Billecart-Salmon Releases Its First Ratafia Champenois After 208 Years

What happened

Billecart-Salmon, one of Champagne's most enduring family maisons, is releasing its first Ratafia Champenois — a traditional category of the region that the house had never previously explored in over two centuries of operation. The release is planned for Asia in autumn 2026, making it the inaugural market to receive the expression. Mathieu Roland-Billecart, the seventh-generation owner of the maison, is overseeing the project.

Why it matters

For a house that has operated for 208 years without once producing a Ratafia Champenois, the decision to do so now is a considered one. Ratafia Champenois is a traditional Champenois liqueur, and its production sits firmly within the heritage of the region — yet it has remained outside Billecart-Salmon's portfolio until this point. The launch signals a deliberate broadening of the maison's range, with the project rooted in the house's commitments to sustainability, terroir expression, and innovation within established Champagne traditions. That the release is directed first towards Asia also reflects a clear strategic intent, positioning the maison's newest expression within one of the world's most dynamic fine wine and spirits markets.

Context

Billecart-Salmon was founded in Champagne and has remained under continuous family ownership across seven generations, with Mathieu Roland-Billecart now at the helm. Ratafia Champenois is a category with deep roots in the region, produced from grape must and marc, and carries protected geographical status. Despite its long regional history, the category has occupied a relatively niche position compared to Champagne's sparkling wines. The decision by a maison of Billecart-Salmon's standing to enter the category for the first time — and to do so after more than two centuries — lends the release a particular significance, both for the house itself and for the broader visibility of Ratafia Champenois as a category worthy of serious attention.