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Ruinart s style is defined by the harmonious balance achieved during blending. But the way the vines are managed also plays an important role. At each stage, the greatest care is given to maximise the chances of producing a great vintage. Maison Ruinart teams work with nature in unpredictable conditions, as the climate influences the vine cycle and also the ripening kinetics of grapes. They work with this promising raw material to later reveal its full potential. The vine is guided and watched throughout this slow process, which culminates at harvest. The same careful attention is applied during vinification and blending.

Everything begins in the vineyard. During pruning, as the leaves fall, and the vine begins its vegetative rest. When the buds break in spring and nature awakes. When the flowers bloom, symbolically marking the beginning of the fruit. The special moment of véraison when the grape starts to ripen, sugar accumulates, and green turns to translucent gold. The berries are closely monitored, analysed, and tasted during their transformation to decide the best moment for harvesting.

At this stage, the winemaking team may already have the intuition that this will be a vintage year. What imprint will the climate leave on the wines? How can the ageing process enhance the expression of Ruinart s distinctive style? Dictated by the climate, the characteristics of the vintage are discovered in the vineyard, even before harvest. The cellar master and oenological team keep them in mind as they taste the base wines. This is a decisive moment in deciding whether there is vintage potential.

FROM THE HEART OF THE VINEYARD

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