After three years of renovations, Maison Ruinart has just opened its renewed estate, featuring the Nicolas Ruinart Pavilion and an open-air art museum as highlights. Architect Sou Fujimoto, interior designer Gwenaël Nicolas, and landscape architect Christophe Gautrand joined forces to bring to life the vision of Nicolas Ruinart, who founded the champagne house in Reims nearly 300 years ago.
Maison Ruinart, located at 4 Rue des Crayères in Reims, is not only the oldest champagne house in the world but also home to the deepest chalk cellars (a UNESCO World Heritage site). These alone are more than worth a visit. “With 25,000 visitors a year, our infrastructure had somewhat reached its limit,” Frédéric Dufour, CEO of Ruinart, tells us. “On the other hand, above all, we wanted to reinvent the Ruinart universe. Craftsmanship and tradition are strongly present in the historical part of the estate, but modernity was missing, while with our brand, we strive daily to find a good balance between tradition and modernity. Therefore, we wanted to strengthen the modern side and completely renew the location.”
A brand as big as LV
The LVMH group wants to develop ‘4 RUE DES CRAYÈRES’ into a brand name as big and well-known as Louis Vuitton or Dior. Enormous ambitions for which no expense or effort was spared. Almost nothing remains of the open square with a mosaic of lawns in front of the historic buildings. “There, soon, a garden with many white flowers and hornbeam will mature and serve as a barometer for the status of the vineyards,” landscape architect Christophe Gautrand tells us. Arriving today at 4 Rue des Crayères, you’ll find a white wall so different from before that the row of black minibuses transporting us drives right past without noticing. “With the long, white entrance path—the ‘chemin des crayères’—that provides access to the estate, we wanted to evoke the atmosphere of the chalk cellars,” Gautrand says. “The path follows a gradual slope of dozens of meters, carved out of chalk, and connects the street with the back of the Nicolas Ruinart Pavilion, where the main entrance is located. Like a crayère (chalk cellar), but in the open air, the labyrinthine passage evokes wonder. The white walls precisely replicate the surface of the crayères, with the walls scanned and then recreated by hand.”
Special choice of materials
The designers carefully considered the choice of materials. Sou Fujimoto: “In our exploratory discussions, we looked at the possibilities of working with concrete structures. But in the end, after consulting with Frédéric, we opted for more sustainability. Not only a green roof and beautiful landscape around it but also the construction and the way the building itself is made. Initially, we thought of using the stone from the Crayères, but today it’s too soft to build a structure. So we looked for local stones. The walls are built from stones about sixty centimeters thick. The roof is made of wood and has a concave shape as if a giant champagne bubble pressed its form into it.” The partly transparent glass facade also refers to champagne. The upper part has a white screen print that filters sunlight, creating ideal conditions inside. The glass facade is a strong concept. From the outside, the building almost seems to float as the upper part gradually turns white, like a kind of mist or cloud. “I got the idea when I poured champagne into a glass and saw the beautiful white mousse on the champagne,” Sou Fujimoto explains. “The light aspect was very important. The space is defined by the light and how you bring in and control daylight. This lightness creates a beautiful contrast between the pavilion and the existing Maison.”
Secret cellar
The pavilion is also the ideal meeting place and the starting point for tours. Almost every detail here is surprising. From the impressive glass carousel with a mirrored ceiling that serves as a wine cellar to the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs bottles along the walls. The pavilion also presents a selection of lifestyle objects (vases, knives, and candle holders made from grapevines…) and unique editions for which the champagne house collaborated with numerous artists. In the middle of the Nicolas Ruinart Pavilion, close to the chalk cellars, there is a secret cellar where historic bottles are stored. Bottles from exceptional wine years and rare cuvées, such as Dom Ruinart La Réserve, come together here in one tasting room for the first time. Rare gems include the five exceptional cuvées that left their mark on Ruinart’s modern history.
Art in the open air
Since its founding, Maison Ruinart has attracted international artists with an eye for the link between nature and culture. Since the transformation, you can admire even more works by contemporary artists on the estate in a new open-air museum in Reims. Among them, Eva Jospin, who created her installation Promenade(s) for Ruinart in 2023, and Jeppe Hein with Récits de Champagne from 2022. This year, Maison Ruinart invited six artists for Conversation(s) with Nature: Andrea Bowers, who combines art and activism; Marcus Coates, who explores new relationships with nature; Pascale Marthine Tayou, who brings unexpected aesthetics; Henrique Oliveira, who merges plant and organic elements in his sculptures; Tomoko Sauvage, inspired by bubble formation and transparency; and Thijs Biersteker, whose creations are based on scientific data. Biersteker’s art installation in the trees—our favorite—shows how much water trees constantly draw from the ground. “Within a year, the installation will also be a microclimate for insects,” Biersteker tells us. In short, a living installation. “The universe of Ruinart must harmoniously blend art, nature, craftsmanship, and creativity with hospitality, meaning our wines and gastronomy,” Dufour says. In the new Bar by Ruinart, you can discover the craftsmanship of Maison Ruinart through unique gastronomic experiences. You can enjoy lunch or dinner or the dessert buffet with delicious cakes and pastries in the afternoon. Moreover, events with guest chefs, such as Arnaud Donckele—a top chef awarded three Michelin stars who has been collaborating with Ruinart for many years—take place throughout the year.
Practical Information
- A visit to 4 RUE DES CRAYÈRES, 51100 Reims, begins with a walk along the Chemin des Crayères through a wooded park of 7,000 m². About 5,000 m² of the forest is a protected area with various tree species planted to withstand climate change. The landscape park, free and open to the public, offers a space for art in all its forms.
- Besides the beautiful architecture and the garden, you can enjoy various artistic and culinary experiences in the Nicolas Ruinart Pavilion, created through exciting collaborations.
- Maison Ruinart is open daily except for the annual closure in January. Part of the estate (sculpture garden, Nicolas Ruinart Pavilion with Bar by Ruinart, shop…) is open free of charge from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Monday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tours of the chalk cellars (including a tasting of two cuvées) begin at 9:30 a.m. The last tour starts at 5:15 p.m. (from €85). Reservations and information: www.ruinart.com
