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Claude Taittinger, long-time managing director and president of Champagne Taittinger, has died at the age of 94. Claude Taittinger worked in the family business for almost 60 years. He started working at the champagne house in 1949. In 1960, he became its managing director after his brother François died in an accident. Claude Taittinger increased the vineyard area by almost 140 hectares within five years in the 1960s. Taittinger's production rose from one million to 4.5 million bottles per year during the 45 years of his leadership. He shaped a new image of champagne, which he established in the modern era of the luxury world. He was understood by his colleagues as a brand ambassador. In honour of his father, who died in 1965, he established the Prix Culinaire International Pierre-Taittinger in 1967, and the Taittinger Collection for artists' labels in 1983. It was not until 2005, when the champagne house was sold after inheritance disputes, that he retired from working life.
His nephew Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger bought back the family business in early 2007. Since 2019, his daughter Vitalia has been running the champagne house.
(ru /source: Drinksbusiness; photo: Taittinger)