Champagne has become the absolute model of sparkling wine thanks to a very special history, climate, and subsoil, to courageous, inventive, and triumphant men and women, and to a savoir-faire that has been perfected over the generations. Over the years, the prestigious bubbly has been a go-to for the effluent, and has also inspired many artists, painters, photographers, writers, musicians, and the world of cinema. It is said that even Winston Churchill himself drank two bottles of bubbly everyday. Champagne has thus gained international fame by conveying a certain image of France and its art of living, and as an accessible luxury.
Global Champagne Market:
The French Champagne is widely considered to be the Best Sparkling Wine in the World, and its sales have bubbled to their highest point yet. For the first time ever, sales of the luxurious libation topped $6.5 billion in 2022, as French houses saw their exports surge to keep up with the roaring post-lockdown demand. The figure is 1.6% higher from 2021, as the total shipments hit 326 million bottles, according to a statement by Comité Champagne, a trade organization for the industry.
Just over 57%, or 187.5 million bottles, of that Champagne made its way abroad that year, a boost in the stats from both 2021, with an increase of 1.4%, and a decade ago, when exports made up only 45% of total sales.
The statement also notes that 2022 brought a bountiful harvest that was robust in quantity and quality, and those grapes should help replenish Champagne stocks to meet the current demand for bubbly. Many houses, including Moët Hennessy, which were running out of their finest golden elixir last year, will be looking to replenish their stash.
France ranks among the Top Wine Producing Countries in the World.
Largest Champagne Producer in the World:
Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTC:LVMUY), through its various houses, is the largest producer of Champagne in the world. The consolidé MHCS boasted an annual revenue of over $2.2 billion in 2022. Commonly referred to as LVMH or Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTC:LVMUY) is a French luxury conglomerate formed after the $4 billion merger of the renowned fashion house Louis Vuitton and wines and spirits company Moët Hennessy in 1987. In April 2023, LVMH also became the first European company to surpass $500 billion in market value, when the company reported a 17% rise in first-quarter sales, more than double the analysts’ expectations.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), the largest spirits maker in the world, also owns a 34% stake in Moët Hennessy. It was announced in October last year that Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) and LVMH are undoing their distribution agreement signed in France in 1998. The spirits giant will take over distribution of a number of its brands in France, without however ending its partnership with Moët Hennessy.
Both Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) and Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE ranked among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.
Champagne in Formula 1:
Spraying Champagne on the podium of an F1 race is something that every driver in the sport dreams of. In the case of some drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, the contents of hundreds of bottles have been emptied on top of numerous podiums around the world.
In the 70+ years of F1, several Champagne brands have been sprayed at the post-race celebrations. However, the sport switched to ‘Ferrari Trento’ Champagne in 2021 in a bid to save cost. In doing so, the podium ceremony has become significantly cheaper for Formula 1, with a three-liter bottle of the sparkling wine costing around €300 ($322).
That means around $1,288 worth of champagne is sprayed on the podium at the end of every race. In comparison, the ‘Carbon’ Champagne bottles used in 2017, 2018, and 2019 cost nearly thrice as much per piece as the entire current podium bottles combined – at around €3,000 ($3,222) per bottle. Ferrari Trento has a contract with F1 until the end of 2025 and is likely to stay.
While being colloquially referred to as ‘Champagne’, the content of the Trento bottles used on the podium is not technically so. Champagne is a sparkling wine that specifically originates from the Champagne region of France, while a sparkling wine made anywhere else on Earth cannot be called Champagne by definition – similar to the difference between Scotch and regular whiskey. Since the Trento sparkling wine originates in Italy, it cannot be called Champagne by the very definition of the word.
With that said, here are the Top Champagne Brands Under $100.
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to sources such as VinePair, WinePros, Food & Wine, Reddit etc., looking for the Best Champagnes Under $300. We picked wines that appeared multiple times in these sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. When two Champagnes had the same score, we ranked them by the price (excluding tax) on Wine-Searcher.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.
15. Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2010
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $249
Clos de Goisses is not only the oldest walled vineyard in the Champagne region, but also the steepest. Made from 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, this 2010 vintage possesses a creamy, deep, and crystalline texture with elegant aromas of white fruits. The wine is aged for about ten years at a constant temperature of 12°C in the House’s historic cellars in Mareuil-sur-Ay.
14. Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Brut 2011
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $205
Known for one of the most recognizable bottles in the category, the 2011 Belle Epoque from Perrier-Jouet is a stunning centerpiece from the 200th anniversary of this classic Champagne house that you definitely won’t want to miss. Made from a blend of approximately 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, and 5% Pinot Meunier, this Best Quality Champagne is aged for a minimum of five years, usually much longer, prior to release.
Influential in the world of bubbly for more than two centuries, Perrier-Jouët was among the first Champagne houses to regularly stamp its cork with the date of a blend, also known as its vintage.
13. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $191
An exclusive blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from eight classic Grands Crus, this is a full-bodied, round, rich, and mouth-filling Champagne, but also a refined prestige cuvée – it reveals a fascinating purity, precision, and freshness.
Veuve Clicquot has been around for more than two centuries, and its history and quality have made it one of the most sought after Champagnes in the world. The brand is often associated with luxury and prestige, which is why its bottles can be quite expensive.
12. Laurent-Perrier NV Grand Siècle No. 24
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $186
The ethereal and beautifully lifted #24 is a brilliant blend of 11 grand crus, 55% Chardonnay, and 45% Pinot Noir from the powerhouse years of 2004, 2006, and 2007. This animated and full-bodied Champagne has a solid core of fruit that makes it so serious and structured.
In 1999, Laurent-Perrier was listed on the French stock exchange, but the de Nonancourt family retained 57% of the shares. The United States imported 67,000 9-liter cases of the Laurent-Perrier Champagne in 2021.
Laurent-Perrier NV Grand Siècle No. 24 is widely regarded as one of the Best Champagnes Under $200.
11. Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2012
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $78
The 2012 Grand Vintage – the 74th release from this great house – evokes the transition from spring to summer. It offers superb harmony, accompanied by softness and freshness. The 2012 combines depth and brilliance, expressing notes of ripe fruits, peach, mango, and banana, being rounded out with hints of white pepper and honeysuckle.
Moët & Chandon merged with the cognac producer Hennessy in 1971 to form Moët Hennessy, which then merged with Louis Vuitton in a $4 billion deal to form LVMH in 1987. An annual production of 30 million bottles means that a bottle of the company is uncorked every second somewhere on earth, making Moët & Chandon one of the Best-Selling Champagne Brands in the World.
10. Bollinger RD Extra Brut 2002
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Price: $290
Made from 23 different crus, 71% of which are Grands Crus and 29% Premiers Crus, Cuvée R.D. is a vintage Extra Brut Champagne aged on lees, offered for tasting just after disgorgement. The ageing time for this full-bodied, broad, and enveloping expression is particularly long, over three times longer than the appellation regulations, in order to tirelessly transform the aromas until a perfect wine alchemy is obtained.
Since 1829, Bollinger has been producing great Champagnes with a powerful, sophisticated, and complex style.
9. Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé NV
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Price: $88
In 1968, Bernard de Nonancourt paved the way for a new generation of Champagnes and gave its noble credentials to the category of rosés, by choosing a completely new wine, a maceration rosé. This NV Champagne is entirely Pinot Noir from 10 crus in the Montagne de Reims. Laurent-Perrier’s signature style, conceived by Bernard de Nonancourt, aims to provide freshness and elegance in a glass. The Champagne house boasts an annual production of around 7 million bottles.
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée NV ranks among the Best Rosé Champagnes Under $100.
8. Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Price: $58
The Charles Heidsieck NV Brut Réserve is elaborated with 150 different wines from most of 60 crus. Composed of 40% each Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and 20% Meunier, the wine pours a youthful golden hue and is rounded and ripe with classic aromas of lemon curd, toasted brioche, and fresh peach. At only $58 a bottle, Charles Heidsieck NV Brut Réserve is one of the Best Affordable Champagnes in the market.
Established in 1851, Charles Heidsick was taken over by the Descours family in 2011, with the aim of ensuring its international renown.
7. Piper Heidsieck Rare Millésime 2002
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $258
A limited release, flagship wine from Piper-Heidsieck, the 2002 vintage is an elegant, exquisite Champagne with subtle nuances of honey, toasted brioche, and a little floral character. Full-bodied and nicely balanced, this wine is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims region.
In the late 1980s, Piper-Heidsieck became part of the Rémy Cointreau wine and spirits group. An estimated 45,000 9-liter cases of the iconic brand were exported to the U.S. in 2021.
6. Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $96
Full bodied, supple, and extremely smooth, Ruinart Champagnes combine delicacy, and subtle freshness. Exclusively made from Chardonnay, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is a delicate wine balancing freshness and roundness.
Now part of the LVMH group, the Ruinart House does not have significant vineyard holdings, so a high percentage of production grapes are purchased from growers. Ruinart wines tend to be Chardonnay dominated, silky, and refined.
At $96 a bottle, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV is placed among the Best Champagnes for the Price.
5. Dom Pérignon Brut 2006
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Price: $280
This rich and complex wine, with beautiful aromas of dried fruit and toast is distinguished by an impressively long finish. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.
With roots dating back to the 17th century, Dom Pérignon is one of the most long-standing brands in the LVMH empire, which assumed control over the brand when it acquired Moët & Chandon.
4. Bollinger La Grande Année 2002
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Price: $227
La Grande Année Brut 2002 is a stunning edition of one of the great vintage Champagnes that sees immense power and freshness carry the inherent complexity that is the cornerstone of the Bollinger style. This vintage is entirely fermented in oak barrels and is produced from thirteen crus – 95% Grand Cru and 5% Premier Cru.
Bollinger is more than just a fancy wine brand, and since its inception, the Champagne house has been committed to sustainability and responsible farming. In 2012, the house was the first in France to be certified as “High Environmental Value”. Two years later, it made history again by becoming the first to receive a certification in sustainable viticulture in Champagne.
3. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2008
Insider Monkey Score: 7
Price: $271
The perfect Blanc de Blancs, the Taittinger 2008 is a wine of excellent craftsmanship and impeccable purity. It is entirely Grand Cru, and only from the Côte de Blancs, made from a selection of the best lots from Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil, and Oger. After each sip, this full-bodied wine shows more complexity and nuances that will keep you going back for more.
With more than 700 acres of vines, Taittinger is one of the region’s largest vineyard owners. Despite those extensive plantings, the Champagne house also buys up to 50% of the grapes it uses to supply its substantial output.
2. Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006
Insider Monkey Score: 9
Price: $271
Champagne Pol Roger created their Prestige Cuvée in homage to Sir Winston Churchill, mindful of the qualities that he sought in his Champagne – robustness, a full-bodied character, and relative maturity. The exact blend is a closely guarded family secret but it is undeniable that the composition would meet with the approval of the man to whom it is dedicated.
Founded in 1849, Pol Roger is one of only a few Grande Marque Champagne houses that remains family owned and operated. For five generations, the descendants have been equally demanding and loyal to the winemaking strategies initiated from the very beginning.
1. Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition NV
Insider Monkey Score: 11
Price: $246
Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition is a blend of 131 wines from 12 different years, the youngest of which is from 2015, while the oldest dates back to 2000. A stay of around seven years in Krug’s cellars gives this Édition its remarkable expression and elegance. The final composition of this bottle is 45% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, and 18% Meunier.
The Krug maison, which is synonymous with the elegance and charm of sparkling wines, is one of the most important and well-known Champagne houses in the world. Since their inception in 1843, Krug Grande Cuvée has been their signature wine, and the most important offering they produce each year.
Topping our list, Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition NV is the Number 1 Champagne Under $300 in the World.
Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below. You can also take a peek at 25 Most Cannabis Consuming Countries in the World and Alcohol Consumption by Country: 25 Countries with the Highest Alcohol Consumption per Capita.
Suggested Articles:
- 15 Top Rated Bourbon Whiskeys Under $100
- 20 Wines that aren’t Cheap but are Worth the Price
- 15 Best Wines Under $250
This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Hedge Fund Resource Center