Ruinart Cellar Tour — The Oldest Champagne Maison (1729) & 38-m Crayères

Yes — Ruinart was founded on 1 September 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart, on the strength of his uncle Dom Thierry Ruinart's correspondence with Dom Pérignon. Moët & Chandon was founded 1743 (14 years later). The 1729 founding date is documented in the original charter held at the Maison. Ruinart is the first established Champagne house — Champagne sparkling existed earlier but was not commercialised under a single brand. For how Ruinart compares to the other grandes Maisons featured on this site (smallest groups, Chardonnay-forward signature, premium-tier private access), see our grandes marques decision guide.

Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay (vs Blanc de Noirs = 100% Pinot Noir; standard Champagne = blend). Ruinart's house signature is the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and the prestige Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (vintage). The Chardonnay focus dates to the 19th century when Ruinart sourced primarily from the Côte des Blancs grand-cru villages (Cramant, Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger).

The Ruinart crayères are former Gallo-Roman chalk quarries that happen to be the deepest in Reims — 38 m below street level, vs 18 m for Veuve and Pommery. The Maison bought them because deeper crayères mean more stable temperature (10–12 °C constant) and humidity (80%+ year-round) — ideal for very long aging. UNESCO-listed 2015.

The single dedicated Ruinart tour is a premium private chauffeur Mercedes format (12.5 hours, 2–4 guests, Paris pickup, multi-Maison Ruinart + Moët, vigneron lunch, vintage tastings). The per-person price for 2 guests works out to ~$382. For a less premium Ruinart experience, the Maison's own direct cellar visit (book on ruinart.com) is ~$110.

4 rue des Crayères, 51100 Reims — the street name literally means 'street of the chalk pits'. About 10 min by taxi from Reims-Centre station, near the Boulevard Henry Vasnier. Visitor entrance is through the courtyard.

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is the non-vintage flagship — 100% Chardonnay, 24+ months on lees, ~$80 retail. Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is the prestige vintage cuvée — declared only in exceptional years (recent: 2010, 2013), 8–10+ years on lees, ~$200–250 retail. Both tasted on the lead VIP tour; only Ruinart Blanc de Blancs on standard cellar visits.

The premium Mercedes tour is adult-only (couples and small groups of 2–4). Direct Ruinart cellar visits accept children 12+ (no tasting). The 38-m descent and chalk-floor walking is too much for younger kids.

Both Maisons are owned by LVMH (Moët Hennessy division), and the operator package the visits together — Ruinart in Reims morning, Moët in Épernay afternoon. The same chauffeur, the same group, two distinct cellar experiences. This is the most common Ruinart day-trip format.

Smart casual — Ruinart's premium positioning attracts a more formal crowd than Moët or Veuve. Closed-toe shoes are mandatory for the cellars (chalk floors, 116 steps). No specific jacket-and-tie requirement, but jeans are noticeable.

Yes — Moët was founded as a commercial Champagne brand by Claude Moët; Ruinart was founded by a monk's nephew (Nicolas Ruinart, on his uncle Dom Thierry Ruinart's notes) and predates Moët by 14 years. The Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay focus is also genuinely distinctive — most Maisons lead with Pinot Noir blends. Ruinart's premium positioning reflects that real heritage, not just marketing.