The Ace of Spades - Armand de Brignac

Loading player...
Armand de Brignac, known colloquially as Ace of Spades, is a French Champagne owned by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and LVMH. The brand is produced by Champagne Cattier and sold in opaque metallic bottles. The brand's first bottling, Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, is identifiable by its gold bottle with French pewter Ace of Spades labels. The Champagne Cattier team that produces Armand de Brignac is led by Jean-Jacques and Alexandre Cattier, 12th and 13th generation champagne growers. A team of 18 people touch a bottle of Armand de Brignac from pressing the fruit to when the bottles leave the cellars in France.

The Armand de Brignac champagnes are made in the village of Rilly-la-Montagne, in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne. Fruit is sourced from the 30+ hectares owned by the Cattier family and from growers in selected villages across the region. All three Champagne grape varieties are used: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

After hand-picking, the fruit is pressed in one of two family-owned wineries located close to the vineyards. The first press of 4,000 kilos of grapes provides an allowable yield of 20.5 hectolitres of juice (the "cuvée") and Armand de Brignac selects just the very first and freshest portion of this press.

The champagnes rests on lees in the cellars for years before disgorgement. Armand de Brignac uses a unique cuvee that comprises the best still wines aged for one year in French oak barrels. These oak barrels are placed 30 ft underground and thought to give the champagne its complexity and life.

Each metalized bottle is finished by hand, with the application of French pewter labels, polished, and housed in a wooden lacquered gift box, ensuring every single bottle is unique. The annual yield for these bottles is roughly 60,000, which is considered fairly low in comparison to other named brands.
7 Dec 2023 9AM English South Africa Leisure · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

Simbithi: Where Community Meets Culinary Innovation

Chris McDaniel (Food & Beverage Manager) and Jodi Chetty (Marketing & Communications Coordinator) from Simbithi Country Club will join us to discuss how Simbithi is redefining dining and community through hands-on leadership, innovative events like Mums & Mimosas Club and Corona Sunsets, and creative storytelling — all driven by a…
29 Oct 9AM 9 min

Why Independent Audiology Matters with Kara Hoffman

Kara Hoffman from Independent Hearing and Balance Healthcare and iCAN about the benefits of choosing independent audiologists for expert, personalised hearing care over online tests or retail devices.
22 Oct 10AM 7 min

Navigating Mental Health with Your Inner GPS - with Sharon Castle

Dave Guselli drives you home on The Afternoon Show, weekdays from 3-6pm on Radio Life & Style . Broadcasting live from the heart of Ballito, The Afternoon Show serves up a curated mix of contemporary music and hits from across the decades, alongside interviews with tastemakers and influencers, and a…
27 Oct 9AM 9 min

Janice Shares Her Inspiring Journey with PinkDrive and the Power of Early Detection

Janice shares her journey as a cancer survivor, what inspired her to join PinkDrive, explains the organisation’s mission and community services, highlights the importance of early detection and education in South Africa, reflects on impactful experiences, offers a message of hope to those facing cancer, and encourages people to support…
21 Oct 9AM 10 min

Collins Residential Unveils Sienna Lalela: A New Era for North Coast Living

Collins Residential continues to shape the North Coast through its long-term development philosophy, delivering lasting value across its Sheffield Beach estates by combining security, family-focused amenities, and attainable coastal living. The launch of Sienna Lalela on 18 October marks a new era, offering 258 contemporary apartments that blend smart design…
16 Oct 10AM 11 min