Bollinger appoints Émilien Boutillat as cellar master
Champagne Bollinger has appointed award-winning winemaker Émilien Boutillat as its new cellar master, with the current Piper-Heidsieck chief winemaker set to join the house in October.
Champagne Bollinger has announced the appointment of Émilien Boutillat as cellar master, effective from 1 October 2026.
Boutillat will be responsible for preserving and developing the distinctive Bollinger style while guiding the house through its next phase of development as it approaches its 200th anniversary.
Charles Armand de Belenet, managing director of Champagne Bollinger, said: “We are delighted to welcome Émilien to Champagne Bollinger. His career, his exacting standards and his vision of winemaking will be invaluable assets in preserving and advancing the style of the House, while supporting its evolution in the next chapters of its history.
“On the eve of its bicentenary, this appointment is fully aligned with the House’s ambition to prepare for the future while remaining faithful to the values, savoir faire and commitments that define its singularity.”
International experience
Born and raised in Champagne, Boutillat studied at Montpellier SupAgro, graduating with qualifications in both oenology and agricultural engineering.
His career has taken him across several of the world’s leading wine regions. In France, he worked at Château Margaux and Domaine de la Solitude in Châteauneuf-du-Pape before gaining international experience at Mud House Winery in New Zealand, Peter Michael Winery in California, Viu Manent in Chile and La Motte Estate in South Africa.
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He later returned to Champagne, serving as cellar master for both the Cattier and Armand de Brignac houses before joining Piper-Heidsieck in 2018, where he has held the role since.
Pinot Noir expertise
Boutillat is particularly recognised for his work with Pinot Noir, the grape variety most closely associated with the Bollinger house style.
The producer said his reputation has been built on a combination of technical precision, vineyard knowledge and an ability to adapt winemaking practices to the challenges posed by climate change.
His achievements have been recognised by the International Wine Challenge, which named him Best Cellar Master of the Year in both 2021 and 2023.
Succeeding Denis Bunner
Boutillat will succeed Denis Bunner, who joined Champagne Bollinger in 2013 as deputy to then cellar master Gilles Descôtes.
Bunner was appointed chief winemaker in 2023 and has played a key role in maintaining the Bollinger style and overseeing the house’s oenological development over the past decade.
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