It is a rare that a wine can trace its origins to a single man and a single moment in time. Brunello di Montalcino, owes its existence to Biondi-Santi, who in 1888 produced the first bottle of Brunello in history. A history of painstaking attention to detail and loyalty towards a simple, yet ambitious idea of wine. A wine crafted for a long life.

In 2017 the estate was acquired by the Descours family and a new era in the history of Biondi-Santi commenced.

Founded in 1851, Charles Heidsieck is one of Champagne’s most respected Houses, renowned for the exceptional quality, maturity and complexity of its wines. Nicknamed “Champagne Charlie,” its founder was a bold visionary and a pioneer in bringing Champagne to the New World.

The House embodies a singular vision of Champagne, where each cuvée is conceived as a finely crafted masterpiece shaped by time. Charles Heidsieck is distinguished by its extensive use of reserve wines — up to 50% in its Brut Réserve — which bring depth, texture and remarkable complexity. Time is treated as a fourth grape variety, with all cuvées undergoing long ageing in the Crayères, 2000-year-old chalk cellars, to reach perfect balance and refinement.

Each wine reflects blending excellence, elegance, and a commitment to reveal Champagne at its most expressive — a responsibility now carried by Emilien Erard, the Maison’s Cellar Master.

Founded in 1785, Piper-Heidsieck owes its success to its bold leadership and pioneering spirit with innovation always remaining at its core.

As a B Corp Certified company, the House showcases its unwavering commitment towards an inclusive, equitable and regenerative future throughout its entire winemaking ecosystem, community, and workplace.

As The Most Awarded Champagne House of the Century*, Piper-Heidsieck has fostered its reputation of wine excellence well beyond the borders of France to reach Champagne lovers in every corner of the globe. Since 2018, Piper-Heidsieck has been paired perfectly with one of the youngest Chief Winemakers, Émilien Boutillat, who is charged with safeguarding Piper-Heidsieck’s unique philosophy and leading the House into a new sustainable chapter.

By holding a dual certification of VDC and HVE** in its vineyards since 2015 and joining the IWCA*** in 2022, Piper-Heidsieck continues to improve the quality and authenticity ofits wines and acknowledges its global responsibility to positively impact the environment through sustainable practices.

In 2022, Piper-Heidsieck became B Corp Certified by joining a community of companies that are leading a global movement to create positive social and environmental impact. The certification reflects the House’s pioneering ethos and daring initiative to be a driving force of change within the Champagne industry.

Piper-Heidsieck advocates for the arts and film industry and supports not-for-profit organizations that speak to the House’s core values, while also championing diverse and emerging talent within its employees and collaborators around the world.

Since its foundation, Piper-Heidsieck has been free from convention and aspires to innovate and convey self-expression. Today, it brings together Champagne drinkers from 100 countries worldwide, with one bottle popped every six seconds.

*Piper-Heidsieck’s Chief Winemakers received the prestigious title of “Sparkling Winemaker of the Year,” awarded by the International   Wine Challenge jury in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2021.
**VDC: Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne / HVE: High Environmental Value
***IWCA: International Wineries for Climate Action

On the borders of the Luberon regional nature park, Château la Verrerie is located. A few kilometres from Lourmarin, one of the most beautiful villages in Provence. To the north, the Côtes du Rhône wines, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape; to the south, those of the Côtes de Provence. On the edge, this terroir of the Luberon massif. A geographical situation apart that is expressed in the wines of the estate, in red, white and rosé. So many wines, reflections of our beautiful land.

Isole e Olena is a historical Chianti Classico estate, located in the western part of the denomination, near Castellina in Chianti, in the commune of Barberina Val d’Elsa. It can count on 56 hectares of vineyards at 350 – 450 meters above sea level.

Isole e Olena was founded in 1956, when Francesco de Marchi, a lawyer from Piedmont, bought the Tuscan “borgo”, comprised of several farming units “poderi” which were run by sharecroppers. It was in the mid-seventies, under the guidance of visionary Paolo de Marchi, son of Francesco, that the estate started on the quality production it is renowned for today. First vintage was 1978.

Since the beginning, Paolo was on the forefront of studies and experimentation in the vineyards with the clear goal of enhancing the propensities of the area, improving the performance of the local grape varieties, mainly Sangiovese, through massal selection, and mapping his galestro-driven soils.

Today Isole e Olena is recognized for the leading role it played in the re-qualification of the Chianti Classico area and it is respected for its authentic style of Chianti Classico – fragrant and well-balanced with purity of fruit - very representative of its high-altitude territory. In addition to Chianti Classico and Cepparello, Isole e Olena also produces a series of single variety wines, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a pluri-awarded Vin Santi.

In 1980 “Cepparello”, a barrique-aged Sangiovese from old vines, was crafted for the first time. This wine has become an emblem of Isole e Olena and a milestone Supertuscan for the area, showing the character and longevity of pure Sangiovese from Chianti Classico. Cepparello owes its name to a stream running alongside the vineyard.

Handcrafted Micro Negociant

To mark the centenary of the presentation of the first prestigious cuvée by Piper-Heidsieck to Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, on 1785 May 6th, the House produced a limited series of bottles in 1885: La Cuvée du Centenaire (the centenary vintage). This could be considered as the origin of Rare Champagne. In honour of the occasion, Pierre-Karl Fabergé, jeweler to the Czar Alexander III, designed a spectacular enamelled bottle. Unfortunately, it was impossible to reproduce this decor with the techniques of the time. A label with a faithful reproduction of the design was therefore placed on the bottles of this exclusive edition. In 1985, one hundred years after Fabergé’s bottle design, Van Cleef & Arpels created an extraordinary bottle adorned in gold, diamonds and lapis-lazuli for the 20th century’s first Rare Champagne vintage, Rare Millésime 1976

Rare Millésime1976 was revealed to the world from the Chateau de Versailles. Since then, only 12 vintages declared and a signature defined by the most recognized cellar master in the world, Régis Camus, who passed the baton to Emilien Boutillat, Piper Heidsieck and Rare Champagne Cellar Master to be in charge ofthe wine (vin) of Rare Champagne and Maud Rabin, of its life (Vie).

In three centuries, Four Jewelers beautifully have been involved in the history of Rare Champagne making the brand truly unique in Champagne: Pierre Karl Fabergé, Van Cleef& Arpels, Arthus Bertrand, Mellerio.

The tiara, as a royal symbol, designed by ArthusBertrand adorning the precious bottle features the triumphant vine prevailing over the whims of weather.

Rare Champagne is a wine of patience, with an unlimited potential for expression. Blossoming year after year, Rare Champagne expresses an elegant style: endless freshness, long-lasting minerality, with a radiant purity and subtle contrasts.

Rare Champagne as the true Exception is considered as the Jewel of Champagne.