An article posted at Decanter notes that an old rivalry between the Bollinger And Taittinger champagne houses may have been sparked by recent Ian Fleming centenary events.

Each company sponsored a seperate centenary event earlier this month: Bollinger was behind the ‘For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond’ exhibition at London’s Imperial War Museum, while Taittinger was on hand only a few days later at the ‘Bond Bound: Ian Fleming & the Art of Cover Design’ exhibition.

Taittinger was a favourite of the literary James Bond, while Bollinger has been much more prominent in the film series, most recently featured in 2006’s Casino Royale.

‘Taittinger was actually Ian Fleming’s favourite Champagne,’ said Justin Llewellyn, brand ambassador for Taittinger and son of gadget master Desmond Llewellyn.

‘We have a letter from Fleming thanking M. Taittinger for a dozen bottles, and Taittinger was mentioned in Casino Royale, Moonraker, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Goldfinger.’

The last time Taittinger made a screen appearance in the 007 series dates back to 1963’s From Russia with Love.

‘They approached Claude Taittinger for the next film, but he didn’t want to be involved, and we never have been since,’ said Llewellyn.

Elizabeth Ferguson, PR manager for Mentzendorff, Bollinger’s UK importer, confirmed Bollinger has been James Bond’s Champagne since 1979. ‘The earlier Bond books do indeed feature Taittinger as well as other Champagne brands before he became a faithful Bollinger drinker,’ she said.

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