Latest news with #TaittingerChampagne
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
CEO Vitalie Taittinger Leads Taittinger Champagne With Grace, Vision And Balance
Vitalie Taittinger, President and CEO of Taittinger Champagne Vitalie Taittinger is a powerful leader in Champagne. As President and CEO of the 3rd oldest Champagne House, established in 1734, Vitalie oversees 200+ employees and the production of around 6 million bottles of Taittinger Champagne annually, exported to over 130 countries. She is also the mother of four children and an avid supporter of the arts and local charities. But she oversees the Taittinger empire with grace, vision and a strong sense of work/life balance. So how does she accomplish this? 'We are not just a family business – it is much more than that. Champagne is in our hearts, linked to nature, people, culture and art. It is part of the joy we have every day,' she told me recently during a Zoom interview. As a family business, Vitalie explained that her brother, Clovis Taittinger, is the General Manager and leads the sales division, and her father, Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger is the Honorary Chairman. The family business is woven into their lives and could be overwhelming for some people, but Vitalie has managed to integrate everything with calm and grace. 'We have a strong sense of balance between family and work,' she explained. 'I have a great team supporting me, and it is important to remember that if we want to be sustainable as a business, we need balance for all of the team.' She mentions that when she comes home from work in the evenings, she disconnects from the day's stresses. 'I spend time with my children, listen to music, play my guitar, or share an aperitif with my husband. It is a time of the day that is totally necessary… to go back to my roots,' she states. Vitalie, Pierre Emmanuel, and Clovis Taittinger of the House of Taittinger Champagne Indeed the style of Taittinger is rooted in the concepts of lightness and naturalness. Vitalie's great-grandfather, Pierre Taittinger, purchased the historic Château de la Marquetterie (built 1734) and its vineyards outside of Epernay in 1915. Recognizing the changing tastes in cuisine and beverages after WWI, he saw an opportunity to replant the vineyards and craft a new style of Champagne. At that time most Champagne was sweeter and more full-bodied to match the rich French cuisine covered in heavy sauces. But tastes were changing, and consumers wanted lighter and more natural food and wine. 'He wanted to make champagne that is light and delicate,' reported Vitalie. 'So chardonnay is the most precise grape for this, so we planted more chardonnay and less pinot noir than other estates.' Today the Taittingers own 288 hectares of vineyards, of which 40% of the grapes are selected for their champagnes while the remaining harvest is sold. They are also implementing sustainable farming practices and reducing the amount of additives in the vineyards – something that is challenging in a region that is often beset by extreme weather events, such as frost, too much rain, powdery mildew and hail storms. 'Father rebought the company in 2006 and stopped the pesticides in the vineyards,' explained Vitalie. (The estate was briefly sold to Starwood Capital in 2005, but repurchased by the family the following year). 'Sustainability is a journey, and everyone is trying to be sustainable in Champagne now. Some are at the end and others at the beginning,' she added. The family produces five lines of champagne: Vitalie, who is a trained artist, having studied illustration and graphic art at the Emile Cohl School of Design in Lyon, compares the craft of blending champagne as similar to art. 'We play with a palate, like an artist, of different crus, grapes, and colors to create the blend. It is a service of emotion, and each champagne is a different emotion,' she said. I was able to taste both of the non-vintage wines and the Comtes, all of which can be found in fine wine shops, restaurants, and online. The Taittinger Brut Reserve ($65) is a classic and approachable wine with ripe green apple, pear, and a twist of lemon and biscuit notes. Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose ($75) is quite different, with an explosive fruity palate of ripe cherries, strawberries and a hint of tart rhubarb on the finish. Both wines are medium-bodied with soft silky bubbles and a refreshing finish. 'We describe the style of our non-vintage wines as fresh, dynamic and generous,' explained Vitalie. 'You feel the body of the wine. It is an emotion of happiness to share with family and friends. Like a kiss of pleasure.' The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs ($250) is a completely different creature. I sampled the 2012 vintage and found it to be filled with lightness, elegance and great complexity. The nose enchants with toasted almonds, lemon, and a hint of ginger, which carries through on the palate with delicate bubbles, chalk, lemon pith, and croissant. It has a very long, refreshing, and concentrated finish, and seems to grow in complexity with each taste. Vitalie describes it as ' an emotion of time, where with each sip you discover the dimension of the wine. Your palate is enchanted, and you have the impression you are flying.' So what's ahead for Champagne Taittinger? Vitalie admits that she spends her work days engrossed in strategic issues, development projects, and meetings with customers, distributors, importers and journalists. 'I try to remain strategic in my thinking and not get buried in the details while focusing on how to improve management to help our employees be happier and give them career growth,' she reports. She is also involved in the blending process for the champagnes, working with the cellar team to taste the different reserve and new wines. But being faithful to existing customers is one of her most important obligations. 'After COVID we had many opportunities to make deals with big companies, but we gave priority to our existing customers. We always want to respect the people we are working with' she says. When asked about the future, she identified five main tenants the company is focusing on: Though not part of this interview, Clovis Taittinger has a favorite quote that is worth sharing and a fitting conclusion to the article: 'Champagne is the best way of saying 'I love you' in any language,' Clovis Taittinger.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
The Johannesburg cap classique, champagne bubbles festival
Pop, fizz, clink! The Johannesburg Cap Classique, Champagne & Bubbles Festival returns, bigger, better, and bubblier than ever! The Johannesburg Cap Classique, Champagne & Bubbles Festival is back and bigger, better and bubblier than before. This year's event takes place on the weekend of May 24 & 25 at the Inanda Polo Club, Sandton, with tastings running from 11h00 to 14h30 and sales and live music taking over from 14h30 until doors close at 16h00. Some of the confirmed producers in attendance include Amari Lush, Anthonij Rupert Wyne (L'Ormarins), Black Elephant Vintners, Boschendal, Carrol Boyes Wines, Graham Beck, Haute Cabrière (home of Pierre Jourdan), House of Azari, J.C. Le Roux, Khulu Fine Wine, Laborie Cap Classique, Nanola Wines, Quoin Rock, Siwela Wines, Steenburg Vineyards, The House of BNG, Villiera Wines and WCellar. Some of the food stalls include Taco Burger, King Arabic, DimSumFest, Icon Sushi, Sumting Fresh, Tumi's Charcuterie Cart, Chateau Gateaux, Christine's Biltong and Holly's Nougat, while live music will come courtesy of saxophonist extraordinaire Lobelo and Cape Town DJ phenomenon Shen FM. This year's theme is Sophisticated Floral Chic, with fabulous prizes awarded for the best dressed. Tickets are available from Webtickets and include two options: Hospitality tickets* (R850pp), with private entrance access to the venue, a dedicated area with a host and security guard, a welcome glass of Taittinger Champagne, a branded crystal tasting glass, 20 tasting coupons and a complimentary bottle of bubbly to take home. General admission tickets (R450pp) include a crystal tasting glass and ten tasting coupons. * Hospitality tickets for Saturday are sold out, but there are still some available for Sunday. The Star
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The Johannesburg cap classique, champagne bubbles festival
Pop, fizz, clink! The Johannesburg Cap Classique, Champagne & Bubbles Festival returns, bigger, better, and bubblier than ever! The Johannesburg Cap Classique, Champagne & Bubbles Festival is back and bigger, better and bubblier than before. This year's event takes place on the weekend of May 24 & 25 at the Inanda Polo Club, Sandton, with tastings running from 11h00 to 14h30 and sales and live music taking over from 14h30 until doors close at 16h00. Some of the confirmed producers in attendance include Amari Lush, Anthonij Rupert Wyne (L'Ormarins), Black Elephant Vintners, Boschendal, Carrol Boyes Wines, Graham Beck, Haute Cabrière (home of Pierre Jourdan), House of Azari, J.C. Le Roux, Khulu Fine Wine, Laborie Cap Classique, Nanola Wines, Quoin Rock, Siwela Wines, Steenburg Vineyards, The House of BNG, Villiera Wines and WCellar. Some of the food stalls include Taco Burger, King Arabic, DimSumFest, Icon Sushi, Sumting Fresh, Tumi's Charcuterie Cart, Chateau Gateaux, Christine's Biltong and Holly's Nougat, while live music will come courtesy of saxophonist extraordinaire Lobelo and Cape Town DJ phenomenon Shen FM. This year's theme is Sophisticated Floral Chic, with fabulous prizes awarded for the best dressed. Tickets are available from Webtickets and include two options: Hospitality tickets* (R850pp), with private entrance access to the venue, a dedicated area with a host and security guard, a welcome glass of Taittinger Champagne, a branded crystal tasting glass, 20 tasting coupons and a complimentary bottle of bubbly to take home. General admission tickets (R450pp) include a crystal tasting glass and ten tasting coupons. * Hospitality tickets for Saturday are sold out, but there are still some available for Sunday. The Star
