September 9, 2024 – In addition to a lineup of unparalleled wines, the Barons de Rothschild name represents a unique and unprecedented alliance between the three branches of the Rothschild family. With over 270 years of history, the family’s ever-growing winemaking legacy includes estates spread across the world’s most prestigious viticultural areas, including—but not limited— Bordeaux, Mendoza, Champagne, and beyond. As part of the brand’s commitment to sustainable development, Champagne Barons de Rothschild has recently announced a major two-year investment program in the heart of the Côte des Blancs Grand cru. Further details on the brand, wine lineup, and recent sustainability efforts can be found below.
Barons de Rothschild: Generations of Timeless Legacy
The Barons de Rothschild legacy begins with Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812), who is regarded as the founder of the dynasty. A banker—and entrepreneurial visionary from the start—it was Mayer Amschel Rothschild who laid the foundations for the family’s subsequent generations to invest wisely and ultimately pursue numerous winemaking ventures, including the world-renowned estates of Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Lafite Rothschild.
Today, the Barons de Rothschild family winemaking ventures are separated into three main arms: Baron Philippe de Rothschild (spearheaded by Philippe Sereys de Rothschild), Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite (overseen by Saskia and Éric de Rothschild), and Edmond de Rothschild (managed by Ariane de Rothschild).
Champagne Barons de Rothschild: Two Decades of Collaboration & Innovation
Founded in 2005, Champagne Barons de Rothschild represents a joint venture among the family’s three branches, with a tradition of excellence—along with a shared passion for high quality, conviviality, and great terroirs—as the foundation of the project. Now approaching the two-decade mark, Champagne Barons de Rothschild brings centuries of savoir-faire to the table, yet also remains a place of innovation and ambition. To commemorate its 20th anniversary, the estate has begun an ambitious construction plan, which includes two brand new, state-of-the-art production facilities.
Behind the Bottle: High-Quality Standards from Vineyard to Bottle
Chardonnay is the key player at Champagne Barons de Rothschild, and the family exclusively works with top-tier terroirs across the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. Proprietors of eight hectares, the family sources fruit from an additional 77 hectares of vines farmed by 20 partner growers, which are cultivated carefully and sustainably so as to meet their high standards. Almost all of the vineyards are located within premier and grand cru sites.
In the cellar, a variety of vessels are used, including stainless steel, concrete, and wood. This versatile lineup of materials creates the backbone to the family’s multi-faceted wines, ensuring that terroir reflection is always placed first. The family’s long history of winemaking in Bordeaux brings an extra level of savoir-faire to the science and aging of the wines,
particularly those done in wooden vessels. The final bottles boast an impressively large proportion of reserve wine (40% minimum) and undergo long periods of aging (4-10+ years) prior to disgorgement. Post-disgorgement, the wines rest for six months to a year before heading out to market. All wines are bottled as Extra Brut, save for the estate’s Concordia Brut and Brut Nature expressions.
Two-Year Investment Plan: A Commitment to Sustainable Development
To further the family’s investment into a sustainable future, Champagne Barons de Rothschild is launching two major renovations in the crus of Vertus and Oger. The family has entrusted the project to Giovanni Pace, a renowned architect from Champagne who designed the renovations in conjunction with the local landscape, so as to ensure preservation of the local environment and an overall low energy consumption.
This multifaceted development is focused on two distinct components: first and foremost, the renovation of the building adjacent to the Clos in Vertus, which was initially acquired in 2013. The goal of the renovation is to simultaneously preserve existing heritage through a full renovation of the property’s historic vaulted ceilings, while also laying the foundations for the future winery at the cutting edge of the technology. The use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, along with local resources and energy sources, will be prioritized. “The aim is to support the future development of the company and maintain our high standards of quality,” says Guillaume Lété, Cellar Master of Champagne Barons de Rothschild. The refurbished facility will also be used to welcome private guests from 2025 onward. The second focus of the investment kicked off in January 2024 in Oger, featuring the construction of a new production site. Housed in an eco-responsible building—and semi- buried into the area’s natural chalk walks—the new site simultaneously incorporates the use of solar panels, as well as provides ample natural light, allowing salaried employees to experience an overall better well-being at the source—all while ensuring that the cellars remain dark and fresh. This new site will house the processes of bottle aging, riddling, disgorging, packaging, and shipping. The first bottles arrived at the facility in 2024.
