This is the most expensive Champagne in the world

From premium bottles to rare magnums, you won’t believe the price tags of the world’s most expensive Champagne.

Champagne is a wine made for celebration and ceremony. From weddings and birthdays to anniversaries and engagements, this sparkling drop from the Champagne region of northeastern France is popped at moments of magnitude. So beloved is this refined fizz that simply opening the cork has its own brand of pageantry – sabrage: the dramatic art of opening a Champagne bottle with a sword by sliding the blade along the seam of the bottle to break the neck cleanly.

How is Champagne different to sparkling wine?

It’s important to note that no ordinary bottle of bubbles qualifies as Champagne. This designation is protected under international law and is a geographical indication that reflects the unique climate, terroir, grape varieties and traditional methods used in the Champagne region of France. If the specific grapes are not grown within such a region, then processed using the méthode champenoise, then it is not Champagne. Alas, not all Champagne is created equal. Some are rare, coveted and exclusive. Read on to learn about the most expensive Champagne in the world (in no particular order) and who produces it.

What is the most expensive Champagne in the world?

It’s difficult to give a definitive answer to what the most expensive Champagne in the world is, as the outcome depends on whether we’re referring to readily available bottles or record-breaking one-off sales. If the latter, then undoubtedly the Goût de Diamants takes the cake, created for a private buyer in 2013 with an eye-watering price somewhere in the range of US $1.8 million and US $2.07 million. However, it was not the wine inside the bottle that fetched such a hefty price, it was the packacking: a label made of 18-carat solid white gold set with a single flawless 19-carat white diamond in lieu of the brand’s usual Swarovski crystal. It was the only such bottle ever created.

However, if we’re speaking of Champagne that is still possible to purchase, the Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Gold Cuvée Methuselah (6L) is one of the most expensive Champagnes readily available for purchase, typically priced between US $25,000 and US $35,000 USD depending on vintage and vendor.

For more readily available alternatives, those that top the price list include Dom Pérignon P2 or P3 (Plénitude editions), Moët & Chandon MCIII 001.14, Krug Clos du Mesnil, Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil and Cristal Vinothèque or Cristal Rosé – all of which sell for between US $600 to USD $2000 per bottle.

A guide to the most expensive Champagne in the world

Goût de Diamant

The million-dollar Goût de Diamant was made by Shammi Shinh, a London-based entrepreneur who partnered with designer Alexander Amosu to produce the exceptional white gold and diamond-set brut bottle for a private commissioning client. The wine inside, however, was legitimate Champagne. Shammi Shinh went on to establish Goût de Diamants Champagne under Prodiguer Brands. The wine is made from Grand Cru grapes sourced from the Chapuy estate in Oger, a respected family-run vineyard in France’s Champagne region. In recent years, the brand has been rebranded as GDD Chapuy and produces some of the world’s most expensive Champagne.

Louis Roederer

Founded in Reims in 1776, the Louis Roederer estate is renowned for crafting Cristal, its flagship cuvéewhich was originally created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. It’s one of the last great independent and family-owned Champagne houses left in France, and it holds more than 240 hectares of Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. The house is known for its focus on terroir and long cellar aging. The special Methuselah Cristal edition contains Cristal from exceptional vintages and comes in a striking 24-carat gold lattice bottle designed by Philippe di Méo. With only a limited number released, it is a favourite among the ultra-wealthy.

Krug

Founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug in Reims, Krug is an aspiring Grande Marque. With a reputation for craftsmanship and commitment to quality, Krug produces both non-vintage and vintage cuvées (including the coveted grande cuvée, rosé, vintage, clos du mesnil blanc de blancs, and clos d’ambonnay blanc de noirs) and is celebrated for its rich, complex drops. Among Krug’s most expensive Champagne is the rare Krug Collection 1937, signed by Henri and Rémi Krug and considered a true collector’s item. More widely available premium offerings include the Krug Vintage 2008, priced around AU $650, and the Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition, available for approximately AU $400.

Armand de Brignac

Also known as ‘Ace of Spades’, Armand de Brignac is a premium cuvée Champagne producer co-owned by Shawn ‘Jay‑Z’ Carter and LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis-Vuitton). Armand de Brignac Champagnes are produced by the Cattier family, who hold 250 years of vineyard heritage in Montagne de Reims. Each bottle is made from the first and freshest portion of the cuvée press, and blends three vintages for a complex profile. Among Armand de Brignac’s most exclusive formats is the Rosé Midas (30 L), which retails for approximately £83,000 (equivalent to about AU $170,000). A rare Blanc de Noirs magnum (1.5 L) recently released is priced at around £2,650 (about AU $5000 to $6000).

Dom Pérignon

Produced by Moët & Chandon and named after the Benedictine monk credited with pioneering key Champagne-making techniques, each bottle of Dom Pérignon is created from grapes harvested in a single year, usually a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, to produce a cuvée. Dom Pérignon rose to international fame in the 1950s, notably appearing in James Bond films in the hand of the gentleman spy. Moët & Chandon has released some of the most expensive Champagne in the world, such as the Dom Pérignon 1961 ‘Charles & Diana’, which has sold at auction for around US $4800. Other highly collectible vintages include the Dom Pérignon Oenothèque 1959, with average market prices near US $9000 (AU $14,500), and the Dom Pérignon Rosé by David Lynch Jeroboam (3 L), valued at approximately US $11,500 (AU $18,500). The Dom Pérignon × Lady Gaga Limited Edition is also thought to fetch up to AUD $1500

Bollinger

Established in 1829, Bollinger is an historic Champagne house that owns 180 hectares of vineyards in France, 85% of which are grand and premier crus, spread across key growing areas for pinot noir, chardonnay and meunier. Known for its traditional methods, including fermentation in oak barrels and extended ageing on lees, Bollinger Champagnes are prized for their creamy texture and complexity. Bollinger’s signature releases include the non-vintage Special Cuvée (around AU $150 to $200), vintage Grande Année (about AU $250 to $350), R.D. (approximately AU $350 to $500), and the rare Vieilles Vignes Françaises, which can exceed AU $4000. Among special editions, the R.D. Extra Brut ‘Spectre’ James Bond 007 Edition is a sought-after collector’s item typically valued between AU $700 and $1000.

How to serve Champagne correctly

• Champagne should be chilled on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for around three hours. Alternatively, place the bottle in a metal Champagne bucket filled with 2/3 water and 1/3 ice for 20 minutes.
• Typical Champagne should be served at approximately 8°C to 1O°C. Rare cuvées and mature vintage should be served at 12°C to 14°C.
• The ideal Champagne glass has a tulip shape, tapered lip, and long stem – though a white wine glass works well. Flutes focus bubbles under the nose but limit aroma expression, while wide coupes expose bubbles to air, causing them to dissipate quickly.
• Champagne should be poured close to the glass at a slow and regular pour, allowing bubbles to develop while reducing foam.
• Glasses should only be filled half way, or two-thirds of the way, to allow the aroma to develop and to ensure a consistent drinking experience from start to finish.
• Hold your glass by the stem to avoid warming your Champagne.

Who are the Champagne Grande Marques of France?

This ungoverned term is used to describe historic, large and prestigious Champagne houses with long and respected reputations. These labels are often the entry point into premium Champagne and include:

• Moët & Chandon
• Veuve Clicquot
• Perrier-Jouët
• Taittinger
• Pol Roger
• Bollinger
• Ruinart
• G.H. Mumm
• Laurent-Perrier