For five months this year, the High Line’s immersive horticulture celebration, Keep It Wild: Celebrating Native Plants, took over the park—a feat that would not have been possible without the partnership of Ruinart Champagne. So why, you may ask, did a champagne company support us in bringing this park experience to visitors? As a non-profit organization, the High Line relies on external funding to keep our park thriving and bring programming to life for New Yorkers and visitors alike. Ruinart may seem like a curious partner for the High Line at first, but the truth is that both organizations are united in their core values, particularly in our shared commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.

Our annual horticulture celebration, which highlights a different aspect of the park’s horticulture and sustainability initiatives each year, is one of our biggest, most widely experienced on-the-park programs. In 2023, the celebration focused on High Line plants native to the five boroughs of New York City, which are the cornerstone of our horticulturists’ work to create sustainable, resilient, and pollinator-friendly landscapes. This year, the High Line was proud to partner with Ruinart Champagne to bring this celebration to an even wider audience. The support of Ruinart Champagne, paired with donations from people like you, meant we were able to provide more tours and on-the-park educational opportunities than ever, increasing the number of New Yorkers and visitors who were able to delve deeper into our horticulture and sustainability work.

Founded in 1729 as the first House of Champagne, Ruinart consistently looks at the future of sustainability to reduce its carbon footprint in the production of its champagne. Their commitment to promoting biodiversity and sustainable viticulture made them the perfect partner for our 2023 horticulture celebration. Ruinart’s partnership with the High Line allowed us to expand the impact of the horticulture celebration in 2023. Many new ways to engage New Yorkers and visitors in the park were created, including a native plants brochure, season-long signage throughout the park, an immersive exhibition in one of the park’s passageways, and profiles on our horticulturists on-site and on social media.

Ruinart’s partnership was also crucial in the development of a new series of topical tours held throughout the celebration. These Ruinart x High Line “Keep It Wild!” tours focused on the intersection of the park’s native plants, the art program, and our shared vision of sustainability.

To shed additional light on our partnership, we invited Sarah Pallack, Head of Ruinart US, and Frédéric Panaïotis, Ruinart Chef de Caves, to answer a few questions about Ruinart and their interest in Celebrating Native Plants.

Why did Ruinart decide to sponsor the High Line’s native plants celebration this year?
Ruinart proudly sponsored the High Line’s native plants celebration this year as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The High Line’s focus on native plants aligns with our dedication to biodiversity preservation and sustainable viticulture in our vineyards. We believe in the importance of promoting native plants to support a balanced ecosystem, and our partnership with the High Line allows us to raise awareness of this critical aspect of sustainability.
—Sarah Pallack, Head of Ruinart, US

What shared values do you see between Ruinart and the High Line?
Ruinart and the High Line share a deep commitment to environmental conservation, responsible land use, and the promotion of art in public spaces. Both our Maison and the High Line understand the importance of preserving the environment and repurposing existing resources. Ruinart’s history of repurposing chalk caves for our cellars in Champagne mirrors the High Line’s transformation from a disused railway into a dynamic public space. Moreover, we are equally passionate about the intersection of art and nature in our respective initiatives, with Ruinart’s Carte Blanche program and the High Line’s dedication to contemporary art in public spaces. These shared values underpin our partnership and commitment to the preservation of nature, sustainability, and the belief that art and environmental consciousness can coexist harmoniously.
—Frédéric Panaïotis, Ruinart Chef de Caves

What aspects of the native plants celebration were most exciting to you?
The most exciting aspect of the native plants celebration is the opportunity to explore the intersection of art, sustainability, and biodiversity. The High Line’s dedication to native plants and their role in creating a balanced ecosystem is truly inspiring. We are particularly enthusiastic about how this celebration allows visitors to appreciate the significance of native plants in maintaining a harmonious environment, which closely mirrors our dedication to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable viticulture in our vineyards.
—Sarah Pallack, Head of Ruinart, US

How does the topic of native plants dovetail with Ruinart’s work in sustainable viticulture? What parallels do you see there?
Native plants and Ruinart’s work in sustainable viticulture are closely connected through their shared goal of preserving biodiversity and fostering a balanced ecosystem. Back in Reims, in the Champagne region of France, Maison Ruinart has dedicated our 40-hectare (nearly 98 acres) Taissy vineyard to experimenting with projects to promote biodiversity and support sustainable viticulture practices. Our commitment to initiatives like forest regeneration and sustainable viticulture in our vineyards aligns with the importance of native plants in the High Line’s ecosystem. Both efforts emphasize the significance of maintaining a balanced and harmonious environment that supports beneficial insects, native fauna, and overall ecosystem health. The parallel lies in our mutual dedication to environmental stewardship and a conscious approach to luxury that prioritizes the preservation of nature and the cultivation of a sustainable and harmonious relationship with the environment, whether in an urban landscape or a vineyard.
—Frédéric Panaïotis, Ruinart Chef de Caves

Support

From the Vineyards of Champagne to the High Line: A Joint Initiative to Celebrate Native Plants & Biodiversity
Ruinart is proud to support the High Line’s “Keep It Wild” tours, as part of the park’s 2023 native plants celebration. Ruinart’s interest in supporting these initiatives on the High Line stems from their commitment to promoting biodiversity, sustainable viticulture, and reducing their carbon footprint in the production of its champagnes. In response to the global environmental challenges, Ruinart works hard to implement many practices to create a positive impact on the planet.

Major support from Ruinart Champagne in celebration of biodiversity.