🍾 Louis Roederer

Louis Roederer is a Champagne house in Reims, in the Marne department. Wikidata dates it to 1776, and the house marks its 250th anniversary in 2026. It takes its name from Louis Roederer, who, according to the house, inherited the business in 1833 and in the mid-19th century bought grand cru vineyards at a time when most houses bought their grapes. The house describes itself as independent and family-owned; it is run by Frédéric Rouzaud, of the seventh generation.

According to the house, it farms 250 ha located exclusively in the grands and premiers crus of the Marne. Its best-known wine is Cristal, created in 1876 by Louis Roederer II as the house’s first prestige cuvée. The range also includes the multi-vintage Collection, vintage wines (including a rosé and a blanc de blancs), Cristal Rosé and Brut Nature.

Champagne is a wine with a protected designation of origin (PDO). The bubbles come only from a second fermentation in the bottle, the wine is aged for at least 15 months before sale (36 for vintage), and all production takes place only within the delimited area. Louis Roederer is a brand; Champagne is the name of a place.

Why it matters to you. Brut nature on the label means the rules’ lowest sugar category, with no sugar added after the second fermentation; “Cristal” or “Collection” are the house’s own names. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol.