Louis Roederer Champagne

In 2026, Louis Roederer celebrates its 250th anniversary, and Cristal its 150th. Drinks International magazine named it the world's most admired champagne brand for the seventh year running.

The house was founded in Reims in 1776 under the name Dubois Père & Fils. Louis Roederer, born in Strasbourg in 1809, inherited it from his uncle in 1833 and gave it his name. His choice broke with the customs of the time: while others bought grapes, he bought vines. In 1845, he acquired 15 hectares in the grand cru of Verzenay. Even today, all the house's vintages come solely from its own vines.

Louis Roederer II, who succeeded his father in 1870, created a cuvée in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II: Cristal, which the house presents as the first prestige cuvée. Its flat-bottomed transparent bottle met a request from the Tsar; according to the most widespread account, he feared an assassination attempt and wanted to see the wine. In 1908, Nicholas II made the house the official supplier to the court. The 1917 revolution caused it to lose this client, and Cristal was not offered to the public until 1945.

Cristal today comes from an estate reserved exclusively for it, cultivated using organic farming. It remains in the cellar for six to seven years, then six to twelve months after disgorgement. The 2018 vintage, released for its 150th anniversary, brings together 57 parcels, a unique fact. For vintages and prices, read our Cristal guide, or discover the Cristal 2016.

In the 1920s, Léon Olry Roederer laid the foundations for what would become Brut Premier. After his death, his wife Camille Olry-Roederer ran the house from 1933, for more than forty years. Her grandson Jean-Claude Rouzaud succeeded her in 1975, consolidated the vineyard and created Cristal Rosé. His son Frédéric Rouzaud took over on 1 January 2006: he represents the seventh generation.

The house remains family-owned and independent. It also owns Deutz (since 1993), the port house Ramos Pinto, Domaines Ott in Provence, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac and Roederer Estate in California.

Looking for Brut Premier? The house replaced it in 2021 with the Collection. Its number counts the house's blends since 1776: Collection 242 is based on the 2017 harvest, Collection 246 on the 2021 harvest. Each edition blends the year's harvest, a perpetual reserve started in 2012, and reserve wines aged in oak. The 246 contains 55%, 35% and 10% respectively. To choose, read our Louis Roederer cuvées guide.

Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has been cellar master since 1999. The 250 hectares comprise 420 parcels, each vinified separately. The house began phasing out chemical inputs as early as the late 1990s. In 2023, 135 hectares were certified organic, more than half the vineyard. It also gives growing importance to biodynamics, and 30 hectares are worked with horses.