Joseph Desruets: A Mugunghwa Blooming in Champagne

"A Mugunghwa Blooming in Champagne" , Sommelier Jaehyun Shim on Champagne Joseph Desruets

At Joo052, our journey always begins with fermentation. Whether it’s rooted in Korean grains and nuruk, or pressed from grapes in the hills of Champagne, we believe that fermentation is more than technique—it’s a story, a culture, a legacy.

That’s why we don’t just serve traditional Korean liquors. We also introduce wines crafted by Korean producers who are making their mark abroad—those who carry a part of Korea with them, even in the most storied wine regions of the world. Among them is Champagne Joseph Desruets, a house that holds a story as sparkling and layered as the wine it creates.

Located in Hautvillers, a village famously known as the birthplace of Champagne and the home of Dom Pierre Pérignon, Joseph Desruets is a family-run domaine with deep roots. Today, it’s led by two brothers who were adopted from Korea, and who inherited their grandfather Joseph Desruets’ winemaking legacy. In honor of their roots, they proudly feature the Mugunghwa—the national flower of Korea—on every bottle label.

To me, that image is incredibly powerful. In the heart of Champagne, a symbol of Korea blooms on a bottle. And inside, the wine reflects that very balance—between history and identity, between place and memory.

As a Korean sommelier, encountering this Champagne for the first time stirred something in me. To know that two Korean-born brothers were crafting Champagne in its birthplace—not just as outsiders, but as heirs to its tradition—felt deeply personal.

I wanted to share their story with our guests. Because this isn’t just a “delicious Champagne.” It’s a testament to how far Korean craftsmanship has traveled, and how it continues to evolve and redefine itself in new terroirs.

At Joo052, we serve their Signature Cuvée. It’s made using the oldest functioning press in Champagne, the Darcq Flamain, which gently extracts the juice at a slow rhythm. This allows a natural skin contact to occur, lending the wine a pale rosé hue that’s rarely seen in traditional Champagne. The result is a wine of extraordinary complexity.

Notes of cranberry and raspberry, hints of toast and brioche, and a delicate nuance of elderflower— together, they create a structure that pairs beautifully with Joo052’s butter-toasted jeungpyeon or crisp, golden fried dishes.

More than a bottle of Champagne, Joseph Desruets is a redefinition of what “Korean liquor” can be. It bridges continents and identities, tradition and innovation—much like the philosophy behind our fermentation-focused pairings at Joo052.

If you ever come across this wine at our table, we hope you’ll taste not only its layers of flavor, but also the story of where it comes from—and who it represents.

– Jaehyun Shim, Head Sommelier at Joo052