Ruinart

Champagne Ruinart Stages Exhibit at The Betsy for Art Basel

During Art Basel in Miami, luxe hotel The Betsy South Beach is playing host to the works of ten emerging artists commissioned by Ruinart, the world's oldest champagne House, established in 1729. The exhibition kicks off today highlighting a commitment to the arts from both organizations. Ruinart, the official champagne of Art Basel Miami Beach, combed the country seeking talent for the exhibition and selected ten artists considered among the most creative and innovative in their mediums. Their works were produced using classic and avant-garde techniques, in a variety of mediums, including photography, painting and sculpture. Artists were inspired by many facets of the famed champagne, from Ruinart's unique bottle shape to the history of its creator Dom Ruinart. The series of unique works will ultimately be auctioned in New York to benefit the non-profit organization The Art of Elysium.

Tags: Art Basel, Betsey Hotel, champagne, exhibition, Miami, Ruinart, South Beach, The Art of Elysium, The Betsy

Ruinart Golden Thread Wine Stopper by Patricia Urquiola

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Ruinart, one of the oldest champagne houses in the world (since 1729), has released a special wine stopper called The Golden Thread, designed by Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola (pictured above).

The Ruinart Golden Thread

The Fil d'Or or Golden Thread was created to encapsulate the same twisting motion used in the opening of ordinary wire cork cages; the part of the bottle top you have to untwist before opening your champagne. What does it do? Nothing. But it looks very pretty and comes attached to a bottle of delicious Blanc de Blanc. This makes a sophisticated and unusual gift now, or at any point up to and including the holidays. We've never seen anything like it, and imitations are sure to follow.

The Ruinart Golden Thread bottle stopper is available from Sherry-Lehmann for $69.95 (bottle included). It's beautiful enough to keep on display when you're not using and reusing it.

Tags: champagne, Golden Thread, Patricia Urquiola, ruinart

Can Champagne and Hot Dogs Be A Perfect Match?

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

When it comes to Champagne, the French have got it right: they drink it all the time. In the US, we tend to save it for special occasions, like weddings or New Year's Eve. That's too bad. Because Champagne is truly one of the most versatile wines.

That's probably what Jeffrey Pogash had in mind when he organized a Champagne and hot dog tasting the other day. Yes, the lowly hot dog sharing the table with the most prestigious of beverages!

And these weren't just any old Champagnes. Pogash, director of communications at Moët Hennessy USA, the wine and spirits division of luxury purveyor LVMH, brought along some bottles of Krug and Ruinart, along with the more amply-produced Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.

Then again, these weren't your standard issue dirty water dogs, either. The tasting was held at Bark, a year-old Brooklyn joint that features artisanal hot dogs made from locally raised pork and beef (none of the nasty bits either -- we're talking shoulder and jowl) braised in smoked lard butter and stuffed into natural casings. In fact, all the ingredients used at Bark, from the pork to the cheese to the heirloom baked beans, are sustainably, lovingly even, from the sound of it, produced by some earnest local soul.

Still, could these haute dogs stand up to some of France's finest bubbles? An 8-course tasting menu (nine, including dessert) would tell.

Tags: Bark hot dogs, champagne, krug, krug champagne, Moet Hennessy, Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot

Continue reading “Can Champagne and Hot Dogs Be A Perfect Match?”

EXCLUSIVE: Cognac King Maurice Hennessy's Ten Essential Luxuries

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, 10 Luxuries

Click above to see Maurice Hennessy's 10 Luxuries

Maurice-Richard Hennessy spent his childhood years in France's famed Cognac region. A direct descendant of the founder of the Hennessy company, he belongs to the eighth generation of the prestigious family that came to France from Ireland in 1765. The cognac gene is firmly established in his DNA, along with his love for the Charente countryside, vine-growing and fine gastronomy. He joined the family firm, now a cornerstone of the LVMH luxury goods empire, in 1975 and was given an in-depth training in all the Hennessy professions, from distillation to bottling, as well as commercial and marketing activities.

He began by traveling for Hennessy and then in 1979 settled in London for five years to work on the promotion of the brand in England and Ireland. At that time he also travelled regularly to the United States and Canada. So it is natural that Monsieur Hennessy, with his famous name, became the incarnation of the brand and its global ambassador. As familiar with the history of the company as he is with cognac, he owns vineyards himself, distilling and selling his eaux-de-vie to the Hennessy firm, and is an expert on all facets of cognac production. In the gallery, Hennessy reveals his 10 essential luxuries and explains what makes them a must.

Gallery: Cognac King Maurice Hennessy's 10 Luxuries

A seat at Bayreuth Festspielhaus for the Wagner Festival

Proper ice cubes made of non-chlorinated water

Tags: Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Cognac, France, Hennessy, LVMH, Ruinart

Champagne Ruinart's "My Sweeter Half" Set for V Day

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wine

Champagne is of course an essential component of Valentine's Day celebrations, and the world's oldest champagne house is doing its bit. Champagne Ruinart, founded in 1729 and now part of LVMH's luxury empire, is offering a special edition gift box set called "My Sweeter Half" (above) for the occasion. The gift box includes two half bottles of the famed French house's premium cuvées: Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (left) and Ruinart Rosé (right). The Sweeter Half set, priced at $85, also comes with a pair of Ruinart champagne flutes. Hint: this would go great with that lingerie from Agent Provocateur.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Champagne, Champagne Ruinart, ChampagneRuinart, LVMH, Ruinart, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay, vday09

Baas for Champagne Ruinart $100,000 Centerpiece

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Art

At Art Basel Miami Beach next month, renowned French champagne house Ruinart will offer a one-of-a-kind surrealistic sculpture by Dutch artist Martin Baas. Designed as the ultimate centerpiece for a champagne-lover's table, the artwork (detail above) was inspired by an elaborate 18th century Venetian chandelier. Constructed from clear Murano glass and silver, the piece was designed to appear as if a chandelier has fallen from above and is melting into the table, along with bottles of Dom Ruinart and specially designed flutes. The piece will be offered for sale at $100,000.

"Maarten's piece is all at once elegant, complex, delicate and powerful," says Ruinart's Jean Christophe Laizeau. "It is the perfect physical representation of the Dom Ruinart universe. We could not have collaborated with a more innovative and inspiring artist to express the stirring sensory experience of vertigo." Founded by Nicholas Ruinart in Reims in 1792, Ruinart was introduced to the U.S. in 1831 by Viscount Edmond Ruinart, and has been a favorite of conoisseurs ever since.

Tags: Art Basel, ArtBasel, Champagne, Chandelier, France, Martin Baas, MartinBaas, Ruinart