THE CRAYÈRES

Formed in the Cretaceous period, the chalk that forms the walls of the chalk pits has survived the centuries. Used for building houses until the 18th century, it was dug underground to form pyramidal mazes, signatures of Champagne's history. Ruinart was one of the first to set up its cellars here in 1877. With the acquisition of this grandiose site, in the heart of the Butte Saint Nicaise, the House built a network of 8 kilometers of galleries on 3 levels. Production and offices were transferred to this historic site during the First World War, to escape the bombardments. In 2015, the Saint-Nicaise hill and pits were added to UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage List in the "cultural landscape" category. To date, they are the only ones in the city of Reims to also be classified as a historic site.

The pits are still in operation today. Hundreds of thousands of bottles of all ages are stored here. Cuvées can be stored for up to 3 years for non-millésimées, 5 years for millésimées, and around 10 years for Dom Ruinart. 

The Cellar Master has also set up a reserve of his rarest bottles,  

Throughout the year, the Maison opens the doors of this extraordinary place to you. As you visit the galleries and discover Ruinart's savoir-faire, you'll also appreciate the traces left by the artists who have reinterpreted the Maison's universe. A living place, whose heritage is constantly being enriched.