Krug Unites Its 2008 Vintage with Original Scores by Composer Max Richter

What happened

Krug, the Champagne house, has entered into a collaboration with composer Max Richter in which original musical scores have been created to accompany expressions from Krug's 2008 vintage. The initiative pairs the house's wines directly with composed music, treating the two as complementary sensory experiences rather than separate pursuits.

Why it matters

For a house of Krug's standing, creative partnerships are rarely undertaken lightly. By enlisting a composer of Max Richter's calibre to produce scores conceived expressly for the 2008 vintage, Krug signals that it regards this particular year as worthy of a distinctive form of presentation. The collaboration invites those who encounter it to engage with the wines through an additional dimension — one that is heard as much as tasted.

More broadly, the initiative reflects a considered approach to communicating the character of a vintage without relying solely on conventional critical language. Music, like Champagne, unfolds across time; the decision to bring the two together suggests a belief that each can illuminate something in the other that neither conveys alone.

Context

The 2008 vintage occupies a significant place in the Champagne calendar. Widely regarded as a year of considerable precision and longevity, it has attracted sustained attention from producers and collectors alike. For Krug, whose approach to winemaking emphasises the expression of individual years and individual plots, the 2008 vintage represents a natural subject for extended exploration.

Max Richter is a composer whose work spans orchestral, chamber, and electronic forms, and who has demonstrated a sustained interest in the relationship between music and other disciplines. His involvement brings a particular seriousness of intent to the project.

The collaboration was announced on 20 April 2026.