Louis Roederer Champagne : A Family Legacy Since 1776

The Origins of Louis Roederer Champagne House in Reims

Founded in 1776 in Reims, the Louis Roederer Champagne House is one of the last great Champagne houses to have remained family-run and independent. From the very beginning, and across seven generations, the House has forged champagnes of unique personality and style that have captured the attention not only of royalty but also of champagne lovers worldwide.

Louis Roederer’s Visionary Approach in 1833

In 1833, the House’s heir – Louis Roederer – established himself as a visionary of his time. Unlike other Houses that relied on buying grapes through contracts, he chose to nurture his own terroirs, cultivating the finest parcels and selecting the greatest vintages of Champagne. He believed, and proved, that great Champagne depends on terroir, tradition, and vision.

Champagne Success Across the Globe

By the 1870s, his wines were already served at the most prestigious tables, from the United States to Russia, where Louis Roederer Champagne quickly became a symbol of refinement and prestige.

A Family-Owned Champagne House for Seven Generations

Seven Generations of Independence and Expertise

After more than 241 years of existence, the Louis Roederer House has remained in the hands of the same family. Today, it is headed by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation, and who continues the House’s unshakeable commitment to terroir, tradition, and vision.

An Extraordinary Vineyard of Grand and Premier Crus

The Louis Roederer Terroirs in Champagne

With nearly 241 hectares of vines, the Louis Roederer House derives its strength from an extraordinary vineyard, exclusively composed of Grand and Premier Crus in the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley, and the Côte des Blancs.

A Mosaic of Champagne Soils

This vineyard, divided into 410 meticulously tended plots, is a true mosaic of terroirs reflecting the diversity of Champagne soils. Respect for biodiversity and “tailor-made” viticulture allow each grape to reach its perfect ripeness. Year after year, this profound connection to the land reinforces the House’s singularity.

Winemaking Excellence and the Role of the Cellar Master

Crafting Champagne with Precision

Carefully crafted like works of art, the cuvées from Louis Roederer reveal the personality of each plot thanks to 450 small vats and tuns that preserve both the richness of the fruit and the nuances of terroir.

Champagne Vinification and Signature Style

The grapes from each parcel undergo gentle pressing to preserve the clarity and golden brilliance of the juice. Fermentation takes place in small stainless-steel tanks, each dedicated to a single vineyard parcel, ensuring full traceability. The wines then rest in cool, dark cellars, where they undergo a second fermentation. Here, daily riddling, disgorgement, and the final touch of the liqueur d’expédition imprint the unmistakable Louis Roederer signature — fruit purity, elegance, and harmony.

Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon – Cellar Master of Louis Roederer

At the heart of this artistry stands the Cellar Master, Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, who year after year cultivates a distinctive, inimitable style. Through iconic cuvées such as Cristal and Brut Premier, he embodies the consistency, regularity, and excellence of the House.

The Creation of Cristal Champagne – A Prestige Cuvée for Tsar Alexander II

The Birth of Cristal Champagne in 1876

In 1876, Tsar Alexander II, captivated by the House’s champagnes, inspired the creation of its first Cuvée de Prestige: Cristal. Crafted in a flat-bottomed, transparent crystal bottle made by a master glassmaker, it became the ultimate symbol of luxury and rarity.

Brut Premier and the Legacy of Camille Olry-Roederer

The Foundation of Brut Premier Champagne

As the House flourished in the 1920s, Léon Olry-Roederer laid the foundations for Brut Premier, blending several vintages to ensure balance, consistency, and excellence.

Camille Olry-Roederer’s Golden Era

After his death in 1933, his widow Camille took over, hosting legendary receptions at the family’s Hôtel Particulier in Reims. Her enlightened and dynamic leadership gave new meaning to the joys of Brut Champagne, opening the House to an entirely new generation of champagne lovers.

Since 2006, Frédéric Rouzaud has carried this legacy forward, marrying tradition with forward-looking innovation.

Awards and Global Recognition in 2021

World’s Most Admired Champagne Brand

The year 2021 was significant for the House. It was voted the world’s most admired Champagne brand by Drinks International magazine and also received the prestigious Robert Parker Green Emblem in July 2021.

Recognition for Sustainable Viticulture

Louis Roederer thus became one of the first 24 international winegrowing estates to be awarded this distinction, which recognizes its commitment to sustainable viticulture and to the long-term protection of the environment and biodiversity.

A Pioneer in Organic and Sustainable Viticulture

Organic Champagne and Biodiversity Commitment

For over 20 years, Louis Roederer has pursued viticulture that magnifies the nuances of Champagne terroirs. Since 2018, half of its vineyard has undergone the Organic Farming certification process, further cultivating its pioneering spirit.

By 2021, 115 hectares of historic terroirs were AB-certified (agriculture biologique), reinforcing its dedication to sustainability and excellence.

The Plot-by-Plot Approach to Exceptional Cuvées

The Purity and Elegance of Louis Roederer Champagnes

The purity and elegance of the champagnes from the House of Louis Roederer come from the most perfect terroirs that extend over 240 hectares, including the Grands and Premiers Crus of Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs, and the Vallée de la Marne. Louis Roederer’s quest for perfection starts with the 410 vineyard parcels on which the House grows the three traditional grape varieties that provide the rich palates for their champagnes.

• Chardonnay gives elegance, finesse, and mineral character.

• Pinot Noir brings structure to the blends and helps them age gracefully.

• Pinot Meunier adds softness, fruitiness, and harmony.

Those who tend the vines do so with meticulous care and deep respect for biodiversity. This “tailor-made” viticulture allows each berry to reach perfect ripeness. This profound connection to the land inspires the winegrowers to return year after year to nurture their parcels, and this devotion to terroir is what sets Louis Roederer apart from other Champagne houses.

From Vineyard to Winery – Crafting Excellence

This devotion carries itself into the winery, where the berries from each of the 410 parcels undergo extremely delicate pressing to preserve the clarity and golden brilliance of the juice. Each parcel is vinified separately, ensuring full traceability and the purest expression of terroir.

Fermentation occurs in over 450 small stainless-steel tanks, each assigned to a single vineyard parcel. During this process, the oenologists carefully nurture aromas, flavors, and textures to bring out their richness and complexity. Once the wines reveal their unique personalities, the Cellar Master and his team have a vibrant palette from which to craft perfectly balanced Louis Roederer Brut Champagnes.

These creations then undergo a second fermentation in cool, dark cellars, where they rest for three to six weeks, transforming into dazzling champagnes. Daily riddling interrupts the stillness of the cellars, guiding deposits to the bottlenecks. After disgorgement, a crystal-clear, shimmering champagne emerges. The final touch of the liqueur d’expédition imprints the unmistakable Louis Roederer signature: pure fruit, elegance, and refinement.

Vintage Champagnes from Louis Roederer

In addition to Brut Premier, the House also produces extraordinary vintage wines, including Rosé Vintage and Blanc de Blancs Vintage cuvées, which embody the depth and diversity of Champagne terroirs.

The Louis Roederer Collection – A Symphony of Elegance

Vintage Brut Champagne – Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Blend

• Vintage Brut – Typically 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from Montagne de Reims. Dense, generous, and perfectly balanced between sweetness and acidity, it reveals notes of candied fruit, almond paste, and toast.

Louis Roederer Rosé Vintage Champagne

• Rosé Vintage – From Cumières’ sunny slopes, blending 60% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. Full-bodied, with wild berry, floral, dried fruit, cocoa, and zesty aromas.

Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs Champagne

• Blanc de Blancs Vintage – 100% Chardonnay from the Grand Crus of Mesnil-sur-Oger and Avize in the Côte des Blancs. Taut and bright, with chalky minerality, hazelnut, almond, and acacia blossom.

Brut Premier – Multi-Vintage Louis Roederer Champagne

• Brut Premier – A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Meunier from multiple crus. A lively, elegant champagne balancing youth and maturity, freshness and complexity.

Cristal – The Louis Roederer House’s Masterpiece

The crown jewel of the collection, Cristal Champagne is produced only in the very best years.

The Cristal 2008 vintage blends 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards in Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Côte des Blancs. After eight years of bottle aging and an additional eight months of rest post-disgorgement, it received an 8g/L dosage.

With flickers of green and orange hues dancing around a golden core, Cristal 2008 delivers a silky texture, sublime mineral freshness, and an intense saline concentration from chalk soils. Notes of candied citrus, pear, yellow fruit, and toasted almond unfold in perfect harmony. It is a masterpiece of balance and refinement — the quintessential expression of Champagne perfection.

A Timeless Philosophy of Change and Elegance

The Guiding Philosophy of Louis Roederer Champagne

Prince Salina once said: “For everything to stay the same, everything must change.”

Louis Roederer Champagne has embraced this philosophy. The family’s quest for elegance, purity, and harmony in its champagnes has remained unchanged for seven generations, while its vision continues to evolve with the times in pursuit of perfection.

A Timeless Champagne for the World

Louis Roederer – A Global Symbol of Luxury Champagne

For more than two centuries, Louis Roederer has stood the test of time. From Brut Premier to Cristal, its cuvées shimmer in flutes across the world, bringing pure pleasure and sparkle to wine lovers everywhere — a symphony of refinement and the sparkling essence of Champagne itself.