Champagne Taittinger has made English sparkling wine history by planting its first vines in its English vineyard in Kent. The official planting of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines makes Taittinger the first Grande Marque Champagne House to plant vines in the UK. The family-run Champagne producer acquired the Chilham-based vineyard, named Domaine Evremond, in autumn 2015. The 2017 planting will total more than…

Champagne Taittinger has announced a new partnership with the British Independent Film Awards. Under the agreement, Taittinger will be the Champagne Partner of the Awards and its programme of events. The awards are designed to highlight and celebrate the best independent British film and filmmakers and the best future prospects. This latest news coincides with nominations for the 2016 awards, which have just been announced.

Champagne Tattinger has revealed the 14th edition of its Taittinger Collection, featuring designs by photographer Sabastiao Salgado. Brazilian photographic artist Salgado chose the image of a leopard for his creation of the latest limited edition bottle for the 2008 vintage. The leopard, pictured in the Barab River Valley in Namibia, is a statement of what is “most universal and original – an animal drinking at a…

Before he died last week, wine industry doyenne Michael Cox donated his limited-edition collection of Taittinger Champagne to drinks trade charity The Benevolent. The charity is run by his twin brother David and it will auction the prestigious collection at The Benevolent Ball, which is held at The Dorchester hotel on London’s Park Lane on March 13. The collection is comprised of 12 vintages spread…

A Methuselah of Taittinger Champagne was signed by stars including George Clooney, Ben Affleck and Anne Hathaway at the Bafta Awards and will be auctioned for charity. Special Bafta-labelled Magnums and 75cl bottles of Taittinger put a sparkle in the awards, and guests received a bottle in their gift bags. The Methuselah – the size of eight regular bottles – was signed by a glittering…

Justin Llewelyn, Taittinger’s UK ambassador since 1998, died of a heart attack on December 8, aged 59. Llewelyn, known by colleagues as Mr Taittinger UK, had been a stalwart of the drinks trade for nearly 40 years but not been well for some time. Justin, who lived in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, was the son of Desmond Llewelyn, who played Q in 17 James…