Founded in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in 1881, following the union of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon, the Maison de Champagne Billecart-Salmon remains one of the few houses still under family ownership and is among the most esteemed champagne producers globally.
After seven generations and countless challenges, the Maison continues to uphold the family tradition of "prioritising quality to strive for perfection," which is more than just a pleasing phrase—it's a philosophy brought to life, as not every winery can boast having created "the champagne of the millennium."
In 1999, Antoine Roland-Billecart (sixth generation of the family) secretly entered the 1959 vintage, which his father had deemed the house's finest champagne, and the 1961 vintage, coinciding with his birth year, into the "Champagne of the Millennium" tasting. The family was initially reluctant to participate, considering it too risky.
The event took place in Stockholm and, following a blind tasting of approximately 150 vintages crafted by prestigious Maisons de Champagne, the 1959 vintage, now known as La Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart, was chosen as the "Champagne of the Millennium," the finest champagne of the century. The 1961 vintage secured an impressive second place. With such a pedigree, there can be no doubt regarding the exceptional quality of the champagnes produced at Maison Billecart-Salmon.
With Billecart-Salmon Le Réserve, they present a blend of three vintages composed of wines from pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier grapes sourced from the finest terroirs of the Marne. A champagne that rests for a minimum of 30 months within the magnificent underground cellars with chalk walls that, since the 17th century, have been responsible for refining each sparkling wine from Billecart-Salmon, endowing them with unparalleled harmony, balance, and elegance.