Ruffin & Fils

The brand was founded in 1947 by Jean Ruffin; his son Dominique joined in 1973 and his grandson Alexandre in 1995. Other sources give 1946 as the founding year. The house is in Étoges, between Épernay and the hills of the Sézannais. The family lives there in a former 18th-century auberge at the end of the Grande Rue.

Family and vineyards

Dominique Ruffin was born in Étoges in 1953, attended the wine school in Avize and then joined the family business. As cellar master, he is responsible for the champagnes. He expanded the family vineyard from 7 to 11 hectares, which covers 40 per cent of the house's grape requirements. The plots lie, among other places, on the slopes of the Petit Morin around the village. Alexandre Ruffin has run sales since 1995. Since 1995 the house has operated as a négociant, and additional grapes are bought in. The three champagne grape varieties are planted: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Production is around 200,000 bottles.

The cuvées

• Cuvée Réserve and Cuvée Volubile (Brut and Rosé): the Réserve in the 2011 Guide Hachette was made up of 80 per cent dark grapes, 70 per cent of them Meunier. The Volubile from the 2007 harvest relied on 70 per cent Meunier.
• Chardonnay d'Or: the Hachette tasters praised the complex aroma of apple, honey and star anise, as well as the crisp fruit.
• Nobilis: a vintage champagne, 100 per cent Chardonnay from Cramant. It is made only in great years, and 7,500 bottles exist of the 2006 vintage.

The range also includes Âme de Jean and Roséanne.

Visit and tasting

The tour leads from the stainless steel tank cellar down into the chalk cellars. The house is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 to 12 and from 14 to 18 (8am to 12 noon and 2pm to 6pm), and on other days by appointment. The address is 20 Grande Rue, 51270 Étoges, telephone +33 3 26 59 30 14.