Houses
Bollinger
A family-owned champagne house established in Aÿ in 1829, renowned for Pinot Noir–led cuvées matured long on the lees and partially fermented in oak.
- Founded
- 1829
- Location
- Aÿ, champagne, France
- Ownership
- Family-owned (Société Jacques Bollinger)
- Known for
- Pinot Noir–led style · Special Cuvée (NV) · La Grande Année (vintage) · R.D. (late-disgorged) · Vieilles Vignes Françaises (ungrafted Pinot)
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir (5) · Chardonnay (4) · Meunier (2)
- Official site
- www.champagne-bollinger.com
Style
Bollinger's house identity rests on four pillars: a high share of Pinot Noir (around 60% of blends), a dominant share of estate-grown fruit (the house farms roughly 180 hectares across grand and premier cru villages), primary fermentation in small oak barrels for the vintage and prestige cuvées, and long lees-ageing beyond AOC minima. The result is a structured, savoury style with noticeable oxidative complexity at maturity.
History
Founded in 1829 by Joseph Bollinger (originally Jacques Bollinger) in partnership with Paul Renaudin, the house has remained in the same family across six generations. Its modern profile was shaped largely by Madame Lily Bollinger, who ran the house from 1941 to 1971 and is remembered for her understated public persona and exacting house style.
Distinctions
Bollinger holds a Royal Warrant for supply to the British royal household and has been the on-screen champagne of the James Bond franchise since 1979.
Cuvées
-
Bollinger La Grande Année Prestige
assemblage · brut · millésimé
80% Pinot Noir · 20% Chardonnay
-
Bollinger R.D. Prestige
assemblage · extra brut · millésimé
65% Pinot Noir · 35% Chardonnay
-
Bollinger Special Cuvée 007 Limited Edition Prestige
assemblage · brut · NV
60% Pinot Noir · 25% Chardonnay · 15% Pinot Meunier
-
Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises Prestige
blanc de noirs · extra brut · millésimé
100% Pinot Noir
-
assemblage · brut · NV
60% Pinot Noir · 25% Chardonnay · 15% Pinot Meunier
Recent
2026
- Note
Bollinger occupies a singular position within Champagne and maintains underground cellars beneath the Champagne region that form an integral part of its operational and historical identity.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 5 June 2026
- Release
Bollinger vintage launches are closely watched by buyers, sommeliers, and collectors, with capacity to shape sentiment across the broader champagne market.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 30 March 2026
- Release
Bollinger occupies a distinctive place in the champagne landscape, with vintage declarations treated as meaningful markers in the annual trade calendar.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 30 March 2026
- Note
Dennis Bunner departed from his position as Chief Oenologist at Bollinger on or around 8 May 2026.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 8 May 2026
- Note
Bollinger is a Champagne AOC house based in the Champagne region of France and is regarded as one of the appellation's significant producers.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 8 May 2026
- Note
Bollinger ferments base wines in small oak barrels rather than stainless steel, a labour-intensive choice that imparts texture and complexity.
- Release
Bollinger maintains reserve wines aged under cork in magnums for use in the non-vintage Special Cuvée, adding oxidative depth to the blend.
- Note
Bollinger owns two small parcels of ungrafted, pre-phylloxera Pinot Noir vines in Aÿ, from which the house produces Vieilles Vignes Françaises in select years only.
- Award
Bollinger ranked third in Vinetur's 2026 Most Admired Champagne Brands ranking, published in March 2026.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 10 March 2026
- Note
Founded in 1829 in Aÿ by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger.
- Note
Bollinger is an independent family-run Champagne house, continuing to be run by members of the Bollinger family.
- Note
Bollinger secured third position in Vinetur's 2026 ranking of the most admired champagne brands.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 10 March 2026
- Release
Maison Bollinger unveiled a new winery dedicated entirely to wood vinification in 2026, the largest such facility in the Champagne region.
Read article Google News — champagne wine (EN) 7 April 2026
- Note
Maison Bollinger has historically been associated with wood vinification as a defining element of its production philosophy.
Read article Google News — champagne wine (EN) 7 April 2026
2025
- Note
Bollinger has a long-standing association with the James Bond film franchise spanning several decades.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 2 October 2025
- Business
Bollinger has been the official champagne of the James Bond film franchise for forty-five years, with the partnership originating in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Read article Google News — maisons de champagne (FR) 2 October 2025
- Note
Bollinger is a Champagne house based in the Champagne region of France.
Read article Google News — maisons de champagne (FR) 2 October 2025
- Note
Bollinger is a Champagne house based in Aÿ, in the Marne valley of France, with a long-established presence in luxury hospitality and premium retail internationally.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 24 September 2025
- Note
Bollinger Champagne was selected by American Airlines to be served across its premium lounges and flagship cabin service, confirmed on 24 September 2025.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 24 September 2025
- Note
Bollinger is a Champagne house with a long-established presence in luxury lifestyle contexts and has been selected by American Airlines as the centrepiece of a renewed luxury cabin initiative announced on 27 September 2025.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 27 September 2025
- Note
Bollinger is a Champagne house with a long-established reputation, recognised globally as one of the leading producers from the region.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 23 September 2025
- Note
Bollinger was introduced to American Airlines' in-flight beverage service, confirmed on 23 September 2025, for passengers travelling within and from the United States.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 23 September 2025
- Note
Bollinger has served as the official champagne of the James Bond franchise for over 45 years.
Read article Google News — maisons de champagne (FR) 2 October 2025
- Note
Bollinger is a Champagne house based in France selected by American Airlines to serve passengers in Business Class cabin.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 23 September 2025
- Note
Bollinger is recognized as one of Champagne's most celebrated houses, commanding enduring cachet in high-end hospitality settings.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 23 September 2025
- Note
Bollinger has been the official champagne of James Bond for over 45 years.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 2 October 2025
- Note
Bollinger is rooted in the Champagne region of France and is considered a serious, quality-driven house.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 2 October 2025
- Note
Bollinger is among the most distinguished houses in Champagne and is positioned at the apex of the prestige market.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 29 September 2025
- Business
Bollinger announced a global partnership with Aston Martin on 29 September 2025, described as a union of two luxury icons.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 29 September 2025
- Business
Bollinger has maintained an official partnership with the James Bond franchise for more than 45 years.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 2 October 2025
- Note
Bollinger is based in the Champagne region of France.
Read article Google News — champagne houses (EN) 2 October 2025
2024
- Note
Bollinger announced plans to develop a tourist complex in Aÿ, Champagne, presented to media via video tour on 14 November 2024.
Read article Google News — maisons de champagne (FR) 14 November 2024
2021
- Note
Gaël Chaunut has been recognised as the exclusive cooper for Bollinger, bearing responsibility for barrel construction, integrity, and maintenance.
Read article Google News — maisons de champagne (FR) 26 March 2021
Related reading
- Tasting
CN Traveller goes beneath the surface with an exclusive look at Bollinger's Champagne cellars
- Editorial
Which Champagne brands sponsor major British sporting events?
- News
Gaël Chaunut named as exclusive cooper for Bollinger in Aÿ
- News
Bollinger Releases Special Cuvée 007 Limited Edition to Mark James Bond Day
- News
Bollinger marks 45 years as James Bond's champagne with a limited-edition 007 cuvée
- News
American Airlines to serve Bollinger Champagne across premium lounges and flagship cabins