own cooperage. Hand-disgorgement, cork-sealed bottles for wines intended for long-term ageing, and perpetual reserves aged in magnums for between seven and fifteen years: every stage embodies a philosophy of patience and artisanal precision.

Your questions about Bollinger champagnes

How much should you budget for a bottle of Bollinger champagne, depending on the cuvée?

The Special Cuvée generally retails for between €50 and €60. The Grande Année vintage retails for around €80 to €120. The Récemment Dégorgé often exceeds €150, depending on the vintage and the length of ageing. The ‘Vieilles Vignes Françaises’, a rarity produced in very limited quantities, can reach €300 or more. Pépites en Champagne can advise you based on your budget and the occasion.

What food and wine pairings go best with Bollinger champagne?

The Special Cuvée, with its full-bodied character and structure, pairs well with oysters, scallops and truffle risottos. The Grande Année pairs well with lobster, turbot in beurre blanc or truffle-crusted poultry. The Vieilles Vignes Françaises, with their exceptional concentration, call for roast pigeon, warm foie gras or a mature Comté cheese that has been aged for a long time — a pairing worthy of one of Champagne’s absolute rarities.

How should Bollinger champagne be stored and served to ensure it is enjoyed at its best?

Store Bollinger cuvées at between 10 and 12 °C, away from light and vibrations. Serve the Special Cuvée at 8–10 °C in a flute or tulip-shaped glass; the Grande Année reveals its complexity at 10–12 °C in a Burgundy glass. Allow for 5 to 8 years’ ageing potential for the Special Cuvée, and 10 to 15 years for the Grande Année.

Where can I buy Bollinger champagne online?

Discover the full Bollinger range at Pépites en Champagne — an artisanal selection, expert advice and express delivery throughout France and Europe.

Is Bollinger committed to sustainable viticulture?

Yes. Bollinger has been B Corp certified since 2023, a commitment that is rare amongst the major Champagne houses. The house practises sustainable viticulture across its 178 hectares of own vineyards, favours manual labour in the vineyard and maintains its own cooperage — all choices that reduce dependence on industrial inputs and anchor Bollinger in a verifiable approach to sustainable responsibility.

What is Bollinger’s Récemment Dégorgé (R.D.), and why is it a cuvée in a class of its own?

‘Récemment Dégorgé’ is an exclusive Bollinger speciality: it is a Grande Année that has undergone extended ageing under cork in the cellar — between 8 and 25 years — before late disgorgement. The disgorgement date is printed on each bottle. This prolonged contact with the lees develops unrivalled complexity and finesse, qualities that cannot be found in a champagne that has been disgorged early.

About

Champagne Bollinger — the essentials

Founded in: 1829
Founder: Athanase Louis Emmanuel Hennequin (comte de Villermont), Jacques Joseph Bollinger, Paul Renaudin
House / owner: Hennequin de Villermont
Location: Aÿ, Champagne
Vineyard: 178 ha
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
Cellar master: Charles-Armand de Belenet
Cuvées: Special Cuvée, La Grande Année, Récemment Dégorgé, Vieilles Vignes Françaises

Bollinger Champagne — An independent, family-run house since 1829

Buy Bollinger champagnes online

The Bollinger cuvées — Special Cuvée, Grande Année and Vieilles Vignes

Bollinger — 178 hectares of grand cru vineyards and a family-run estate

Your questions about Bollinger champagnes

Champagne Bollinger — the essentials

Our champagnes

Our selections

Information

Contact