Krug Champagne has been crafting supreme expressions of the wine since 1843, definitively standing as one of the world's greatest Champagne houses. Each bottle is coveted for its freshness, elegance, and finesse, creating a level of devotion that is nearly unparalleled in the space. Now owned by LVMH but with operations remaining in family hands, a bottle of Krug remains a hot commodity for those looking to experience grandeur and luxury at every gathering.
Origins of Krug, A Champagne Trailblazer
In 1834, Joseph Krug fled Germany, leaving his home country for Paris, where German accountants were in high demand. After nearly a decade in the city, Joseph fell in love with champagne and desired to start an estate despite having no winemaking background. As such, he began jotting down ideas in his now-famous dark cherry personal notebook, officially founding the Krug Champagne house in 1843. Twenty years after its foundation, Joseph passed away, leaving his son, Paul, to take over and guide the estate to international stardom. Today, Oliver Krug is the Director of the House, representing the sixth generation of family winemaking at Krug.
Champagne Krug: Leaders of Vintage and Non-Vintage Champagne
Unlike many Champagne Houses at the time, Krug decided to release a new vintage every year, however, not always from grapes grown in that year's harvest. Joseph Krug preferred to use the best fruit regardless of the year they were grown, believing it was in the best interest of the estate to give drinkers their best effort. From this philosophy, vintage and non-vintage champagne was born, now a standard in the industry.
In the modern day, Krug creates six different wines: Krug Grande Cuvée, Krug Rosé, Krug Vintage, Krug Collection, Krug Clos du Mesnil, and Krug Clos d'Ambonnay.
Krug Grand Cuvee
Arguably the estate's flagship label and one of the world's greatest champagnes, Krug Grand Cuvee is produced each year as Krug's best champagne offering. Every vintage is a blend of over 120 wines from more than 10 years, with the final blend aging for seven years before its release.
Krug Rose
A relatively new offering in the Krug collection is Krug Rose, first crafted in 1976 as a novelty for the estate's employees. After being impressed by the final blend, the family began crafting new vintages each year from a white base of chardonnay and meunier, and macerated pinot noir. The bottles are known for their aromas of rose, cured ham, and pink grapefruit with notes of honey, citrus, and dried fruit dominating the palate.
Krug Vintage
Contrary to the Grand Cuvee, Krug Vintage expresses the distinct character of a singular year, spending over 10 years aging in the cellar before public release. The bottles capture the unique growing conditions, winemaking techniques, and tasting preferences from a specific year, offering drinkers a variety of flavors and styles to enjoy.
Krug Collection
The Krug Collection encapsulates a very limited number of special Krug Vintage bottles kept in the House's cellar. These bottles are closely inspected by the Cellar Master and Tasting Committee, who take note of the developing maturity and emerging flavors after aging in perfect conditions. Ultimately, the Krug Collection is incredibly rare and sees very few bottles released for public consumption.
Krug Clos du Mesnil
First presented in 1986, Krug Clos du Mesnil is crafted from one of Champagne's most iconic chardonnay villages - Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Fruit from the small 4.5-acre vineyard was initially used to ensure a steady production of chardonnay for the Grand Cuvee; however, in 1979, brothers Remi and Henry Krug were so impressed by the harvest, they decided to use the grapes for a unique champagne bottle.
Krug Clos d'Ambonnay
After years of experimentation, Remi and Henry Krug opted to create another innovation, a single-vineyard pinot noir champagne. Made from a 1.68-acre vineyard in the heart of Ambonnay, the brothers searched for 7 years to find the perfect pinot noir vineyard, finally purchasing the plot of land in 1994. A year later, the first harvest was complete, and by 2007, the first vintage was released.
How Krug Crafts Premium Champagne
Julie Cavil is the current Cellar Master for Krug Champagne, earning the position after working on the winemaking team for 13 years. She regularly works with the Tasting Committee, who, on average, taste around 400 wines annually from vintage bottles and reserves. For six months of the year, the team will meet at 11am sharp, deciphering which bottles are worthy of public release, illustrating Krug's impeccable attention to detail and dedication to crafting some of the world's greatest champagne.
In the vineyard, a similar meticulous manner is followed, as grapes are harvested from 120 plots and pressed plot by plot. It is then fermented separately for up to two weeks, moved to stainless vessels, and aged for differing time frames. Next, the wine undergoes Méthode Champenoise, being placed on reumage racks for final maturation and rotated one quarter turn each day for 4-6 weeks.
Krug Champagne Price & Availability
As one of the world's most storied Champagne houses, a bottle of Krug rightfully demands premium prices, providing drinkers with an unparalleled experience. From the legendary Krug Grand Cuvee to the rare Krug Vintage, each bottle is perfect for lavish events, ensuring each guest receives a taste of decadence. Take a look through our collection and discover your next bottle of Krug Champagne.
