Heritage

Champagne expertise in California

The first multi-vintage Anderson Valley Brut was released in 1988, followed by Brut Rosé and L’Ermitage, the estate’s tête de cuvée. The project was built on a principle central to Louis Roederer: great sparkling wine begins with vineyard ownership and direct control over grape quality.

Long-term winemaking continuity

Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich first joined Roederer Estate as an intern after graduating from the École Supérieure d’Oenologie in Montpellier in 1993. After further experience in France and at Champagne Louis Roederer in Reims, he returned to Anderson Valley in 2002 and has since overseen the estate’s production. This continuity has helped preserve a precise, fresh and well-defined house style.

Region and Vineyards

Anderson Valley and coastal influence

Roederer Estate is located in the cool, fog-shrouded Anderson Valley, around 45 minutes east of the Pacific Ocean. The region benefits from warm days, cool nights and a long growing season, allowing grapes to ripen slowly while retaining acidity and aromatic definition. These conditions are well suited to the Roederer style, which depends on freshness, balance and texture.

The estate has gradually expanded since 1982 and now farms around 620 acres in the Anderson Valley AVA. Its vineyard model is unusual for California sparkling wine: all grapes are estate-grown, giving the team complete control over farming, harvest timing and selection. The four original vineyard sources also inspired the name Quartet.

Estate farming and vineyard precision

Vineyard decisions are adapted to individual site conditions. The team uses different trellis systems, including open lyre training, and high-density planting where appropriate. Manual work remains important, particularly pruning and harvest selection, while detailed weather and maturity tracking helps achieve balance between sugar, acidity and flavour ripeness.

Viticulture and Winemaking

Sustainable stewardship

Land stewardship is central to Roederer Estate. The estate is Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and 100% Fish Friendly Certified, reflecting its work to protect the Navarro River and prevent vineyard sediment runoff. Organic and Biodynamic practices are also used across selected vineyards, supported by compost made from winery pomace and local sheep manure, reclaimed winery water for irrigation and winter sheep grazing to manage cover crops naturally.

Traditional method precision

Roederer Estate’s winemaking style is based on two pillars: estate-grown fruit and the addition of oak-aged reserve wines. Only the cuvée, or first pressing, is used. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel at cool temperature, with zero to minimal malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness and ageing potential.

Each year, a portion of the best wines is aged in large French oak casks in the reserve cellar. These reserve wines are blended into the multi-vintage cuvées, adding body, finesse and depth in the traditional Roederer style. Extended lees ageing further builds texture and complexity.

Style of Wine

Roederer Estate produces sparkling white and rosé wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Quartet Brut is typically Chardonnay-led, with Pinot Noir adding structure and depth, while Quartet Rosé brings red fruit, freshness and fine texture. The wines are defined by bright acidity, precise fruit, fine mousse and a balance between Californian generosity and Champagne-inspired restraint.

L’Ermitage and L’Ermitage Rosé represent the estate’s prestige expressions, produced only in selected vintages and designed for extended ageing. These wines offer greater depth, complexity and length, while retaining the clarity and freshness associated with Anderson Valley.

A California sparkling wine benchmark in the UK wine trade

For trade professionals, Roederer Estate offers a complete California sparkling wine ladder. Quartet Brut and Rosé support by-the-glass, aperitif and event listings, while L’Ermitage and L’Ermitage Rosé add depth for fine dining, independent retail, premium sparkling programmes and collector-led lists.

Visit Roederer Estate’s website.