Taittinger Champagne Prestige Rose Brut (in gift box)

In 1734, Jacques Fourne, a champagne wine merchant, founded a company that would later be named "Taittinger". He sold wines produced in the early 18th century by the Benedictine abbeys of Hautvillers, Pierry, Verzy, and Saint-Nicaise in Reims, which owned the best vineyards in Champagne. They cultivated vines and produced sparkling wines. Jacques Fourne's company thrived throughout the 19th century. After World War I, the company acquired a 13th-century residence, known as the "House of the Counts of Champagne". This was the home of Thibaut IV, a notable feudal lord of medieval France during the reign of Louis IX. Thibaut IV was the King of Navarre, the lord of the Saint-Nicaise abbey, and the last Count of Champagne. He was also a renowned poet and musician, earning the nickname "Thibaut the Minstrel". His muse was Blanche of Castile, Queen of France, the wife of Louis VIII. Fleeing from unrequited love, Thibaut IV escaped from France, joining the crusade to the Holy Land. On his return, Thibaut IV brought back grapevines from Cyprus, which became the ancestors of the current Chardonnay of the "Taittinger" company. In the early 20th century, the companies Fourne and Taittinger merged, originating from Lorraine, taking control of champagne production. Pierre Taittinger acquired Château Marketter in 1932, an 18th-century mansion known for its vineyards planted with Chardonnay and Pinot. It was Pierre who decided that the Chardonnay variety would dominate the Taittinger brand, bringing lightness, grace, elegance, and a variety of aromas. The champagnes produced by the Taittinger House quickly gained the status of great wines. The coat of arms of Thibaut IV adorns the label of each bottle. Today, the "Taittinger House" is one of the greatest names in Champagne. The products of the House are exported to over 100 countries worldwide, symbolizing luxury and prestige.