8 Things You Didn’t Know About Armand de Brignac, AKA Ace of Spades
Over the last few years, Ace of Spades — the Champagne’s actual name is Armand de Brignac — has become one of the most popular Champagne brands on the market. Thanks to Jay Z purchasing the brand in 2014, Ace of Spades has become a staple at clubs, bars, and restaurants all over the country.
Prestige doesn’t come cheap. At nearly $300 a pop (and that’s just at retail), you should definitely know what you’re getting out of your opaque, gold bottle. Here are eight things to know about Ace of Spades Champagne to look like a boss during your next night out.
The Name Game
The real name for Ace of Spades is actually Armand de Brignac. The Champagne is produced by Champagne Cattier, though has acquired its colloquial nickname due to the recognizable design on the bottle.
Five’s the Number
There are actually five cuvées under the Armand de Brignac labelling; Gold Brut, Rosé, Demi-Sec, Blanc de Blancs, and Blanc de Noirs. Each cuvée uses the traditional Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier), with the Blanc de Blancs consisting of 100 percent Chardonnay and the Blanc de Noirs comprised of 100 percent Pinot Noir.
All in the Family
Each bottle of Ace of Spades Champagne is handled by more than 10 team members prior to leaving the facility. These hands include those of Jean-Jacques and Alexandre Cattier themselves, 12th and 13th generation winemakers of the family. The estate has been around since the 1700s!
Location, Location, Location
Grapes for Armand de Brignac are sourced from the family’s 30-plus hectares of vines, as well as carefully chosen growers, across the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne.
Slow Hands
Quality is key at Armand de Brignac. All fruit is picked by hand, then pressed at one of the family-owned facilities. The first press of the juice is used for Champagne production. The bottles age on their lees and are riddled by hand. High-quality wine aged 30 feet underground is used for dosage, resulting in an extremely precise, high-quality final product.
Award-Winning, Well-Reviewed Bottles
Armand de Brignac has won the approval of many critics, including Jancis Robinson and José Penin, who rated the wine No. 1 out of 1,000 Champagne bottlings in 2009. The wine also received regular 90+ scores in various reviews, including Decanter and Wine Spectator.
Ace Of Spades Champagne Costs Quite a Bit
As previously noted, a bottle of Armand de Brignac will run you a cool $300, and that’s just in a retail store. Be prepared to drop a few more Benjamins during a bubbly night out with friends. In 2011, a 15-liter bottle of the Champagne was purchased for a Dallas Mavericks’ championship celebration. The cost? A whopping $90K!
Celebrity Status
After dropping Cristal over remarks widely perceived as racist in 2006, Jay-Z officially purchased Armand de Brignac in November 2014. Since the celebrity’s acquisition, the popularity of the brand has skyrocketed.