If you want the best Champagnes of 2026, start with why you’re buying. Some bottles are made for collectors. Some make great gifts. Some are simply a lovely drink for a special night.
These are the 18 best Champagnes of 2026, counted down from 18 to 1. Some are rare, some are made for gifting and some are simply lovely to drink.
This list of the best Champagnes covers 18 houses and one new bottle from each. Use the list as a shortlist to hunt, with plain notes on who each bottle suits.
How We Ranked the Best Champagnes
To rank the best Champagnes, we looked at four things: how rare the bottle is, how new the release is, the story behind it and how interesting the wine sounds. It’s an editorial order, not a blind tasting, so your own taste may put them in a different order.
The Best Champagnes at a Glance
| # | House | Bottle |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Lanson | Noble Champagne Vintage 2013 |
| 17 | Taittinger | Brut Millésimé 2018 |
| 16 | Piper-Heidsieck | Marilyn Monroe Centennial Edition |
| 15 | Moët & Chandon | Ice Impérial x Pharrell Williams |
| 14 | Telmont | Réserve de la Terre Rosé, Second Edition |
| 13 | Perrier-Jouët | Belle Epoque Brut 2018 |
| 12 | Laurent-Perrier | Grand Siècle Itération N°27 |
| 11 | Ruinart | Blanc Singulier Édition 20 |
| 10 | Charles Heidsieck | Blanc des Millénaires 2017 |
| 9 | Veuve Clicquot | La Grande Dame 2018 by Jacquemus |
| 8 | Billecart-Salmon | Cuvée Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs 2013 |
| 7 | Pol Roger | Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2018 |
| 6 | Gosset | Celebris Rosé 2009 |
| 5 | Bollinger | La Grande Année 2018 |
| 4 | Salon | 2015 |
| 3 | Dom Pérignon | Vintage 2018 and Rosé Vintage 2010 by Damien Hirst |
| 2 | Krug | Grande Cuvée 174ème Édition |
| 1 | Louis Roederer | Cristal 2018 |
Here is the full list of the best Champagnes in one place, and the sections below take them one by one.
18 to 13: Easy Starting Points Among the Best Champagnes
These bottles are the most approachable of the best Champagnes on this list.
18. Lanson Noble Champagne Vintage 2013
This is Lanson’s prestige vintage, and it’s a good first step if you usually buy non-vintage bottles. If you want something more playful, the Le Rosé Création “Vibrant Edition” gives the house’s rosé a fresh seasonal look.
17. Taittinger Brut Millésimé 2018
Launched in January 2026, this is the wine-led pick from Taittinger right now. The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2015 is still to come. Football fans can also look for the FIFA World Cup 2026 edition of the Brut Réserve.
16. Piper-Heidsieck Marilyn Monroe Centennial Edition
Announced on June 1, 2026, this bottle marks 100 years since Marilyn Monroe’s birth. It carries her portrait and was made with her estate, so it’s a fun gift for film fans. Read more star stories in our Celebrity News section.
15. Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial x Pharrell Williams
This summer 2026 edition gives the Ice Impérial bottle a new design. The wine is made to be served over ice, so it suits a relaxed afternoon better than a formal toast.
14. Telmont Réserve de la Terre Rosé, Second Edition
Announced in June 2026, this rosé is made only from organically grown grapes. If you care about how your wine is farmed, start here.
13. Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Brut 2018
This wine spent at least six years resting on its lees, which gives it structure and a floral taste. If you prefer pure Chardonnay, the Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2017 is the other one to try.
12 to 7: Gifts, Dinners and Rare Finds Among the Best Champagnes
The middle of the best Champagnes list is full of bottles with a strong story.
12. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Itération N°27
Grand Siècle blends exceptional years into one wine, and this is the latest version. The house also released Brut Millésimé 2018, and its Cuvée Rosé now comes in a 2026 “Bubbles” metal jacket.
11. Ruinart Blanc Singulier Édition 20
This one is built on the 2020 harvest, which had a mild winter, a sunny spring and a summer of drought and extreme heat. Ruinart made the wine to show how that weather changes Chardonnay. It’s a good one for people who like to talk about what they’re drinking.
10. Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2017
Only nine editions of this Chardonnay have been made in more than four decades, and the series began with the 1983 vintage. Each release is rare, and this one is a great pick if you want to go beyond the usual big names.
9. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018 by Jacquemus
Designer Simon Porte Jacquemus wrapped the bottle in white linen with yellow embroidered writing. It holds the 2018 La Grande Dame, and there’s a Rosé 2018 too. It’s one of the best Champagnes for fashion fans, and you can find more style news in our Fashion & Beauty section.
8. Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs 2013
This grand cru Chardonnay comes from the 2013 harvest, so it’s more than ten years old. It was newly reviewed in September 2026. It’s a smart choice for a dinner where the wine matters as much as the food.
7. Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2018
Pol Roger releases this cuvée later than its other vintages, so waiting is part of the story. The Brut Vintage 2019 arrived in July 2026, along with a Rosé Vintage 2019, if you want something easier to find.
6 to 1: The Best Champagnes for Collectors
The top six are the best Champagnes to buy if you want something rare.
6. Gosset Celebris Rosé 2009
Released in March 2026, this is only the sixth edition of this rosé in about 30 years. Gosset made it only as a rosé, with no white version from the same year.
5. Bollinger La Grande Année 2018
Bollinger leans on Pinot Noir, and the white version here is 66 percent Pinot Noir and 34 percent Chardonnay from 19 crus. It also comes as a rosé. For more Pinot Noir, look for PN AYC21, or La Côte aux Enfants 2016, which comes from a single vineyard.
4. Salon 2015
This is only the 45th vintage Salon has ever released. It came out in 2025, ahead of the 2014, which was still ageing in June 2026. At Salon, the wine decides when it’s ready.
3. Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018 and Rosé Vintage 2010 by Damien Hirst
For its end-of-2026 editions, Hirst redrew the house’s shield using the butterfly shapes from his Kaleidoscope series. The Vintage 2018 comes in deep blues and violets, and the Rosé Vintage 2010 in magenta, red and pink. They launched in October, with gift boxes from £230 at Selfridges. This is one of the best Champagnes to give as a gift. Find the house at Dom Pérignon.
2. Krug Grande Cuvée 174ème Édition
This blend uses 143 wines from 10 different years, built around the 2018 harvest, and the oldest wine goes back to 2001. It’s a great lesson in how blending works. The house also released a Vintage 2013 and a Clos d’Ambonnay 2008, a rare Pinot Noir from a tiny walled vineyard. Learn more at Krug.
1. Louis Roederer Cristal 2018
Our top pick among the best Champagnes is Cristal 2018. 2026 is a big year, because the house turns 250 and Cristal turns 150. Cristal Late Release 2008, in white and rosé, is an older harvest that stayed longer in the cellar. For an easier start, try Collection 247, a blend built around the 2022 harvest. Visit Louis Roederer.
Quick Picks: Which of the Best Champagnes Should You Buy?
Use this table to match the best Champagnes to your situation.
| If You Want | Buy This |
|---|---|
| A bottle to keep for years | Cristal Late Release 2008, Salon 2015 or Sir Winston Churchill 2018 |
| An art-lover’s gift | Dom Pérignon x Damien Hirst |
| A gift for a fashion fan | Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame by Jacquemus |
| Something rare and pink | Gosset Celebris Rosé 2009 |
| Crisp, fresh Chardonnay | Blanc des Millénaires 2017 or Louis Salmon 2013 |
| Rich Pinot Noir | Bollinger La Grande Année 2018 or Clos d’Ambonnay 2008 |
| An organic choice | Telmont Réserve de la Terre Rosé |
| A relaxed drink over ice | Moët Ice Impérial x Pharrell Williams |
Planning a night out? See where to drink these in our Hotels & Travel and Events coverage, or browse all our Latest Stories.
FAQs: Best Champagnes
What Are the Best Champagnes to Buy in 2026?
Our top pick is Cristal 2018, followed by Krug Grande Cuvée 174ème Édition and the Dom Pérignon Damien Hirst editions. The right one for you depends on whether you want to drink it, give it or keep it.
Which of the Best Champagnes Make Good Gifts?
Limited editions with special packaging work best. Try Dom Pérignon x Damien Hirst, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame by Jacquemus or Piper-Heidsieck’s Marilyn Monroe edition.
Are the Best Champagnes Hard to Find?
Some are. Rare releases such as Gosset Celebris Rosé 2009 and Salon 2015 are made in small numbers, and limited editions sell out. Ask your wine shop to look out for them.
Which Champagne Is Ranked Number 1?
Louis Roederer Cristal 2018. It’s an editorial pick based on rarity, story and anniversary year, not a blind tasting.
Final Thoughts on the Best Champagnes
You don’t have to try all of the best Champagnes on this list. Pick the one that matches why you’re buying and you’ll end up with a good bottle. Collectors should chase Salon, Gosset and Cristal Late Release. Gift givers have great options in the Hirst, Jacquemus and Piper-Heidsieck editions. Everyone else can start with Bollinger or Billecart-Salmon.
The bottom line: the best Champagnes are the ones with a story you’ll enjoy telling as you pour.
