In the heart of Reims, within the historic walls of the headquarters of the Taittinger house, opens a unique and innovative experience dedicated to the art of champagne: Polychrome. Reimagined in 2025, this restaurant does not merely offer a simple meal but invites its visitors to explore the richness of the subtleties of champagne through a true palette of flavors. Merging haute cuisine with the effervescent world of grape varieties and terroir, Polychrome symbolizes a living and creative tribute to blending, the spearhead of the Taittinger house. Under the impetus of Michelin-starred chef Charles Coulombeau, guests are invited on a sensory journey where each tasting and each dish reveals the energy and boldness of a passionate winemaker, subtly conveying the nuances of the effervescence that makes the champagne world vibrate. This culinary adventure, accessible throughout the year, invites a rediscovery of the complexity and richness of an exceptional champagne in all its colors.

In brief:

• Polychrome reopens in 2025 in Reims, offering a gastronomic experience entirely dedicated to the diversity of Taittinger champagnes.
• Charles Coulombeau, Michelin-starred chef, signs the four gastronomic seasons, embodying a creative and contemporary vision of polychromy.
• The house offers the full range of ten Taittinger cuvées for tasting, encouraging a true dialogue between dishes and champagne.
• The concept is based on a sumptuous setting combining historic architecture and modern design, with a panoramic view over a landscaped park.
• Polychrome pushes the art of blending right onto the plate, offering a complete immersion into the richness of grape varieties and the Champagne terroirs.

Polychromy and champagne: a dialogue between art and winemaking know-how

Polychromy, within the Taittinger universe, goes beyond the simple notion of colors to resemble a living art expressed through the meticulous blending of grape varieties, terroirs, and vintages. This approach perfectly reflects the very soul of champagne, crafted with the care and passion of a winemaker who marries nuances to create an unprecedented balance.

Rich with its 288 hectares of vines spread over 40 crus, Taittinger cultivates and applies its ancestral know-how with respect for the terroir. The geological and climatic diversity of these parcels gives rise to a plurality of characters and aromas that the cellar master assembles with precision comparable to a painter playing with his palettes. Each cuvée thus becomes a work of art where finesse, power, elegance, and depth intertwine.

For example, the emblematic Comtes de Champagne 2014 cuvée perfectly illustrates this aromatic polychromy. A delicate blend, this champagne combines sought-after floral, mineral, and fruity nuances, giving birth to a vibrant and refined effervescence. This level of excellence would not be possible without a complete mastery of the chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier grape varieties, essential sources of Champagne’s typicity.

Furthermore, the Taittinger house encourages enthusiasts to immerse themselves in this process through direct tasting, thus highlighting the subtleties that distinguish each of its ten cuvées. This oenological journey reveals the complexity of each wine, where micro-terroirs, vintages, and blending methods combine to offer an unparalleled sensory palette. From then on, participating in tasting at Polychrome means understanding the magic behind each flute, the fruit of precision work and patience, emblematic of the Taittinger house.

Polychrome: a gastronomic immersion serving effervescence and flavors

At Polychrome, the effervescence of champagne is not only experienced in the glass; it is found on every plate. The house has made the bold choice to associate this centuries-old art with contemporary, innovative gastronomy, resolutely focused on sharing. Taking into account the seasons and local products, chef Charles Coulombeau offers a menu that celebrates the diversity, richness, and subtlety of pairings between dishes and champagne.

The concept goes beyond classic tasting. Guests become active participants in their experience by composing their own culinary combinations from a carefully selected palette of products: seasonal vegetables, specific condiments, cheeses matured in partnership with a master affineur, light desserts based on fresh fruit. These elements are chosen to create a harmonious dialogue with the nuances of the different presented cuvées, thus strengthening the gustatory resonance that defines Taittinger’s signature.

This approach invites a sensory exploration where textures, aromas, and colors intertwine to exalt the blending of champagnes. For example, an artichoke carpaccio accompanied by an acidic condiment can intensify the floral notes of a Taittinger Brut Réserve, while a more elaborate dish based on seasonal mushrooms will magnify the minerality of a vintage cuvée. This holistic approach creates a true spectacle of the senses, where each bite reveals a new facet of the Champagne blending.

The four gastronomic seasons imagined by Charles Coulombeau transform this experience into a renewed adventure throughout the year. Integrating local and international productions and inspirations, Polychrome becomes a true culinary laboratory making visible all the nuances of polychromy. With this symbiosis between gastronomy and champagne, Polychrome unfolds a new dialogue, both delicate and vibrant, between nature and human expertise.

The unique role of chef Charles Coulombeau in redefining Taittinger polychromy

Charles Coulombeau is not only a Michelin-starred chef; he also embodies a new generation of craftsmen who passionately reinterpret the world of champagne and gastronomy. Winner of the prestigious Taittinger International Author Cuisine Award in 2020, he is the first guest at the position of resident chef at Polychrome, entrusted with a major challenge: to convey his own living and evolving vision of polychromy.

His mission is to combine his culinary identity with the DNA of the Taittinger house, proposing creations that reflect both the Champagne heritage and contemporary influences drawn from around the world. Through his four gastronomic seasons, Coulombeau refreshes the classic perception of champagne by offering unexpected pairings that intrigue and enchant the palate. Each season is an invitation to rediscover champagne through different gustatory lenses, as well as the subtle interactions between grape varieties and the culinary palette proposed.

A striking example of his work is the ability to use ingredients with technical mastery to reveal sometimes the finesse of a brut nature, sometimes the roundness of a rosé. Indeed, through his creativity, he encourages guests to reconsider their traditional tasting approach, making each meal a living exploration of polychromy. In doing so, he actively contributes to the evolution of the Taittinger house toward an ever more daring and sensual expression of champagne.

Charles Coulombeau’s journey, between his renowned establishments in Nancy and Metz, testifies to a demanding yet accessible approach perfectly suited to the warm and expert atmosphere of Polychrome. The synergy between chef and winemaker modernizes tradition while respecting its essence, thus offering an exceptional setting to fully experience Taittinger.

Architecture and design, a reflection of Taittinger’s polychrome soul

Taittinger’s commitment to excellence extends beyond gastronomy or wine: it also embraces the setting that welcomes visitors. Polychrome unfolds within the sumptuous setting of the historic Saint-Nicaise site in Reims, where architect Giovanni Pace masterfully blends modernity and heritage.

This architectural project demonstrates a strong will to preserve the history of the place while adapting it to contemporary needs. The former abbey from the 1930s is revealed in a new light, staging a subtle dialogue between noble materials, generous volumes, and selected works of art. Every detail is designed to echo the polychrome richness of champagne, thus creating an atmosphere both intimate and majestic.

The large bay window offers a panoramic view of a landscaped park, a true natural setting that evolves with the seasons, recalling the changing dynamics and the diversity of flavors found in each tasting. This link between nature and architecture invites one to extend the tasting sensation into a harmonious setting where the universe of champagne extends far beyond the flute.

This architectural harmony perfectly illustrates the polychrome concept: a subtle balance between tradition and innovation, rigidity and fluidity, where each element participates in creating a coherent and inspiring whole. The restaurant thus becomes a true jewel box, transforming each visit into a suspended moment, between indulgence and wonder.

Exploring Taittinger cuvées: diversity by the glass or bottle at the Polychrome Bar

Beyond the gastronomic offer, the Polychrome Bar offers a total immersion in the richness of the Taittinger cuvées, available both by the glass and by the bottle. This formula allows visitors to freely explore the various aromatic dimensions of champagne, according to their desires and discoveries.

The presence of the ten cuvées brings together a complete range of styles and flavors, from the finesse of Brut Réserve to the rare opulence of vintages, including rosés and prestigious cuvées such as Comtes de Champagne. This diversity illustrates Taittinger’s ability to play with terroirs and grape varieties to compose champagnes with varied profiles, true witnesses of their unique identity.

Moreover, the bar encourages discovery through seasonal tasting “palettes” and an “afternoon tea” where food and wine pairings are highlighted. These formulas, available in three or four services, offer a perfect balance between discovering champagne and the pleasures of the table, in a friendly and refined atmosphere.

By giving the possibility to venture into the diversity of blends, the Polychrome Bar establishes itself as an essential stop for enthusiasts wishing to deepen their understanding of champagne and its multiple aromatic nuances. This setting invites one to sharpen their senses and fully live an enriching and entertaining oenological experience.

What is polychromy in the context of Taittinger?

Polychromy at Taittinger refers to the art of blending different grape varieties and terroirs to create complex and balanced champagnes, reflecting a rich and nuanced aromatic diversity.

What are the strengths of the Polychrome restaurant in Reims?

Polychrome offers a unique experience where gastronomy rhymes with champagne, allowing visitors to discover all the nuances of the Taittinger cuvées in a prestigious architectural setting.

How does Charles Coulombeau influence the Polychrome concept?

As the first resident chef, Charles Coulombeau brings his creative and contemporary vision to polychromy, renewing food and champagne pairings around four original gastronomic seasons.

What are the particularities of the Taittinger cuvées offered at the Polychrome Bar?

The ten available cuvées offer a complete palette of flavors, ranging from classic bruts to rare vintages, allowing a direct and personalized exploration of the subtleties of champagne.

What tasting experience does the Polychrome Bar offer?

The bar highlights tastings by the glass, seasonal palettes, and an afternoon tea, promoting a playful and educational discovery of the different blends and terroirs of the house.