Krug Champagne Price, Sizes & Buying Guide

Champagne is a form of wine that is carbonated making it sparkling wine. The difference between champagne and sparkling wine comes from the process and criteria used when producing the beverage.

Aside from needing to be produced in the Champagne region of France, there are specific production methods, harvesting methods, and grape types that must be used in the production of this drink.

Krug is among the top champagne producers in the world, with a wide range of champagnes to choose from. In this article, we will look at the variations of Krug champaign available on the market, how the company came to be, and alternatives if you are looking for something different.

This article will give you a background on Krug champagne that will help you pick out the next bottle to impress at any event.

A Brief History of Krug Champagne

Established in 1843, Krug was founded by Joseph Krug who has a dream of creating the best champagne he could.

His philosophy included respecting the vineyards he harvested grapes from, building a collection of reserve wines from distinct years to incorporate into new wines, and knowing the ins and outs of each plot of land he had.

Since its creation, Krug has been managed by 6 generations of the Krug family, ensuring that the philosophies and values of the founder have been upheld. Krug wrote a manual on champagne making when his son was a young boy, to ensure that the processes he used were maintained and carried on.

One of the primary steps that distinguish Krug is the aging process. Every wine produced by the brand is initially fermented in 105-liter barrels made from oak from Central France and the Forest of Argonne.

The reserve wines are then transferred to stainless steel tanks until they are required for a new blend. The oak barrels are small to ensure that grapes from each plot are made into one wine rather than mixing them.

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes are all used in the production of Krug champagnes. Although some consider Pinot Meunier to be a lower quality grape, Krug will use roughly 10% in each champagne. The exact grape composition differs per year as Krug does not use a standard blend for all their wines.

The LVMH group (Louis-Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy) bought Krug in 1999, adding the champagne brand to its selection of luxury goods and brands. LVMH was formed in 1987 when Louis Vuitton merged with Moët Hennessy. This followed the 1971 merger of Moët & Chandon and Hennessy.

Prices, Variations & Sizes of Krug Champagne

The Krug Grande Cuvée collection includes 16 variations made from the best wines of each year. This collection is the brainchild of Joseph Krug whose aim is to create the best Champagne that he can offer each year regardless of climate changes.

Krug’s Rosé collection is a recent addition to the Champagne House and is inspired by the 5^th generation Krug family member’s dream of creating new and unique Rosé champagne. Each year the champagne house aims to create a new rosé for the market, leaving the collection with 10 distinctive Rosé champagnes.

Finally, the Krug Vintage collection includes 9 vintage champagnes that reflect the distinct character and flavor profile of each year in which they are created. They are made by blending the “most expressive” champagnes and wines from each year. Each champagne is then left to age in Krug’s cellars for 10 years.

Below is a list of the various blends Krug has available for purchase, including each option available in the Grande Cuvée, Rosé, and Vintage collection.

3 Alternatives to Krug Champagne

Veuve Clicquot has 7 main champagnes available for purchase. These include the Rosé, Brut, Extra Brut, and Demi-Sec designations.

There are also 2 collections available, Retro Chic and Essentials. A bottle of Veuve Clicquot has a price range of $60 to $160 per 750 ml and is sold at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 12% (24 proof).

Dom Perignon has a wide range of vintage champagnes, Rosé, and Pléntitudes available for purchase. The Vintages have an average price of $200, while the Rosé has an average price of $350 per 750 ml bottle.

Finally, the Dom Perignon Plentitude 2 has an average price of $400. Each bottle is sold at an average ABV of 12% (24 proofs).

Champagne Pol Roger has a wide selection of champagnes available including both vintages and non-vintages. Their non-vintages include a Brut, Extra Brut, and Demi-Sec, and the vintages include Rosé, Brut, and Blanc de Blancs allowing a wide selection to choose from.

Finally, they have Sir Winston Churchill champagne which is described as having a full body and robust taste. The average price of Pol Roger champagne is $50 per 750 ml, and it is sold at an average ABV of 12,5% (25 proofs).

How to Drink Krug Champagne

Champagne is considered an elite alcoholic beverage, often used for celebrations like weddings, birthdays, and graduations. Given the prestige of the beverage, it is expected that the process of drinking it does not just involve pouring it straight into a glass and drinking it.

Champagne is most often drunk from a champagne flute which will allow the bubbles to rise to the top in a thin line and will open the flavor profile of the beverage.

When opening the bottle, you should open it carefully to avoid the pressure building up and spilling some of the champagne over the rim of the bottle, causing waste. It is best to slowly spin the bottle with a firm hand over the cork to slowly allow the pressure to release.

The ideal temperature to serve champagne is 50° Fahrenheit and it should be served neat (i.e., without ice).

Slowly pour the champagne into the champagne flute to avoid building up the bubbles and serve. To add a fun twist to the beverage you could add fruit pieces like pomegranate seeds, cranberry seeds, or cherries.

Otherwise, you could use it for an elite mimosa. Simply pour equal parts Krug champagne and fresh orange juice into a champagne flute and enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Krug good Champagne?

LUX views Krug as one of the best champagne brands worldwide. The author of the article, Howard Ripley, says the core acidity of the wines along with the fresh flavor were motivating factors in forming that opinion. The brand incorporates different grapes from small vineyards to ensure good quality and uniqueness of the beverage.

Is Krug or Dom Perignon better?

Based on some opinions, Krug performs better than Dom Perignon in terms of flavor profiles. Dom Perignon is ideal for those who want a light and delicate flavor while Krug is better for those who want a richer flavor profile.

Why is Krug expensive?

The techniques used to produce Krug champagne, along with the philosophy and closely held family secrets have driven the price of the champagne up.

However, the main difference between Krug and other champagne brands is that Krug uses grapes from a single plot in each bottle of champagne. They clearly label the plot that each bottle is made from to represent the distinct character and taste you can expect from a specific vineyard plot.