Krug: A Deep Dive
Krug is the Champagne house most associated with the idea that multi-vintage blending — rather than vintage purity — can produce the greatest expression of the appellation. Founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug, the house has remained in the family until LVMH acquired it in 1999; the Krug family still drives style under Olivier Krug.
The wines
Krug produces six wines, each unusual in some way:
- Krug Grande Cuvée — the flagship, a multi-vintage cuvée based on the harvest of one year, completed with up to 200 reserve wines from across the previous fifteen years.
- Krug Rosé — the only Krug rosé, multi-vintage, blended from red and white still wines.
- Krug Vintage — released only in great years, around eight years after harvest.
- Krug Collection — older vintages from the cellar, released when Krug believes they have reached a second peak.
- Krug Clos du Mesnil — single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs from a 1.85-hectare walled vineyard in Mesnil-sur-Oger. Among the world's most expensive Champagnes.
- Krug Clos d'Ambonnay — single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs (Pinot Noir) from a 0.68-hectare walled vineyard in Ambonnay. The rarest Krug.
The oak vinification
Unusually for a major Champagne house, Krug ferments every base wine in small (205-litre) oak barrels — many of them old, with the same barrel sometimes used for decades. This adds a distinctive oxidative edge to the wines.
The reserve wine library
Krug holds reserve wines from many vintages, with the largest single component in any Grande Cuvée typically representing only 30-40% of the blend. The reserve library is among the most valuable in Champagne and the basis of the house's signature style.
The ID number
Since 2011, every bottle of Krug carries an ID number on the back label. Entering it on Krug's website (or app) reveals the composition, base year, and disgorgement date of the cuvée.
Visiting
Krug's headquarters in Reims (5 Rue Coquebert) does not accept casual visitors. Allocations and private visits are arranged through the trade or through the Krug Society. The Champagne, when encountered, is best drunk from a white-wine glass rather than a flute.
Explore on the map
Find Krug's Reims base and the Clos du Mesnil walled vineyard on the interactive map. Filter to Champagne and zoom to the Le Mesnil-sur-Oger village on the Côte des Blancs.