When it comes to defining the world’s greatest Champagne, the jury is out. Should it be based on aeons of history, respected and illustrious producers who have been based in the region for generations? Should it be based on terroir, closely guarded winemaking techniques and long cellar times? Should it be based on the French government’s strict rule that only grapes grown in the 86,000 acres of land can carry the name Champagne? Or should it simply be the one that you like the most?

Or should it be the one that ticks all the boxes? Enter Ruinart, with its unique bottle shape (an homage to the historic bottles from the XVIII century), could just be it.

Ruinart actually holds the title as the oldest Champagne House. It was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart, whose uncle, Dom Thierry Ruinart (1657 – 1709), was a friend of fellow Benedictine monk Dom Perignon and one of the first to recognise the potential of “making wine with bubbles.” Exclusive to France for many, many years, acquisition by luxury goods magnate LMVH (who also own Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon and Krug) saw a recent expanding into (very) selected outlets in America. Six cuvees from 576 hectares are produced, about 2.5 million bottles annually. Once bottled, Champagne is stored in eight kilometres of chalk mines on three different levels, for between 6-8 years. The bottles are turned one or twice a day by a team of “remuers” - master turners who instinctively know if the bottle requires an eighth, a sixteenth or a full turn. So important to the heritage of France is the product, that the mines were made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015.

Many vintages of Ruinart are the contender for its world greatest champagne status, and at around €250 for a bottle of 2004 of what many consider its “best” wine Dom Ruinart, so far Ruinart’s under the spectrum status works in investor’s favour. However, with popularity gathering speed stateside whether this Ruinart is to follow in the footsteps of others owned by LMVH, remains to be seen.