Ruinart Logo PNG
Details of the Ruinart logo connect the champagne brand’s appearance and distribution to the King of France’s decree. The emblem immerses the buyer in history, and each element offers insight into old recipes and long-term exposure to the collection.
Meaning and History
The Ruinart family represented the bourgeoisie of the province of Champagne and was mainly involved in the textile trade. But the Benedictine monk Dom Thierry Ruinart noticed the growing popularity of sparkling wine among the aristocracy, so he advised moving away from the original business, focusing on winemaking, and then giving up selling fabrics altogether. In this, he was aided by an instinct.
He passed his concept on to his nephew, Nicolas Ruinart, who eventually realized it when the situation was favorable to him. In 1728, King Louis XV, by a special decree, allowed the transport of wine not in barrels, as it was before, but in bottles. Therefore, it became possible to deliver it even to distant markets. At first, customers offered Champagne wines as business gifts when buying cloth.
In the autumn of 1729, the wine house Ruinart began operations, and in 1730 it sent its first shipment. Baskets of bottles, packed 50-100 at a time, were transported along with bales of cloth. But in 1735, they completely superseded cloth, switching to the wine business due to champagne’s huge success. Then Claude (son of Nicolas) moved his office, production facilities, and cellars to Reims, where the company is now located. The entrepreneur felt the particular importance of the chalk cellars for aging wine, so he bought them. It happened in 1768.
The firm now owns the largest cellars in the Champagne region, with a depth of 38m and a length of 8km. Another commercial flair of the Ruinart family is related to art. It immediately caught the refined trend of the aristocracy and commissioned advertising posters from the famous artists Alphonse Mucha and Louis Tozen. Later, a similar approach was applied to the corks: they were designed by India Mahdavi, Christian Biecher, Patricia Urquiola, and Maarten Baas.
Rare antique 18th-century glass champagne containers dictated the bottle’s shape. They were always decorated with the wine house’s heraldic coat of arms in golden tones to match the sparkling contents. It was changed only once to demonstrate the brand’s commitment to development and perfection. At the same time, Ruinart’s brand identity has always emphasized its historical heritage.
What is Ruinart?
This is the oldest champagne house in the Champagne region, located in Reims. It is known for its unique production method, which predominantly uses Chardonnay grapes. Millions of bottles are aged under ideal conditions in ancient chalk cellars that reach depths of up to 38 meters. Among the most esteemed cuvées in the collection are the renowned Blanc de Blancs, refined rosé, and the exclusive Dom series. A distinctive feature of the production is the use of only the first pressing of the grapes (cuvée), which imparts elegance and refinement to the aroma, along with extended aging of the wines.
Old
The iconic logo features the main highlight: the name in the 18th-century Gothic style. The old font embodies the charm of the Middle Ages: needle-pointed ends, a clear sequence, exquisite proportion, austerity, and, at the same time, otherworldly unconventionality. Each letter has oblique cuts, geometric curves, and short, thin lines connecting the wide feet. Overall, the typeface is inline, bold, and aristocratic.
The graphic element is an ancient coat of arms: two lions holding a shield bearing a wild rose, stars, and a heart. A large crown surmounts them. This attribute of monarchic power underlines the royal status of sparkling wines. On top of everything is the year the brand was founded. Below is the inscription “The first established champagne house.”
New
The renewal of the famous French wine house Ruinart’s logo was created by the design agency Pierre Kertz. Its task was to revive the emblem’s individuality and adapt it to modern trends. With several modifications, the designers conveyed the historical roots of the oldest champagne producer. They completely changed the bottom part: made the letters clearer, increased their size, and used a new phrase instead of the old one, “La plus ancienne maison de champagne.”
The designers simplified the upper part by removing minor details that obscured the coat of arms. The pentagonal shield became clearer, and the lions and crown became smaller. The year of the company’s foundation, which was at the top of the figure, the authors moved down, allocating a special niche between the two strips. Although the name seems to be fully preserved, the lines of some letters have a little less slant, and the serif ends are much sharper.
Font and Colors
The modern Ruinart logo is lighter than the old one. According to the developers’ concept, it reflects the effulgence of champagne, symbolizes the brilliance of gold, and embodies the sophistication of the aristocracy. During its modernization, the most important change was the removal of the date, which had been superimposed on the coat of arms. The designers moved it down and stretched it horizontally, whereas previously, it was arched.
A custom typeface, Ruinart Gothic, was chosen for the emblem. It is a Latinized interpretation of the Gothic style, reflecting refinement and delicacy. Now, a soft color scheme is used – dusty gilding. It also emphasizes the champagne’s aristocratic and premium status. Previously, the logo was dominated by gold and brown.