Some of the most well-known champagne houses
Moët & Chandon | 20 av. de Champagne, 51333, Epernay | Tel 03 26512000
Originially from Holland, the Moet family have been active in Champagne since the 15th century. The champagne house was
founded by Claude Monet in 1743. It came to fame however under the leadership of Jean Rémy at the beginning of the 19th
century. Napoleon was good friends with Jean Rémy. Rémy became the mayor of Epernay.
Napoleon built the Le Trianon opposte the Moet and Chandon so that he would have a worthy place to stay on his visitis to
Champagne. Moet & Chandon was the first champagne house floated on the French stock market in 1962.
Mercier | 75 av. de Champagne, 51200 Epernay
Eugene Mercier began digging 18km of cellar in Epernay 1858. He was a very PR conscious champagne entrepreneur. In 1970
Mercier merged with Moet & Chandon. It's a great house to visit for any beginner. They buy basic grapes and use wine from the
second pressing in their cuvees.
Krug | 5 Rue Coquebert, 51100 Reims
The house was founded in 1843 and the Krug family are still using the same methods today as when the house was opened.
Johann-Joseph Krug learnt his craft at Jacquesson for 9 years.
All wines are fermented cru by cru in well aged 205 litre barrels from the Argonne. The wines are never filtered; just two rackings
by gravity, from cask to cask. None of the wines is disgorged before it is 6 years old and the reserev wines are stored in stainless
steel tanks from the Swedish company Alfa Laval.
It's possibly the best champagne made.
Ruinart | 4 Rue des Crayéres, 51100 Reims
The priest Dom Thierry Ruinart was a good friend of Dom Perignon. He passed on his knowledge of champagne-making to his
nephew Nicolas Ruinart who opened the Ruinart house in 1729. The house has deep beautiful chalk cellars that are now
classified as a historical monument. Ruinarts wines often have a strong toasty character. They are of very high class.