Our Story
Joseph Krug founded Maison Krug in 1843, driven by his understanding that the true essence of champagne is pleasure itself. His dream was to craft the very best champagne he could offer, every year, regardless of annual climate variations.
Paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine, as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines from many different years allowed Joseph Krug to fulfil his dream. Thus, the first Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée was born.
By going beyond the notion of vintage to create the most generous expression of Champagne, every year, he founded a House in which all Champagnes are of the same level of distinction, with an undisputed quality.
THE FOUNDER'S NOTEBOOK
In 1848, Joseph Krug committed his vision to the pages of his dark cherry personal notebook, beginning a tradition of transmission. Today, his words are the foundation of Krug’s guiding philosophy in the vineyards, tasting room and beyond.
JOSEPH KRUG
Founder, Maison Krug
Olivier Krug
Sixth Generation of the Krug Family & Director of the House
A
MAVERICK SPIRIT
In the early 1970s, brothers Rémi and Henri Krug, fifth generation of the Krug family, seized the opportunity to acquire a walled vineyard in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, reputed for the exceptional purity of its Chardonnay.
They had the bold idea to create the ultimate tribute to individuality: a champagne from one plot, one grape variety, and a single harvest year. The first Krug Clos du Mesnil was crafted from the harvest of 1979.
The Invention of Krug Rosé
In 1976, the brothers had another daring vision to craft an unexpected rosé champagne, inspired by the Maison’s reputed art of blending, that could be re-created each year. The first Krug Rosé was presented seven years later.
Krug iD: Six Digits with a Story to Tell
In 2011, Maison Krug introduced the Krug iD, six digits on the back label of each bottle of Krug that, when entered online or scanned via the Krug app, unveil the story of its creation, its composition, serving suggestions, pairing inspiration and more.
The Édition Number
In 2016, we took the idea further by giving an Édition number to each new creation of Krug Grande Cuvée and Krug Rosé. This number, displayed on the front label, makes it easier to identify the different creations of these champagnes. It indicates the number of times in the history of the Maison that the dream of the founder – or the fifth generation of the Krug family in the case of Krug Rosé – has been recreated year after year.
As such, up until the mid-2010s, bottles that left our cellars in Reims did not feature an Édition number, and older bottles may not have a Krug iD. If you have such a bottle in your cellar and you would like to know more about it, our Tasting Committee team may be able to help. You can reach us through our Contact form.
A New Chapter
The Joseph Winery
In 2024, Maison Krug began another chapter with the construction of Joseph, its state-of-the-art sustainable winery located in the heart of Ambonnay, an essential cru for the Maison for generations. From its eco-design and ergonomics to an aesthetic that harmoniously blends into the landscape, Joseph marks a new era for Krug.
Welcome to
THE WORLD OF KRUG
Craftsmanship
THE ART OF ENJOYING KRUG
