Champagne and the Ruinart Challenge

In this episode, Christopher Tanghe hosts Ruinart Chef de Cave, Frederic PANAIOTIS. They discuss the storied past of the Ruinart estate within the broader context of Champagne's history, as well as how the region continues to develop as its producers look to the future. Frédéric also gives a preview of this year's Ruinart Challenge lecture, centered on the topic of cork.

All active GuildSomm members are welcome to apply to the Ruinart Challenge. We're still accepting applications for these events in Dallas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles through June 13.

Apply to the Ruinart Challenge.

In this episode:

Frédéric Panaïotis spent much of his childhood exploring his grandparents' small Champagne vineyards. He enjoyed harvesting the Chardonnay grapes from Villers-Marmery, a village rated 1er cru in the Montagne de Reims. He graduated from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon in Viticulture & Oenology and earned the Diplome National d’Oenologue of the Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique in Montpellier. After spending time apprenticing with winemakers throughout France and California, he came back to Champagne in 1991 and worked at the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, and then for Champagne Veuve Clicquot.

Frédéric joined Champagne Ruinart in May 2007 as Chef de Caves. In this position, he shares with his team the responsibility of creating the blends, from the non-vintage Blanc de Blancs and Rosé to the prestige cuvees of Ruinart, Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé. Relying on his passion for food and foreign languages, he also plays a significant role in the communication efforts of Champagne Ruinart, at times traveling extensively to international markets to embody the values of the Ruinart house as “the Contemporary Jewel of Champagne since 1729”.