Louis Roederer Vintage Rose

A passion for great wines and a desire to compensate for the limits that the "château policy" naturally imposes on the development of Louis Roederer Champagne have, over the years, driven Jean Claude and then Frédéric Rouzaud to acquire an exclusive group of properties around the Champagne House in Reims which, although managed truly independently, share the same philosophy of excellence, and today make up the "Louis Roederer Group".

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. 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 Rauzaud ownership. Cristal is a precursor prestige cuvée brand and was made commercially available in 1945.

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.

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. 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.

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

It comprises Roederer Estate and Scharffenberger, both in California, Champagne Deutz and Maison Delas in the Rhone Valley, Ramos Pinto and its vineyards in Douro, Portugal, Les Domaines Ott in Provence, and Château de Pez and Château Haut Beauséjour in Bordeaux (Saint Estéphe), which were joined at the end of 2006 by Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (Pauillac) and Château Bernadotte (Haut Médoc). Louis Roederer also has an equal share with the Duclot Group in the Maison Descaves in Bordeaux.