Billecart-Salmon Champagnes Celebrate 200 years

Billecart-Salmon Champagnes celebrate 200 years of passion, finesse and elegance 1818-2018.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Billecart-Salmon Champagne House by Elisabeth Salmon and Nicolas François Billecart. To celebrate this great milestone in the history of this prestigious Champagne House, Billecart-Salmon is organising a gastronomic world tour, visiting Singapore, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles and London. Renowned for its distinctive vintages and iconic Rosé, Billecart-Salmon is one of the few remaining independent, family-owned Champagne Houses, whose motto “Give priority to quality, strive for excellence” is as true today as it has ever been.

With the 7th generation about to take the helm, it is fitting to mark the occasion and celebrate two centuries of history and expertise. Each member of this family has brought his or her own personal touch to the House, while always maintaining a visionary approach to winemaking. Thus, immune to passing trends yet in tune with modernity, Billecart-Salmon has continually improved over the 200 years, just like its great Champagnes.

Current CEO, François Roland-Billecart says of this legacy, “Just like each of the vintages they have produced, successive Directors of the House have all had their different and highly individual personalities. Following the Founders, there have been successful entrepreneurs, talented winemakers, dedicated epicureans, wise mentors and inspired creators. Invariably, the differences between them have been overridden by the obsession that has been the common thread running from generation to generation: the quality of their wines, pursued with a passion, first, foremost and always.”

Bicentenary celebrations will take place throughout 2018, with the aim of honouring Billecart-Salmon’s champagne-making traditions, to highlight 200 years of high standards and perseverance, and to enhance the House’s heritage and history.

Three-star Michelin Chef Alain Passard, of the famed L’Arpège restaurant in Paris, has collaborated with Billecart-Salmon to create a calendar of gastronomic events across the globe. In partnership with acclaimed chefs and restaurants from Singapore to London, each event will feature an exceptional menu specially crafted to match Billecart-Salmon’s exquisite champagnes. In London, Chef Anne-Sophie Pic of La Dame de Pic at the Four Seasons Hotel, together with Chef Passard, has designed a sublime menu for the event on the 24th May with perfectly harmonious food and champagne pairings.

The world tour includes:
– SINGAPORE: At Odette Restaurant, Chef Julien Royer
– TOKYO: At Les Saisons Restaurant, Chef Thierry Voisin
– NEW YORK: At Jean-Georges Restaurant, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
– LOS ANGELES: At Jean-Georges Beverly Hills Restaurant, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
– LONDON: At La Dame De Pic London Restaurant, Chef Anne-Sophie Pic

The world tour concludes where the story began in 1818, with a celebration in June at the family estate in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. The family will host the people who have championed their values, and their wines and contributed to the success of the House throughout the years. A new immersive tour of the estate will be unveiled to guests for the first time and has been created to highlight and honour the love of the land, the passion for the vines, and the respect of tradition that Billecart-Salmon embodies.

To mark the occasion, Billecart-Salmon has also produced an exclusive specially blended Bicentenary Cuvée, which will be shared at these events. In addition, 1818 magnums of the limited-edition Bicentenary Cuvée will be available to collectors around the world at independent wine shops. Furthermore, the Blanc de Blancs prestige cuvée will now be known as the Cuvée Louis, named after Elisabeth’s winemaker brother, marking his role in the history of this great House. This joins the Nicolas François and Elisabeth vintage cuvées, to honour the three founding members of Billecart-Salmon.