Billecart Salmon

It was a marriage that made history: in 1818, Nicolas François Billecart married winemaker's daughter Elisabeth Salmon in the small village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ near Épernay in Champagne. From this union of two families – one bringing commercial expertise, the other deep viticultural knowledge – emerged one of France's most important independent Champagne houses.

More than 200 years later, Billecart-Salmon remains family-owned – an absolute rarity in the modern Champagne world. Since 2019, Mathieu Roland-Billecart has led the house as CEO, representing the seventh generation. His great-uncle Jean Roland-Billecart laid the foundations for today's success in the post-war period: he guided the house through the destruction of the war, developed new pressing methods and helped shape its distinctive bottle design.

Cuvée Nicolas-François Billecart 1959 achieved a symbolic triumph in 1999: in the “Champagne of the Millennium” competition, it beat 150 of the finest Champagnes of the 20th century to take first place.

The house does not follow trends, but remains faithful to the traditional style preferred by the family. Every decision – from harvest to dosage – is made through an internal tasting committee consisting of family members, current and former cellar masters and the technical team. This collective decision-making process is unusual in the industry and ensures continuity and identity across every cuvée.

A particular hallmark is low-temperature fermentation (basse température), introduced in Champagne by Mathieu's great-uncle. It preserves the wines' natural freshness and elegance and remains a central element of the Billecart-Salmon style. Malolactic fermentation is used selectively – only where it benefits the individual wine. Lees ageing always goes well beyond the legal minimum.

The house sees itself as a gastronomic partner. Legendary chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Michel Guérard and Anne-Sophie Pic embraced Billecart-Salmon Rosé early on – long before rosé Champagne became fashionable.

Italy is not only one of the oldest wine countries in the world, but also one of the most diverse. From the alpine north to the hot south, from the Mediterranean coasts to the heights of the Apennines – hardly any other country offers such a range of grape varieties, climate zones and wine styles. With over 20 wine-growing regions, more than 400 indigenous grape varieties and a deeply rooted culture of enjoyment, Italy is one of the most important wine producers worldwide.

Billecart-Salmon roots its style in the Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards of Champagne's three key regions:

• Montagne de Reims – for powerful, structured Pinot Noir, particularly from Verzenay and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ
• Grande Vallée de la Marne – for full-bodied Pinot Noir and aromatic Pinot Meunier from Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ
• Côte des Blancs – for elegant, limestone-mineral Chardonnay from Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Cramant and Chouilly

The three classic Champagne grape varieties form the basis of all cuvées:

• Chardonnay – for freshness, minerality and elegance; the backbone of the white wines and Blanc de Blancs
• Pinot Noir – for depth, structure and richness of fruit
• Pinot Meunier – for silkiness, accessibility and aromatic complexity

• “La Réserve” is the house's flagship, blending Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with more than 50% reserve wines from up to 15 different vintages, and spending an average of 50 months on the lees. Fresh, creamy and universally gastronomic.
• “Le Blanc de Blancs”, 100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru sites in the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger). Crystal clear, limestone-mineral and precise, with 4 to 5 years of lees ageing.
• “Le Rosé” (Brut Rosé) – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier; 36 months on the lees with Extra-Brut dosage. Delicate, fresh and berry-driven with chalky minerality – the epitome of modern Brut Rosé.
• “Le Sous Bois” – all wines are aged in oak barrels and spend 5 years on the lees; a vinous, complex, gastronomic Champagne with oxidative depth.

The range also includes highly successful prestige cuvées such as:

• “Nicolas François” (Vintage) – Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, exclusively from Grands Crus and Premiers Crus
• “Louis Salmon” (Blanc de Blancs, Vintage) – 100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru sites, primarily Mesnil-sur-Oger
• “Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon” (Brut Rosé, Vintage) – produced since 1988; Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Grand and Premier Cru terroirs. A world-class Brut Rosé – perhaps one of the best-known French rosé sparkling wines of all.
• “Clos Saint-Hilaire” (Blanc de Noirs, Vintage) – 100% Pinot Noir from the one-hectare monopole vineyard; 177 months on the lees.