Cristal champagne was first bottled in 1876 for Alexander II at the court of the Russian Tsar. Alexander liked the champagne so much that he ordered it by the case.

The champagne is produced by Louis Roederer on his prestigious Grand Cru vineyards which cover more than 240 hectares of land.
Cristal is only made in good vintages, when the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have reached their perfect maturity. The champagne matures for at least 10 years in Roederer's cellars. The maturation process adds even more complexity and depth of flavour. Cristal is released on the market on average 1 year after disgorgement to mature further.