Ratafia Champenois, Pierre Malingre

Ratafia Champenois – Pierre Malingre 🍯 | The secret golden elixir from Champagne

✨ Discover the silky-sweet Ratafia by Pierre Malingre, as featured in the podcast De Beste Smaak van Nederland with Jan Versteegh and Rámon Verkoeijen. This amber treasure proves that Champagne houses master more than just bubbles – it’s a luscious fortified wine that charms you sip after sip!

👃 Tasting Notes

This Ratafia is pure indulgence for the senses – a liquid wink to fine dessert wines, yet unmistakably Champagne in spirit:

• Colour: Warm golden to amber, rich and syrupy in the glass – a visual promise of depth and complexity.
• Nose: An intense bouquet of orange blossom, ripe fig and honeycomb. As it breathes, subtle hints of caramel, vanilla and roasted almonds appear. A true sniffer’s delight – during the podcast De Beste Smaak van Nederland, Jan Versteegh couldn’t resist and hugged the bottle on the spot!
• Palate: Rich, velvety and perfectly balanced between gentle sweetness, freshness and warming alcohol. Layers of dried fruit, gingerbread spice and a hint of nuttiness unfold on a creamy, silky texture. The subtle sweetness (120 g/L) is beautifully lifted by a bright freshness, leading to a long, honeyed and elegant finish.

🌱 Origin & Craftsmanship

• 🍇 Base: Crafted from noble Champagne must, fortified with brandy. By adding alcohol, fermentation halts early, leaving the natural sugars intact – resulting in a luscious sweetness that stays even after opening.
• 🪵 Maturation: Aged in carefully selected oak barrels for extra depth and complexity.
• 📍 Vineyards: Estate plots in Prouilly, Trigny, Gueux and Janvry – 9 hectares in total, sustainably farmed without insecticides.
• 📜 Did you know? The name Ratafia comes from the Latin Res Rata fiat – ‘Let the deal be done’. In Victorian England, this elixir was served at the end of dinner when an agreement was sealed.
• 🍾 Tradition: Alongside their pure Champagnes, the Malingre family proudly crafts this unique Ratafia – with sustainable certification since 2023!

🍽️ Food Pairing

Ratafia is a versatile indulgence:

• 🍈 Delicious as an aperitif with melon or melon wrapped in serrano ham
• 🍰 Sublime with desserts featuring nuts, caramel or dried fruits
• 🧀 Perfect with blue cheeses or a slice of seared foie gras
• 🍫 Try it with spiced biscuits or a handful of gingerbread cookies during the festive season!
• 🥃 Serve slightly chilled (6–10°C) in a small tulip-shaped tasting glass or port glass for the best aroma experience.

✅ Tip: Pour 6–8 cl per serving and store the opened bottle in the fridge – it keeps its charm for months!

🎙️ As Featured in the Podcast

This Ratafia was highlighted in De Beste Smaak van Nederland with Jan Versteegh and Rámon Verkoeijen. A delicious testament to Champagne’s hidden gems – no bubbles, but bursting with character!

✅ Why choose Pierre Malingre Ratafia?

• 🍯 Silky-sweet, fruity and elegantly complex
• 🪵 Oak-aged for extra depth
• 🍇 Crafted with respect for tradition and terroir
• 🎙️ Featured in De Beste Smaak van Nederland
• 🥃 Keeps for months in the fridge after opening

A glass of Ratafia is more than a drink: it’s the perfect dinner finale and a ‘sealed deal’ full of flavour! 🥃✨