Louis Roederer

Louis Roederer company headquarters

Louis Roederer is a producer of champagne based in Reims, France. Founded in 1776, it was inherited and renamed by Louis Roederer in 1833, and is noted as the producer of the luxury champagne Cristal.

History

Louis Roederer (1809-1870)

Initially founded as Dubois Père & Fils in 1776, Louis Roederer inherited the company from his uncle in 1833, renamed it eponymously, and set out to target markets abroad.^[1] With concentrated efforts in several countries, including Russia. Tsar Nicholas II nominated Louis Roederer as the official wine supplier to the Imperial Court of Russia,^[1] though the Russian Revolution and the U.S. Prohibition caused financial difficulties during the early 20th century, Roederer was re-established as a leading Grandes Marques producer and remains in descendants Rouzaud ownership. Cristal is a precursor prestige cuvée brand and was made commercially available in 1945.^[2]

Production

Roederer vineyard

From a vineyard area of 214 hectares (530 acres), Louis Roederer produces two thirds of the grapes needed for its production, sourcing the remaining required fruit from established farming contacts.^[3]

The Roederer non-vintage cuvées include the extra dry Brut Premier, Grand Vin Sec and the demi-sec Carte Blanche, all Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blended approximately in 2:1 proportion, with a small portion of Pinot Meunier.^[1] The vintage cuvées include the Brut Vintage, Rosé Vintage, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in an approximately 7:3 proportion, and the 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs. The rosé is made by red wine addition rather than by saignée method. The prestige cuvée Cristal, approximately an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, is also available as a rosé, which contains more Pinot Noir and is also made by addition of red wine.^[1]

The total annual production of Roederer is approximately 3.2 million bottles, of which 70-80% is Louis Roederer Brut Premier.^[3]

Acquisitions

The Roederer portfolio also holds Bordeaux estates Château de Pez and Château Haut-Beausejour in Saint Estèphe.^[4] In late 2006, the Rouzaud family acquired majority share in the second-growth estate Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. The deal also included the Cru Bourgeois estate Château Bernadotte.^[5]

Also included in the Roederer Group are Champagne Deutz, Ramos Pinto Port in Portugal, Domaines Ott in Provence, Roederer Estate and Scharffenberger in California.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Kissack, Chris, thewinedoctor.com. "Roederer". http://www.thewinedoctor.com/champagne/roederer.shtml. 
2. ^ Stevenson, Tom, Decanter (December 2007). "The Best A Man Can Get...."
3. ^ ^{a b} Marthinsen, Tom, Dagens Næringsliv (April 28, 2008). "Superelegant kjendis-champagne" (in Norwegian). http://www.dn.no/vinguiden/article1390787.ece?WT.mc_id=dn. 
4. ^ Anson, Jane & Lechmere, Adam, Decanter.com (November 1, 2006). "Roederer takes over Pichon". http://www.decanter.com/news/99216.html. 
5. ^ Frank, M., Wine Spectator (December 31, 2006). Champagne House Takes Over Pichon-Lalande. pp. 15. 

External links

Media related to Louis Roederer at Wikimedia Commons

• Louis Roederer official site (English)