Schlagwort: Lorenz Bäumer

Wine and Art

November 2nd, 2025
When Bubbles Meet Brushes: The Enduring Art of Champagne Collaborations

In the world of fine wine, artistry flows as naturally as Champagne itself. From cellar to canvas, the great Champagne houses have long collaborated with artists to express their unique blend of craftsmanship, heritage, and imagination. These Champagne art collaborations go beyond design — they are cultural dialogues between creation and celebration. Let’s uncork the stories behind the maisons that have mastered this effervescent fusion of art and wine.

Maison Ruinart: The Pioneer of Artistic Collaboration

Alphonse Mucha’s 1896 Ruinart poster

The artistic journey of Champagne began with Maison Ruinart, founded in 1729 — the oldest Champagne house. In 1896, André Ruinart commissioned Alphonse Mucha, a leading Art Nouveau illustrator, to create a poster that forever changed how Champagne was seen.

Ruinart continues to honor that creative legacy through its Carte Blanche Artist Program (since 2008), inviting contemporary artists to reinterpret the maison’s heritage:
- Vik Muniz (2014) – vineyard portraits made from natural materials.
- David Shrigley (2020) – humorous reflections on sustainability and savoir-faire.
- Jeppe Hein (2022) – mirrored installations exploring conviviality.
- Eva Jospin (2023) – sculptural forest scenes transforming the chalk cellars.
Ruinart remains the benchmark for how tradition can inspire modern creativity.

Read more about Ruinart’s Carte Blanche series →

Dom Pérignon: The Art of Creation

Dom Pérignon X T. Murakami bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary art

At Dom Pérignon, creation is philosophy. Every vintage is treated as an artwork — a harmony between nature and time.

Key collaborations include:
- Jeff Koons (2013) – Balloon Venus for Dom Pérignon Rosé.
- Iris van Herpen (2003) – haute couture design meets fine Champagne.
- Lenny Kravitz (2018) – artistic direction blending design and music.
- Lady Gaga (2021) – a bold creative partnership embodying transformation and freedom, resulting in surreal bottle sculptures and fashion-inspired photography.
- Mathias Bengtsson (2024) – organic, nature-inspired designs symbolizing the living spirit of Champagne – > explore here
- Jean-Michel Basquiat (2024) -> explore more here
- Takashi Murakami (2025) – Known for his iconic Superflat aesthetic and smiling floral motifs, Murakami has designed both the label and presentation box for Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 and Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2010. The designs feature vibrant, smiling flowers blooming against black backgrounds, an unmistakable Murakami signature. -> get your bottle here
Each partnership turns Dom Pérignon into more than a drink — it becomes a creative ritual.

Veuve Clicquot: Boldness and Vision

Simon Porte Jacquemus‘ design for Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018

Veuve Clicquot embodies innovation, from Madame Clicquot’s 19th-century breakthroughs to today’s creative ventures.
- Yayoi Kusama (2020) – vibrant floral reinterpretation of La Grande Dame 2012.
- Simon Porte Jacquemus (2025) – The collaboration unites two creative universes illuminated by the joy that is deeply rooted in their respective identities. The emblematic Veuve Clicquot yellow, first introduced in 1877, radiates the colour of the sun, while Simon Porte Jacquemus remains eternally inspired by his solar Southern French roots.> discover more, get your bottle here
Veuve Clicquot calls its spirit solaire — radiant, optimistic, and artistic.

Moët & Chandon: Heritage in a New Light

Daniel Arsham’s sculptural design for Moët & Chandon Impérial 2023.

In 2023, Moët & Chandon partnered with American artist Daniel Arsham, renowned for his “fictional archaeology.” His sculptural reinterpretation of the Moët Impérial bottle, and a site-specific installation in Épernay, offered a futuristic lens on Champagne’s timeless identity.

The project symbolized Moët’s dedication to both heritage and reinvention — where the bottle itself becomes an archaeological artifact of celebration.

Interested in this artistic piece? Get your quote

Beyond Champagne: When Red Wines Meet Art

The marriage of art and wine extends far beyond Champagne. Some of the world’s finest red wines have built artistic collaborations into their DNA.

Château Mouton Rothschild – Bordeaux

Since 1945, each vintage features a label designed by a renowned artist — including Picasso, Miró, Warhol, Chagall, Haring, and Jeff Koons. Every bottle is both collectible and cultural.

Château La Coste – Provence

A fusion of vineyard and open-air gallery, with works by Louise Bourgeois, Richard Serra, Ai Weiwei, and Tadao Ando.

Ornellaia – Tuscany

Through its Vendemmia d’Artista project (since 2009), artists like Michelangelo Pistoletto and William Kentridge celebrate each vintage’s character.

Château Lynch-Bages – Pauillac

Combines winemaking and architecture, notably through Jean-Michel Wilmotte’s art-driven redesign of its winery.

Hennessy: When Craftsmanship Meets Creative Vision

Celebrating 75 years of the NBA with a limited-edition decanter for its Paradis cognac by jeweler Lorenz Bäumer

In the world of spirits, Hennessy has long led the dialogue between art, design, and heritage. The maison’s collaborations celebrate craftsmanship beyond the barrel, blending cognac’s timeless refinement with contemporary expression. The NBA Limited Edition by Lorenz Bäumer, with its bold geometric design and subtle nods to the court, bridges culture, sport, and luxury.

Hennessy x Loewe (2025)

The collaboration between Hennessy X.O and Loewe’s features a handcrafted leather „nest“ inspired by a chestnut burr to encase Hennessy’s Paradis cognac. This partnership merges luxury fashion and fine spirits through a shared appreciation for craftsmanship and heritage, with Loewe’s artisans creating each leather casing over 10 hours, and Hennessy’s cognac representing a generations-old blend. The collection is available in a 70cl and a 3-liter version. – > more info

From its partnership with French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel dressed the decanter in flowing, amber-inspired glass motifs, each collaboration honors the spirit of transformation.

Together, these editions reflect Hennessy’s enduring commitment to creativity — proving that great cognac, like great art, is crafted to be experienced with all the senses.

Conclusion: The Art of Celebration

From Mucha’s Art Nouveau elegance for Ruinart to Daniel Arsham’s futuristic sculptures for Moët & Chandon, the fusion of art and wine is a living tradition. Whether sparkling or still, these collaborations invite us to experience wine not just as taste, but as emotion, vision, and story.

In every bottle, there’s a little masterpiece — waiting to be uncorked.
From the grape to the „Cognac“ glass

August 7th, 2023
The process of making cognac

The process of making cognac is long and sophisticated. Locally grown Ugni White grapes journey through six major steps – starting the moment they are gingerly picked from their vines to that first sip as an exceptional cognac in your glass.

WINEMAKING

Everything begins with the grapes

Once a year, perfectly mature grapes must be harvested quickly and with precision. The mechanical harvests of the Charente vineyards allow extreme precision, both in quality and quantity. Ugni Blanc grapes are perfectly suited for our distillation process. A late-maturing varietal, it strikes the right balance between high acidity and a low alcohol content, which is ideal for well-balanced eaux-de-vie.

Cognac can be crafted only in Cognac

A spirit which bears the Cognac Protected Appellation of origin (PDO) has to comply with regulated specifications, its grapes must be grown in Cognac, and the wine made from them produced here, defined by strict borders encircling the Charente River. You can taste the difference.

As far as the eye can see

The vineyards of Cognac have an exploitable surface area of approximately 75,000 hectares. This land is divided into six crus.

The cycle of life

Throughout the year, we follow the vines’ natural lifecycle. As winter falls, the barren vines have to be pruned and tied. In the spring, the sap rises from the roots. The first leaves and buds appear. An unmistakeable scent fills the air. The first fruits appear in summer, the warmth of the sun maturing them in time for the Autumn harvest.

DESTILLATION

Transforming wine into eau-de-vie

Between October and the 31st of March, at the latest, the distilleries are busy day and night. Passionate artisans fill, monitor, and cosset the traditional Charentais copper stills. This process of transforming wine into eau-de-vie harnesses the liquid’s volatile compounds. A long, delicate distillation preserves the soul of the wine.

Not once, but twice

Double distillation is required to make eaux-de-vie for cognac. In the first, a raw spirit called “brouillis” is produced. The second distillation produces a much higher alcohol content. Only the middle part, the ‘heart’, is saved. This clear, colorless liquid is called eau-de-vie.

12 KG – 9 LITRES – 1 LITRE

It takes approximately 12kg of grapes to obtain 1 litre of eau-de-vie. Pressing the grapes produces 9 litres of wine. Distilled once, this results in 3 litres of brouillis. Distilled a second time, it generates one litre of pure eau-de-vie.

BARRELS OF DEDICATION

Eaux-de-vie and wood age together for years, exchanging flavors and colors. Each eau-de-vie demands years of labor, as well as rotation between different barrels, so that it can reach its full complexity.

RAISING EAUX-DE-VIE

Eaux-de-vie are raised in chais – special, carefully monitored cellars. Temperature and lighting are important factors. Eaux-de-vie aged in more humid chais, close to the Charente river, can be mellower and rounder. Those raised in drier chais may have more character.

A UNIQUE INVENTORY

Maison Hennessy’s reserve is one of the largest collections of eaux-de-vie in the world. It has over 350,000 barrels stored in 65 cellars. This inventory is the legacy of familys predecessors, which have been treasured for over 200 years.

BLENDING

THE ART OF DISCERNMENT

Unlike other spirits, maturation is not the only factor that determines the quality of a cognac. Only a meticulously selected blend of fine eaux-de-vie can lead to a distinct, superior cognac. This art of discerning is entrusted to the Master Blender and the Tasting Committee, who meet daily at 11am sharp to taste eaux-de-vie and evaluate their potential.

CREATING CONSISTENT PERFECTION

The eaux-de-vie are of different ages and domains and will express themselves differently after maturation. A Hennessy Cognac is the result of the assembly of all these nuances, to reproduce the same result over time.

TO BLEND OR NOT TO BLEND

Every year, the Hennessy Tasting Committee reviews around 10,000 eaux-de-vie. Each eau-de-vie is meticulously tasted, then selected or rejected if it doesn’t meet the strict quality standards set by the committee. The ones selected will be tasted at least once a year to ensure their maturation process. Contrary to other spirits, aging is not the only factor that matters in the quality of cognac. Only a meticulously selected blend of fine eaux-de-vie make for a distinct, superior cognac.

BOTTLING

Once the blends have been elaborated, bottles are prepared in the Charentais workshops and then are shipped to our distributors around the world. Each case begins its journey in Cognac, and we pay constant and serious attention to our ecological footprint, from packaging to modes of transport.

Exclusive selection of Cognac Hennesy limited edition

Enjoy Cognac with moderation. Content only for people age 18+.

This article is a colaboration with Maison Hennessy, part of the LVMH Group, a world leader in luxury. Pictures and citations copyright by Hennessy.

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