Savoir-faire

Every year we re-create the dream of Joseph Krug with a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, a unique masterpiece of contrast and texture characterised by its fullness of flavours and aromas. We consider the personalities of around 400 wines, each of which incarnates the individuality of a unique plot. In so doing, we pay homage to the diversity of Champagne, its terroirs and plots but also to our winegrowers, for if you were to put two different growers on the same plot, the resulting wine would not have the same expression. Our job at Krug is thus to reunite in one sip the most complete sensorial experience a Champagne can offer.

JULIE CAVIL

Krug Cellar Master

INDIVIDUALITY, AT THE HEART OF KRUG'S SAVOIR-FAIRE

It was founder Joseph Krug’s unfaltering belief that only by paying the utmost attention to every single element could he offer the fullest expression of Champagne with the highest possible quality every year, regardless of variations in climate.

In order to transcend the notion of vintage in creating a Champagne with exceptional quality, Joseph Krug began building a collection of reserve wines to which six generations have contributed. This library now houses 150 wines, each expressing the personality of an individual plot.

A cornerstone of Krug’s craftsmanship is the concept of individuality, or the art of turning the harvest from every plot into a separate wine and then following its individual character before any blending decision is made.

This allows Krug’s Cellar Master to identify and discern wines from single plots that can enrich that year’s creations, others to be kept as reserve wines for later use or wines to reject, which do not express the desired profile.

Every year since the foundation of the House, a new Édition of Krug Grand Cuvée is created, every year the inspiration will be the same, but the creation will be totally unique and different.

Olivier Krug

Director of the House of Krug and sixth generation of the Krug family

A MUSICAL APPROACH TO CHAMPAGNE CREATION

Creating a new Édition each year takes a very musical approach at the House of Krug. Looking back to the origins of the House, one can imagine Joseph Krug in his cellar working like a Music composer: tasting a vast array of unique wines, painstakingly taking notes and organising flavours and aromas

Today, Julie Cavil, Krug Cellar Master works in much the same way, drawing on around 400 wines, the majority of which capture the essence of a single plot. The House of Krug places great importance on respecting the individual character of every element contributing to the creation of each Édition.

In a series of auditions conducted throughout the year, Julie and the winemaking team, a group of 5 to 6 members, taste around 250 wines of the year 2 to 3 times and 150 reserve wines from 14 different years once in early spring.

Julie records over 4000 tasting notes which he consults before any blending decision is made: the distinct melody of each wine, its particular character, level of freshness, intensity, roundness and depth – all are crucial to the creation of the whole. In Krug Grande Cuvée, the entire orchestra plays in joyous harmony the music of Champagne.

A talk with the winemaking team

Cellar Master

THE STORY BEHIND YOUR BOTTLE

At Krug, our philosophy is to harvest each plot individually and transform it in one wine, which expresses its distinctive, nuanced and unique features.

There is no hierarchy in our selection, no one plot is favoured over another; a plot may sometimes be smaller than a garden. We cultivate the differences and really search for unique characters. Fully committed to our founding principle of quality, we capture the essence of each unique plot as an individual wine and respect this individuality until the blending decisions are made.

JULIE CAVIL

Krug Cellar Master

Since 1843, Krug’s raison d’être is to perpetuate the dream of its founder by re-creating the most generous expression of Champagne, every year, regardless of annual climate variations. Joseph Krug passed on his legacy by committing his vision to the pages of his dark cherry personal notebook. Since then, six generations have kept it alive, respecting the transmission and many years required to craft Krug Champagnes.

For us, time is not a constraint, it is a strength. I recall the first time I created Krug Grande Cuvée 22 years ago as a powerful moment. I was not alone because I had my predecessor by my side, just as Julie now has me. Transmission is, always has been, and always will be in our genes.

Éric Lebel

Former Krug Cellar Master & Deputy Director of the House

KRUG iD

Since 2011, the House has invited Champagne lovers to enter the Krug iD – six digits printed on the back label of every bottle – in a dedicated section of the Krug website or using the Krug App to take their experience of Krug Champagnes one step further. The Krug iD reveals the Cellar Master’s impressions of the year, a detailed story of the bottle, food pairing suggestions, recommendations for ideal storage and service, as well as Krug Music Pairing suggestions to enhance every Krug Champagne tasting.

KRUG iD

THE VISION

When Joseph Krug established the Champagne House bearing his name in 1843, driven by his understanding that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to offer the very best Champagne every year, regardless of annual climate variations.

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THE FAMILY HOUSE

Since 1843, six generations of the Krug family have perpetuated this dream, enriching the Joseph Krug’s vision and savoir faire. Today, the Family House welcomes Krug Lovers from around the world to take a sensorial journey around Krug Champagne.

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English

Savoir-faire

INDIVIDUALITY, AT THE HEART OF KRUG'S SAVOIR-FAIRE

A MUSICAL APPROACH TO CHAMPAGNE CREATION

A talk with the winemaking team

KRUG iD

KRUG iD

Are you a Krug Lover? Make it official

Krug Grande Cuvée

Krug Grande Cuvée