When wine is a family affair, one might say. Because Louis Roederer, one of the best known and most appreciated Champagne houses, is also one of the last wineries in the region still owned by the same family that founded it. That was back in 1776. The company is located in Reims and, since its inception, has distinguished itself from all other maisons that purchased large quantities of grapes from merchants, focusing instead on acquiring vineyards and plots in the best regions. The idea was to create great wines by having total control over production, from the vineyard to the bottle. The result proved the Roederers right, and today they can count on a property of about 240 hectares, divided between the three best crus in Champagne, located between the Montagne de Reims, the Côtes des Blancs, and the Vallée de la Marne. The company's flagship wine is undoubtedly the iconic Cristal, although enthusiasts around the world recognise that all the maison's wines have a style that is difficult to match. Today, Maison Louis Roederer is the largest producer of biodynamic Champagne.