Cristal is produced exclusively in the finest vintages. The cuvée is a blend of approximately 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. It is aged for six years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and left for a further 8 months after dégorgement.
For Champagne Louis Roederer, 2026 is a year of dual celebration: the house’s 250th anniversary and the 150th birthday of its flagship wine, Cristal.
The story of Champagne Louis Roederer began in 1776, when the Dubois father and son founded “Dubois Père & Fils” in Reims, in the Champagne region of France. In 1833, Louis Roederer inherited the estate from his uncle and renamed it Champagne Louis Roederer. Under his leadership, the house began to make its mark on the international stage.
In 1868, the estate sold over 2.5 million bottles of Champagne, the vast majority of which were exported to Russia. In 1873, the house shipped more than 666,000 bottles to Russia, accounting for 27% of its total production.
The birth of Cristal Champagne is rooted in a legendary story.
In 1876, the estate created a new cuvée at the request of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. At the time, Russia was politically unstable, and the Tsar lived in constant fear of assassination. He demanded a Champagne bottle made of transparent, flat-bottomed crystal, so that he could clearly see the bubbles and, more importantly, prevent anyone from concealing an explosive device in the dark, indented base of a traditional bottle.
Tsar Alexander II of Russia
The cuvée was named “Cristal” and is widely recognised as Champagne’s first prestige cuvée.
In the 1920s, under the leadership of Léon Olry-Roederer, Cristal’s popularity grew spectacularly, securing its place among Champagne’s greatest wines. Its iconic transparent bottle, unchanged for over a century and a half, has become an enduring symbol.
In 2024, Champagne Louis Roederer was awarded a Royal Warrant by King Charles III, officially recognising it as a supplier to the British Royal Household. Revered by wine lovers worldwide, this distinction further cements the house’s prestigious status.
Third generation proprietor Léon Olry-Roederer
Champagne Louis Roederer is today led by 7th generation proprietor Frédéric Rouzaud. Speaking of the dual anniversaries in 2026 – the 150th year of Cristal and the 250th Anniversary of Louis Roederer – Rouzaud said: “Here again, it is the same story in motion: that of a Champagne house that has always sought to foster a dialogue between nature, savoir-faire, sensibility and vision; a Champagne house where uncompromising standards have always gone hand in hand with openness to creation, culture and emotion.”
Cellar Master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon joined Champange Louis Roederer in 1989 and has now been working with the house for 37 years.
