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Champagne Bollinger announces ‘ambitious plans’ for bicentenary in 2029
Champagne Bollinger has announced a series of “ambitious plans” and a new team structure as it approaches its bicentenary in 2029.
As part of its preparations for this milestone anniversary, the Champagne house said this morning that it would be renovating a “a historic site with the creation of a cathedral-like cellar open to the vines”. Bollinger also stated that it would be creating “a unique oenotourism site”, which db understands will be constructed alongside its headquarters in the Champagne village of Aÿ.
Maison Bollinger, which was founded in 1829, also said that it will be launching “an environmental and societal charter”, before noting that all these “projects are already underway and will be completed over the course of the next few years.”
In terms of the Champagne brand’s personnel, a new structure has been announced today for the production side of the business. This is “centred around three exceptional individuals” (pictured below) following the departure this year of Bollinger cellar master Gilles Descôtes for health reasons.
The changes are outlined below, with Bollinger commenting that the “new team is fully aligned with the vision and the work undertaken for 20 years by Gilles Descôtes”.
- Denis Bunner is appointed chief winemaker. Bunner will sit at the head of Bollinger’s wine committee and becomes a member of the management team. Bunner, who is a graduate of AgroParis Tech and ESSEC, was recruited by Gilles Descôtes in 2013 as assistant cellar master.
- Gael Vuille is appointed vineyard and supply director. Vuille also joins the management team, tasked with maintaining the quality of Bollinger’s wines and supplies. Vuille graduated from ENSA Montpellier as an agronomist and was recruited by Descôtes in 2008 as vineyard manager.
- Benoît Pernod is appointed director of operations. Pernod joined Champagne Bollinger in 2022 and is a member of the management team. He is responsible for all production operations and oversees the Bicentenary projects. Pernod graduated from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes d’Ingénieur as an engineer and has a wealth of experience in the mineral industry, glass and, more recently, in an agricultural cooperative.