Nicolas Irénée Ruinart

Nicolas Irénée Ruinart (4 April 1697 – 21 April 1769) was a French draper and entrepreneur from Reims, best known as the founder—in 1729—of Ruinart, widely regarded as the first "house" organized specifically for the production and trade of champagne.

Early life and family Ruinart was baptized on 4 April 1697 at the Église Saint-Michel in Reims (Saint-Michel parish). He was the son of Nicolas Ruinart (1652–1734), a cloth merchant and judge consul of Reims, and Barbe Misson (1660–1714).

Maison Ruinart’s ledgers record a shipment on 14 March 1764 of an œil-de-perdrix (pale rosé) wine to Germany, regarded as the first documented example of rosé champagne in history.

Death and legacy Before his death, Nicolas Ruinart transferred control of the enterprise to his son Claude Ruinart de Brimont, who expanded its operations and secured its position in Reims.