About Taittinger
Taittinger is a brand that has flourished under the family of the same name for nearly a century in Reims, France, specializing in champagnes that convey the expertise of the family winemakers and their dedication to the future. The champagne house’s vineyard has expanded to over 200 hectares in the past one hundred years, and grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier which compose their emblematic champagnes.
While Taittinger produces several styles of champagne, something to suit every palate, their most well-known bottle is the Brut Réserve Signature Cuvée produced in the Benedictine Saint-Nicaise Abbey. Created using their three Taittinger grown grapes, the cuvée is overseen by expert winemakers each year to capture the signature flavor of Taittinger. Other cuvées are produced by the brand as well, like the Prestige line (Prestige Brut and Prestige Rosé, and the Prélude Grands Crus made from the first pressings of the Taittinger vineyard.
Where to Buy
The vintages are also well known among connoisseurs, while the more accessible blends can be found in grocery stores and wine shops. Total Wine & More, Publix, Wine.com, and many restaurants are known to consistently stock the brand.
Tour Taittinger
Once you’ve had the chance to taste these renowned wines, you’ll be tempted to tour their winemaking locations and vineyards for education and tastings. The cellars at Saint-Nicaise are situated in chalk queries that are silent but for the footsteps of the riddlers (sparkling winemakers), and bespoke tasting sessions are put on in Reims, France at the vineyard. In the past couple of years Taittinger has also begun inviting patrons to an online virtual tour of their premises via their website, taittinger.com.
Taittinger Prices
| Item | Style | Alcohol (ABV) | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé | Sparkling Rosé | 12% | 750ml | $79 |
| Taittinger Brut la Reims Française | Sparkling Brut | 12% | 750ml | $55 |
| Taittinger Brut Réserve | Brut Champagne | 12.5% | 750ml | $43 |
| Taittinger Collection | Traditional Champagne | 12.5% | 750ml | $300 |
| Taittinger Comtes de Champagne | Chardonnay Champagne | 12% | 750ml | $170 |
| Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc Vinothèque | Traditional Champagne | 12.5% | 750ml | $135 |
| Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rosé | Rosé Champagne | 12% | 750ml | $230 |
| Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rosé Vinothèque | Rosé Champagne | 12% | 750ml | $530 |
| Taittinger Cuvée Prestige | Full Bodied Champagne | 12% | 750ml | $40 |
| Taittinger Demi-Sec | Sweet Sparkling | 11% | 750ml | $55 |
| Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie | Traditional Champagne | 12.5% | 750ml | $120 |
| Taittinger Nocturne | Sweet Champagne | 12% | 750ml | $170 |
| Taittinger Nocturne Rosé | Sweet Sparkling Rosé | 12% | 750ml | $100 |
| Taittinger Prélude Grand Crus Cuvée | Traditional Champagne | 12% | 750ml | $75 |
Taittinger Champagne Buying Guide
This sparkling wine is brilliantly colored, fragranced, and flavored. Its bright pink hue makes it a perfect accompaniment to a girlish celebration, and the fragrance lends itself to perfect the final moments of the evening as it’s sipped. It pairs well with fruity desserts and is lovely on its own.
Pairings: Fruity desserts, pastry
This dry, white sparkling wine mixes well to create high-class wine cocktails, and it compliments citrus desserts like lemon curd perfectly. It cuts through the thick texture of a pie and causes the mouth to water between bites, enhancing the flavor of the fruit. It’s also delightful as an aperitif to cleanse the palette and settle the stomach.
Pairings: Chocolate dessert, citrus curd
A blend of all the wines grown at the Taittinger vineyard, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, this classic reserve is well balanced and smooth thanks to the predominance of Chardonnay in its blend. The flowering aroma makes this brut pair especially well with nuts and mushrooms.
Pairings: Earthy flavors like cashews and mushrooms
A blend of all the wines grown at the Taittinger vineyard, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, this classic reserve is well balanced and smooth thanks to the predominance of Chardonnay in its blend. The flowering aroma makes this brut pair especially well with nuts and mushrooms.
Pairings: Earthy flavors like cashews and mushrooms
Every vintage of Taittinger’s Collection Champagne features a different piece of art wrapped around the bottle to showcase the famed Taittinger art collection. Each year this champagne is produced to coincide with the Taittinger family’s Pierre Taittinger International Culinary Award and is easy to pair with all cuisine, but especially with citrus and fried poultry.
Pairings: Caviar, citrus, fried poultry
The absolute finest expression of Taittinger winemaking each year, this Chardonnay champagne is made of grapes from five vineyards in Cote des Blancs (the finest white wine region in the world, in France). Notes of pears and white flowers create a complex experience along with its mousse-like bubbles, and while this wine pairs well with heavy foods it is best experienced on its own.
Pairings: Salmon, steak, potatoes
This champagne is intense and vibrant, and it proves that a large yield can create fantastic vintages. This is also created purely of Chardonnay, but with a more intense, vibrant flavor and aroma than the Comtes de Champagne. Taittinger only produces this wine when the yield is exceptionally worthy, so enjoy it on its own or with a small snack when you can find it.
Pairings: Oysters, milk chocolate, white truffles
Similarly to the Blanc de Blanc Vinothèque, this Rosé is produced from a large yield, but only when the year produces one that is exceptional. Unlike the Blanc de Blanc, however, thas bubbly rosé also features pinot noir to add a full bodied freshnes to the blend. Because it’s so balanced, this blend pairs with about everything and is ideal for a cool evening.
Pairings: Pork, mashed potatoes, citrus dessert
This blend is produced in the Saint-Nicaise cellar with grapes from over fifty different vineyards to produce a consistent flavor year after year. If you want to experience “the” taste of Taittinger, this balanced blend is the best place to start as this classic champagne is for every occasion and one of their most affordable bottles.
Pairings: Filet mignon, ham, oily seafood
This cuvée is much like Cuvée Prestige, but it is made only from the first pressings (hence the name “Prélude”) of the grand crus (best vineyards in the Champagne region). If you’re enticed by the idea of Taittinger’s Cuvée but are looking to splurge a bit more, consider this champagne.
Pairings: Seafood, as an after dinner aperitif
Produced of 40% chardonnay and 60% pinot noir from the best, perfectly matured grapes of several harvests (or “crus”) and 35 grams of pure cane sugar per litre, this semi-sweet sparkling is smooth, ripe, and has abundant bubbles. Perfect as a stand alone dessert or with ripe red fruits, try this when you’re in the mood for a true treat.
Pairings: Madeleines, dark chocolate, strawberries
Half the beauty of this wine is in the terroir and half is in the experience. 100% of the grapes (chardonnay and pinot noir) are grown at the former home of French author Jacques Cazotte and are green-harvested for maximum aeromatic maturity and sweetness. Aged in oak, this champagne is well rounded and smooth and pairs perfectly to compliment fish in a buttered sauce. It will stand up to but won’t compete with a roasted duck.
Pairings: Roasted meat, fish in sauce
This champagne is sultry and sweet, intended to share late in the evening between friends and lovers. With floral notes and flavors of ripened fruit, Nocturne is the perfect accompaniment to gingerbread or a foie gras.
Pairings: Gingerbread, butterscotch
Like Nocturne, Nocturne Rosé is sweet and meant for the evening. This blend, however, is hot pink with a vivacious flavor to carry its drinkers through the evening. Pair this with a chic snack or dark chocolate, depending on the mood, to enjoy the notes of pastry and fresh, silky tannins.
Pairings: Pastry, chic hors d’oeuvres
The Best Way(s) to Drink Taittinger Champagne
Taittinger is all bubbly, all the time, so drink it as such. It can be mixed as a sparkling cocktail with an aperitif, served in a neutral wine glass with ice and an herbal garnish, but it’s best served in a classic, crystal coupe to enhance the nose and preserve the bubbles during the drinking experience.
FAQs
Champagne alternatives to Taittinger
Bollinger
Bollinger is a champagne house very comparable to Taittinger, but is a bit more widely known and widely available and can often be found in more stores. However, it can be pricier depending on the bottle selection.
Price: Starts at $40
Moet & Chandon
Moet & Chandon, another champagne house in the Champagne region of France, is a step up from Taittinger and slightly harder to find in stores. A bottle of this brand is known to age beautifully for around ten years and is a fantastic investment.
Price: Starts at $53
Billecart-Salmon
One of the chicest champagne houses in the region, Billecart-Salmon produces a few wonderful champagnes that are comparable to Taittinger. Their selection isn’t as varied, but they’ve nailed their selection down to a science and are a great alternative.
Price: Starts at $60
Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot is a crown jewel of champagne, and once you’ve tried all of Taittinger and want to explore more luxury bottles, Veuve Clicquot is a great brand to turn to.
Price: Starts at $60