Luxurious Champagne Houses in France: The Ultimate Guide 2024
© Perrier-Jouët
12 min read
Explore the epitome of luxury with a view into France's most prestigious champagne houses. From the historic cellars of Krug to the artistic elegance of Perrier-Jouët, discover the unique stories, most famous champagnes, and exclusive experiences that make each house a dream for any champagne aficionado.
12 min read
Embarking on a journey through France's most luxurious champagne houses is a "joie de vivre" dream for many wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs. Here's a comprehensive guide to the most prestigious champagne houses in France, each with its unique story, exceptional offerings, and unforgettable experiences.
Maison Krug
Founded: 1843
Website: www.krug.com
Krug is synonymous with luxury and exclusivity in the world of champagne. Founded by Joseph Krug, this house is renowned for its commitment to creating only prestige cuvées.
Unique Aspects:
- Every year, Krug creates a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, their flagship multi-vintage champagne
- Krug is famous for its meticulous attention to detail, with each plot vinified separately.
Most Famous Champagne: Krug Grande Cuvée
Why Famous: Known as the ultimate expression of champagne blending, it incorporates over 120 wines from more than 10 different years, creating a symphony of flavors and aromas.
Visiting:
- Location: 5 Rue Coquebert, 51100 Reims, France
- Visits and events are by invitation only and are highly exclusive
- Pay attention to: Each year, Krug’s Cellar Master samples 250 wines from the current year and 150 reserve wines to craft a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée. The tasting room features a wall depicting these 400 wines, each representing a single vineyard plot. Surrounding audio speakers play acoustic representations of 10 Champagne regions, highlighting their unique contributions to the final blend.
Dom Pérignon
Founded: 1668
Website: www.domperignon.com
Named after the Benedictine monk who pioneered several winemaking techniques, Dom Pérignon is the prestige cuvée of Moët & Chandon.
Unique Aspects:
- Only produces vintage champagne
- Known for its commitment to expressing each vintage's unique character.
Most Famous Champagne: Dom Pérignon Vintage
Why Famous: Celebrated for its complexity and depth, each vintage is a unique expression of the year’s harvest, making it a symbol of luxury and refinement.
Visiting:
- Location: 20 Avenue de Champagne, 51200 Épernay, France
- Visits are by invitation only and are highly exclusive
- Pay attention to: The historic Abbey of Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon lived and worked.
Louis Roederer
Founded: 1776
Website: www.louis-roederer.com
Louis Roederer is one of the few remaining independent, family-run champagne houses, known for its iconic Cristal champagne.
Unique Aspects:
- Owns over 240 hectares of vineyards in the finest areas of Champagne
- Pioneering biodynamic viticulture in Champagne.
Most Famous Champagne: Cristal
Why Famous: Originally created for Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Cristal is renowned for its purity, elegance, and the distinctive clear bottle that showcases its golden liquid.
Visiting:
- Location: 21 Boulevard Lundy, 51100 Reims, France
- Visits are by invitation only and are highly exclusive
- Pay attention to: The extensive art collection at the Roederer estate.
Champagne Pommery
Founded: 1858
Website: www.champagnepommery.com
Champagne Pommery was founded in 1858 by Alexandre Louis Pommery and Narcisse Greno. However, it was Madame Louise Pommery who took over the company in 1860 and transformed it into one of the world's leading Champagne producers.
Unique Aspects:
- Madame Pommery invented Brut Champagne in 1874, revolutionizing the industry
- The house owns 18 kilometers of underground cellars, carved from ancient chalk quarries, which are now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Most Famous Champagne: Pommery Brut Royal
Why Famous: This flagship non-vintage Brut is a classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, known for its elegance and finesse. It embodies the house style pioneered by Madame Pommery, focusing on dryness and refinement.
Visiting:
- Location: 5 Place du Général Gouraud, 51100 Reims, France
- Guided and self-guided tours are available by reservation
- Pay attention to: The stunning Elizabethan neo-Gothic architecture of the estate, the impressive underground cellars, and the contemporary art exhibitions often held in the cellars.
When planning your visit to Champagne Pommery, keep in mind that advance booking is recommended. The house receives around 180,000 visitors annually, making it one of the most popular Champagne tourism destinations.
Bollinger
Founded: 1829
Website: www.champagne-bollinger.com
Bollinger is known for its distinctive style, characterized by power and complexity, and its association with James Bond.
Unique Aspects:
- Uses a high proportion of reserve wines in its non-vintage champagne
- Owns rare ungrafted pre-phylloxera Pinot Noir vines.
Most Famous Champagne: Bollinger Special Cuvée
Why Famous: This flagship non-vintage champagne is renowned for its rich, full-bodied style, making it a favorite among connoisseurs and featured in James Bond films.
Visiting:
- Location: 16 Rue Jules Lobet, 51160 Aÿ, France
- Tours are by reservation and limited
- Pay attention to: The traditional riddling racks and the cooperage where barrels are still made by hand.
Perrier-Jouët
Founded: 1811
Website: www.perrier-jouet.com
Perrier-Jouët is celebrated for its elegant and floral champagnes, often recognized by the iconic Art Nouveau anemone design on its bottles.
Unique Aspects:
- Known for its Belle Epoque series, which features hand-painted bottles
- Emphasis on Chardonnay grapes for a delicate and refined taste.
Most Famous Champagne: Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque
Why Famous: This vintage champagne is celebrated for its floral elegance and the beautiful hand-painted anemone bottles, making it a symbol of luxury and artistry.
Visiting:
- Location: 26 Avenue de Champagne, 51200 Épernay, France
- Tours and experiences are available by reservation
- Pay attention to: The stunning Art Nouveau decor and the historic cellars.
Veuve Clicquot
Founded: 1772
Website: www.veuveclicquot.com
Veuve Clicquot is renowned for its rich history and the pioneering spirit of Madame Clicquot, who invented the riddling table to clarify champagne.
Unique Aspects:
- Famous for its Yellow Label Brut
- Known for the innovation of the riddling process.
Most Famous Champagne: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut
Why Famous: This iconic champagne is known for its consistency and quality, making it a staple at celebrations worldwide.
Visiting:
- Location: 1 Place des Droits de l'Homme, 51100 Reims, France
- Tours and experiences are available by reservation
- Pay attention to: The historic chalk cellars, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Taittinger
Founded: 1734
Website: www.taittinger.com
Taittinger is known for its elegant champagnes with a high proportion of Chardonnay, offering a refined and sophisticated taste.
Unique Aspects:
- Owns the largest vineyard in the Champagne region
- Known for its Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs.
Most Famous Champagne: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs
Why Famous: This prestigious Blanc de Blancs is celebrated for its finesse and elegance, made from 100% Chardonnay grapes from Grand Cru vineyards.
Visiting:
- Location: 9 Place Saint-Nicaise, 51100 Reims, France
- Tours are available by reservation
- Pay attention to: The ancient Roman chalk cellars.
Pol Roger
Founded: 1849
Website: www.polroger.com
Pol Roger is a family-owned champagne house known for its association with Sir Winston Churchill, who was a great admirer of their champagnes.
Unique Aspects:
- Known for its rich and full-bodied champagnes
- The house produces a special cuvée named after Sir Winston Churchill.
Most Famous Champagne: Pol Roger Brut Réserve
Why Famous: This non-vintage champagne is known for its consistent quality and balanced flavor, making it a favorite among both casual drinkers and connoisseurs.
Visiting:
- Location: 1 Rue Winston Churchill, 51200 Épernay, France
- Visits are by invitation only and are highly exclusive
- Pay attention to: The historic cellars and the Churchill memorabilia.
Ruinart
Founded: 1729
Website: www.ruinart.com
Ruinart is the oldest established champagne house, known for its elegant and refined champagnes, particularly its Blanc de Blancs.
Unique Aspects:
- The first champagne house to exclusively use Chardonnay grapes for its Blanc de Blancs
- Known for its historic chalk cellars, which are among the largest in Champagne.
Most Famous Champagne: Ruinart Blanc de Blancs
Why Famous: This champagne is celebrated for its purity and elegance, made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, offering a fresh and refined taste.
Visiting:
- Location: 4 Rue des Crayères, 51100 Reims, France
- Visits and experiences are available by reservation
- Pay attention to: The impressive chalk cellars, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
When planning your visit to some of these prestigious champagne houses, keep in mind that houses that are open for public visits require advance booking, sometimes months in advance. Dress codes may apply, and some houses may have restrictions on photography. It's advisable to hire a driver or join a guided tour, as this allows you to fully enjoy the tastings without worrying about driving. Read also about the best time to visit Champagne region.
Each of these champagne houses offers a unique glimpse into the world of luxury champagne production. From the historic cellars to the meticulously tended vineyards, every aspect of your visit will be steeped in tradition, craftsmanship, and unparalleled quality. Whether you're a champagne aficionado or simply appreciate the finer things in life, visiting these prestigious houses promises to be an unforgettable experience.
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Lizzie Z.
As a top level corporate executive, Lizzie embarked on a soul-searching journey of adventure and slow living, passionately sharing her insights as the founder of RLM.
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