Any champagne drinker worth their bubbles will have a special place in their heart for Krug. “Krugistes” as they have become known, are now so fashionable, they have their own hashtag, website and yes, feed, where they upload photos of themselves, well drinking vintage Krug champagne. Celebrity followers include Ernest Hemingway, John le Carré, Sir Alec Guinness, Naomi Campbell and the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who used to sneak in bottles whenever she was in hospital. From the unmistakable bottle shape to the clear amber liquid inside, it looks like Krug is good.

But cool factor aside, Krug’s constant levels of excellence are almost legendary. Now owned by uber corporate LMVH, the House of Krug has managed to retain their identity within the luxury goods giant’s portfolio. Created in 1843 and run by sixth generation Olivier Krug, it is the one Champagne House that creates only Prestige Champagne. This means that every single year they are able to produce world-class champagne, regardless of the meteorological conditions. They do this by paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines. This means that while all Krug Champagnes are different expressions of nature, they have the same undisputed quality and distinction.

Unsurprisingly then, for such a sure product, exports of Krug champagne are on the up. Their biggest market is Japan, followed by the US and Europe, and bizarrely Nigeria, where the president’s wife is a fan. Krug has also, since 1995, bottled the most expensive single-vineyard Champagne, Clos d’Ambonnay, a blanc de noirs — made only from black grapes — from a tiny walled plot in Ambonnay. A bottle of the 2002 vintage was selling for €3,500 in 2019, but with its superb ageing potential, we expect this to rise and rise.