Champagne Krug
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Reims-based prestige Champagne house known for complex multi-vintage blends, long cellar ageing and rare single-vineyard cuvées.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
Champagne Krug is a French Champagne house founded in Reims in 1843 by Johann-Joseph Krug, a German-born winemaker and blending specialist who had previously worked at Champagne Jacquesson. From its beginning, Krug was built around the idea that a Champagne house should seek excellence through composition rather than simply express the characteristics of a single harvest. Joseph Krug developed a detailed approach to tasting and blending, treating wines from individual plots, grape varieties and years as distinct components that could be assembled into a consistent house style. Krug is principally associated with prestige Champagne and is widely regarded as one of the leading grandes marques. Its best-known wine is Krug Grande Cuvée, a non-vintage Champagne recreated each year from numerous wines spanning multiple harvests. Rather than relying on a single vintage, the blend is designed to express the house's desired character through the interaction of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, together with reserve wines held in Krug's library. Krug also produces Krug Rosé, vintage Champagne, the late-released Krug Collection, and two particularly scarce single-vineyard wines: Krug Clos du Mesnil, made from Chardonnay in a walled plot at Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Krug Clos d'Ambonnay, made from Pinot Noir in a walled plot at Ambonnay. The house's production philosophy emphasizes plot-by-plot vinification and extended maturation. Grapes are selected from individually identified vineyard parcels, with initial fermentation traditionally carried out in small oak casks before the wines are transferred to stainless-steel vessels. The wines are assessed separately and may become part of a current blend or enter the reserve-wine library. Krug's long lees ageing is central to its style: Grande Cuvée generally spends at least six years in the cellars, Rosé at least five years, and vintage and single-vineyard wines at least a decade before release. The resulting wines are associated with toasted, pastry, almond and grilled notes alongside fruit, citrus and freshness. The brand remained under family influence through several generations. Joseph Krug was succeeded by his son Paul Krug, who helped establish the house's international prestige, particularly in the United Kingdom during the late nineteenth century. Later generations, including Joseph Krug II, Paul Krug II, Henri Krug, Rémi Krug and Olivier Krug, continued to participate in management and tasting decisions. Krug was sold by Rémy Cointreau to LVMH in January 1999. LVMH became the majority owner, while the Krug family continued to be involved in important house decisions rather than managing ordinary day-to-day operations. Today Krug operates as part of Moët Hennessy's luxury wine portfolio, alongside brands such as Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart and Dom Pérignon. Its positioning remains deliberately premium and scarcity-oriented, with a strong focus on craftsmanship, provenance, cellar time, food pairing and cultural collaborations. The house also maintains a distinctive identity within LVMH through its family heritage, detailed assemblage process and emphasis on the individual character of wines from separate plots.
History
Johann-Joseph Krug was born in Mainz in 1800 and moved to France in the nineteenth century. After working for Champagne Jacquesson, where he gained experience in accounting, commercial assessment and wine composition, he moved to Reims in 1842. In 1843 he established Krug et Cie with Hyppolite de Vivès as a sleeping partner. His language skills and experience assessing international markets helped the young house develop beyond a local business. Joseph Krug died in 1866 and was succeeded by his son Paul. Under Paul's direction, the house became an established grande marque. By the 1880s Krug's reputation was particularly strong in the United Kingdom, then an important export market for Champagne. The house also occupied premises on Rue Coquebert in Reims from 1866, creating a long-standing physical base for its operations. After Paul Krug's death in 1910, Joseph Krug II succeeded him. The First World War created severe disruption in Champagne, and Joseph II was taken prisoner. His wife Jeanne helped maintain the business during this period. Following the war, Joseph II's recovery was slow, and his nephew Jean Seydoux became joint manager in 1924. The house produced the celebrated 1926 and 1928 vintages during this broader period of family and operational transition. Paul Krug II, Joseph II's son, became active in the business in the 1930s and later led the house from 1959 to 1977. His generation helped preserve Krug's family control and reputation. Henri Krug joined management in 1962, followed by his brother Rémi in 1965. Their involvement was associated with innovations in the range, including the development of Krug Rosé. Henri became president of the family company in 1977. In 1979 the house appointed a graduate winemaker, adding formal winemaking expertise to its established family tasting tradition. Henri and Rémi Krug also pursued distinctive vineyard projects. In 1971 they acquired land around Mesnil-sur-Oger, including a small walled plot known as Clos du Mesnil. The site, planted with Chardonnay and enclosed by walls dating to 1698, later became the source of a rare single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs. Krug subsequently developed Clos d'Ambonnay from a small walled Pinot Noir plot in Ambonnay. These wines reinforced the house's emphasis on precise provenance and scarcity. Krug was sold by Rémy Cointreau to LVMH in January 1999. The transaction integrated the house into Moët Hennessy, but the Krug family remained involved in key decisions and tasting activities. In 2002 Henri Krug stepped down and named his son Olivier as his successor. By 2007 the brothers had withdrawn from daily operational responsibilities while continuing to participate in the tasting committee. Olivier Krug became house director in 2009. The modern house continues to combine family participation with LVMH ownership. Its production system retains plot-by-plot selection, fermentation in small oak casks, reserve-wine management and lengthy cellar maturation. Krug's identity is therefore based less on volume or broad product diversification than on a consistent luxury proposition: highly detailed blending, long ageing, limited production and a strong connection between wine, gastronomy and culture.
- 2009
Olivier Krug becomes house director
[1]Olivier Krug takes the house director role.
- 2007
Krug introduces Clos d’Ambonnay
[3]The house releases Clos d’Ambonnay, a limited single-vineyard Champagne made from Pinot Noir associated with a walled plot in Ambonnay.
- 2002
Olivier Krug succeeds Henri
[1]Henri Krug steps down and names his son Olivier as successor.
- 1999
LVMH acquires Krug
[1]LVMH acquires control of Krug through Moët Hennessy, integrating the Champagne house into its international wines and spirits portfolio.
- 1983
Krug Rosé is presented for tasting
[1]The Rosé project developed by Henri and Rémi Krug reaches tasting presentation approximately 140 years after the house was founded.
- 1979
Graduate winemaker joins the house
[1]Krug adds a formally trained winemaker to its traditional family-led winemaking structure.
- 1977
Henri Krug becomes president
[1]Henri Krug assumes the presidency of the family company.
- 1971
Acquisition of land around Mesnil-sur-Oger
[1]Henri and Rémi Krug acquire vines that include the historic walled Clos du Mesnil plot, a walled Chardonnay vineyard later associated with one of the house's rarest single-vineyard wines.
- 1971
The house acquires Clos du Mesnil
[3]Krug acquires the Clos du Mesnil parcel in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, a walled Chardonnay vineyard later associated with one of the house's rarest single-vineyard wines.
- 1962
Henri Krug joins management
[1]Henri Krug enters the family business, followed by his brother Rémi in 1965.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
Ultra-premium Champagne positioned around artisanal blending, long maturation, limited availability, gastronomic versatility, and a distinctive house philosophy that treats each cuvée as a carefully composed work.
Non-vintage prestige Champagne
Krug Grande Cuvée
Krug's signature cuvée is rebuilt each year from a broad library of wines representing multiple vintages, grape varieties and vineyard parcels. It typically combines Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier to reproduce the house's desired character rather than the profile of one harvest. Each edition is identified by an edition number rather than a single harvest year, helping consumers and collectors follow changes in its reserve-wine composition and style. The wine undergoes extended lees ageing in the Reims cellars, with at least six years of maturation before release. Its style is associated with fine bubbles, depth, golden colour, toasted and pastry notes, fruit and freshness, and it is presented as a complete composition designed to show richness, freshness, length and complexity. Grande Cuvée is Krug's signature wine and the clearest expression of its house blending philosophy. Each edition combines wines from multiple harvests, vineyards, and grape varieties, with reserve wines contributing depth and continuity. Rather than being identified principally by a single harvest year, each release is identified by an edition number. The house presents it as a complete composition designed to show richness, freshness, length, and complexity.
Rosé Champagne · 1983
Krug Rosé
Krug Rosé is a gastronomic rosé made from the three principal Champagne varieties and a selection of reserve wines. Its colour and distinctive profile come from incorporating a skin-fermented Pinot Noir wine into the blend. The cuvée is recreated periodically from the house's reserve library and spends at least five years ageing in the cellars before release. It is positioned as a luxury rosé for cellar aging, fine dining and specialist Champagne consumption rather than as a mass-market seasonal product, with a profile associated with red-fruit aromas, texture and gastronomic versatility. Krug Rosé is the house's rosé expression. It uses the same broad emphasis on blending and reserve-wine complexity as the wider portfolio, while adding a profile associated with red-fruit aromas, texture, and gastronomic versatility. The wine is positioned as a luxury rosé for cellar aging, fine dining, and specialist Champagne consumption rather than as a mass-market seasonal product.
Vintage Champagne
Krug Vintage
Krug Vintage is made exclusively from wines of a single harvest. The house presents it as an interpretation of the year through Krug's style, not simply as a ranking of the year's best wines. Vintage bottles generally receive at least ten years of cellar ageing before release, allowing the wine to develop complexity while retaining the character of the harvest. Krug Vintage is produced only for harvests that the house considers capable of expressing a distinctive character. The wine is built around a declared vintage while retaining Krug's attention to parcel selection, blending, cellar maturation, and balance. Different releases reflect the conditions of their respective growing seasons and are followed by collectors for their variation, aging potential, and individuality. Krug Vintage is made exclusively from wines of a single harvest. The house presents it as an interpretation of the year through Krug's style, not simply as a ranking of the year's best wines. It is produced only for harvests that the house considers capable of expressing a distinctive character, while retaining Krug's attention to parcel selection, blending, cellar maturation and balance. Vintage bottles generally receive at least ten years of cellar ageing before release, allowing the wine to develop complexity while retaining the character of the harvest. Different releases reflect the conditions of their respective growing seasons and are followed by collectors for their variation, aging potential and individuality.
Extended-aged vintage Champagne · 1980
Krug Collection
Krug Collection extends the life of selected vintage wines through additional ageing in the house's Reims cellars. The range was introduced in the early 1980s and is intended to show mature, developed aromas and flavours sometimes described as a second stage of life for the vintage. Releases are scarce because they require many additional years before bottling and sale.
Single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Krug Clos du Mesnil
Clos du Mesnil is produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in a small walled plot at the centre of Mesnil-sur-Oger. The vineyard is associated with walls dating to 1698 and covers approximately 1.84 hectares. Each release comes from a single vintage and is aged for more than a decade in Krug's cellars. Its limited site, low production potential, selective vintage releases, scarcity and precise vineyard origin make it one of the house's defining ultra-premium wines, demonstrating Krug's ability to move from broad multi-vintage blending to a highly localized expression of a single vineyard and grape variety. Clos du Mesnil is made from Chardonnay grown in a small walled vineyard in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Its limited site, low production potential, and selective vintage releases make it one of Krug's most exclusive wines. The offering demonstrates the house's ability to move from broad multi-vintage blending to a highly localized expression of a single vineyard and grape variety.
Single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs Champagne · 2007
Krug Clos d'Ambonnay
Clos d’Ambonnay is made exclusively from Pinot Noir grown in a tiny walled plot in Ambonnay. The vineyard is approximately 0.68 hectares, making the wine exceptionally limited. Each release represents one harvest and is held in the cellars for more than twelve years. It was released selectively starting in 2007 and in very limited quantities. The cuvée expresses Krug's interest in isolating the character of a highly specific site rather than blending it into the broader house wines, and occupies the highest end of Krug's portfolio. Clos d’Ambonnay is a rare Champagne made from Pinot Noir associated with a small walled plot in Ambonnay. It is released selectively and in very limited quantities. The wine occupies the highest end of Krug's portfolio and expresses the house's interest in individual vineyard character, extended maturation, and scarcity.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Suite for Krug in 2008
Global cultural audience
Ryuichi Sakamoto released a symphonic composition connected with his experience of tasting Krug Champagne in 2008, linking the house with contemporary music and cultural collaboration. The work extended Krug's association with music and artistic expression.
Outcome. The work extended Krug's association with music and artistic expression.
Brand decisions
2007
Launch of Clos d’AmbonnayProduct launchBackground
Krug had already developed a single-vineyard model through Clos du Mesnil and sought to expand its rarest tier with a Pinot Noir expression.
Action taken
The house introduced Clos d’Ambonnay, made from a small walled Pinot Noir vineyard in Ambonnay.
Aftermath
Clos d’Ambonnay became one of Krug's most limited and prestigious offerings, reinforcing the brand's focus on site specificity and scarcity.
1999
Join the LVMH wine portfolioM&ABackground
Rémy Cointreau decided to sell Krug as part of a change in ownership. Krug had developed as an independent prestige Champagne house with a strong family identity and specialist reputation.
Action taken
LVMH acquired majority ownership of the Champagne house through Moët Hennessy, adding the brand to its luxury wines and spirits portfolio.
Aftermath
Krug gained a place within LVMH's international luxury-wine portfolio, while the Krug family continued to participate in important house decisions. Krug gained a place within LVMH's international luxury-wine portfolio and access to the group's global distribution and luxury-marketing infrastructure, while continuing to operate as a distinct prestige Champagne brand and the Krug family continued to participate in important house decisions. Krug gained access to the group's global distribution and luxury-marketing infrastructure while continuing to operate as a distinct prestige Champagne brand.
1971
Develop single-vineyard ChampagneStrategyBackground
The Krug family sought to express the character of highly specific vineyard sites.
Action taken
The house acquired land including the walled Clos du Mesnil plot and later developed Clos du Mesnil and Clos d'Ambonnay as single-vineyard cuvées.
Aftermath
The projects became central examples of Krug's rarity, terroir and long-ageing positioning.
Recent events
- 2022
Ryuichi Sakamoto releases Suite for Krug in 2008[1]
Campaign · Other
Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto releases a symphonic work connected with his experiences tasting Krug Champagne in 2008.
- 2009
Olivier Krug becomes house director[1]
Leadership change
Olivier Krug, a member of the sixth generation, takes the role of house director.
- 1999
Rémy Cointreau sells Krug to LVMH[1]
M&A
Krug becomes part of LVMH through a transaction from Rémy Cointreau, while the Krug family retains an advisory and decision-making role.
- 1866
Krug moves into its long-term Reims premises[1]
Other
The house moves to premises on Rue Coquebert, which remain associated with Krug.
- 1843
Krug is founded in Reims[1]
Other
Johann-Joseph Krug establishes the House of Krug after moving to Reims and developing his approach to Champagne blending.
Sources6 sources
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