Styles
Champagne encompasses a remarkable range of styles — from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, from delicate blanc de blancs to powerful vintage wines.
Non-Vintage (NV)
The backbone of every house, non-vintage champagne blends wines from multiple years to achieve a consistent house style. The base wine is typically from the most recent harvest, enriched with reserve wines from previous years. NV champagne accounts for the vast majority of production.
Vintage
Declared only in exceptional years, vintage champagne is made entirely from grapes harvested in a single year. It must be aged for a minimum of three years on the lees (compared to fifteen months for NV), and typically reflects the character of its harvest year. Great vintages — 1996, 2002, 2008, 2012 — are collected and cellared for decades.
Blanc de Blancs
Made exclusively from white grapes — almost always Chardonnay — blanc de blancs is the most delicate and mineral expression of champagne. It is particularly associated with the Côte des Blancs, where Chardonnay achieves its greatest refinement. These wines are often described as chalky, citrus-driven, and age-worthy.
Blanc de Noirs
The inverse of blanc de blancs, blanc de noirs is made from black-skinned grapes — Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier — vinified as a white wine. The result is typically fuller-bodied, with red fruit character and considerable depth. Aÿ and the Montagne de Reims are classic sources.
Rosé
Champagne rosé is produced either by brief skin maceration (saignée method) or — more commonly — by blending a small amount of still red wine from the Champagne appellation into the base blend. Styles range from pale, delicate salmon to deep, structured pink. Rosé champagne has grown significantly in popularity over the past two decades.
Prestige Cuvée
The flagship wine of a house, prestige cuvées are made from the finest grapes in the best years. Dom Pérignon, Krug Grande Cuvée, Cristal, and Belle Époque are among the most celebrated. They represent the pinnacle of each house's winemaking philosophy and command corresponding prices.
Dosage Levels
The final sweetness of a champagne is determined by the dosage — a small addition of wine and sugar (liqueur d'expédition) after disgorgement. Levels range from Brut Nature (0–3 g/L, no added sugar) through Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, to Doux (50+ g/L). Brut is by far the most common style.