Le Rituel par Christian Louboutin launches

Rémy Cointreau Global Travel Retail first revealed at TFWA World Exhibition in October the unique presentation of Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Brut, which evokes an erotic ritual made famous in the late 19th century when Paris was the capital of glamour and pleasure.

Drinking champagne from the shoe of a courtesan was a custom that originated in 18th-century England where the gentry took to drinking champagne from the shoes of ballerinas but it was made famous in Paris a century later.

Piper-Heidsieck has taken the audacious step of reinterpreting this risqué custom from the Belle Époque by commissioning a fabulous crystal stiletto shoe which serves as a champagne flute for the ultimate indulgence.

The handcrafted stiletto has been designed by Christian Louboutin, the global reference in shoemaking whose creations are extravagant, subversive and glamorous.

Over the past 18 years Christian Louboutin has achieved international fame by reincarnating the couture shoe, turning it into a glamorous work of art that can be worn every day. Ultra-creative, he has backed up his extravagant and highly original aesthetic ideas with the highest quality. His colour of choice is passionate red, which graces the soles of all his shoes and resonates with Piper-Heidsieck for whom red is a key brand colour.

Louboutin has chosen to grace this unique shoe with a 14cm heel, the champagne being contained in the lower part of the glass. The opaque black crystal shines like a varnished shoe while the transparent red sole lends the bubbles its colour of passion.

The extravagant crystal stiletto flute, signed by both houses, will be presented in a luxury gift box with a printed legend about Le Rituel, a red shoe pouch and a bottle of the Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Brut which has been personalised with the signature of Louboutin and dressed with a red foil top.

Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Brut is a crisp and radiant cuvée which defines the house style of the brand.

The recommended retail price for this limited edition of will be 350 euros and it will be available from the end of October in selected domestic and duty free outlets.

The presentation of Le Rituel will be supported by a set of dramatic visibility tools including a boudoir window display and pedestal glorifiers.

1 October 2009 - Felicity Murray