W3 Wine School

Méthode Champenoise

Méthode Champenoise is the method used to produce French Champagne.

Wine Press Steel Tank Blending Bidule
Pressing1st FermentationBlending2nd Fermentation

Riddling Disgorage Dosage Champagne Bottles
RiddlingDisgorgementDosageAging

With Méthode Champenoise, the first fermentation takes place in a tank, and a second fermentation takes place in the bottle.

The second fermentation starts by adding yeast and sugar to the bottle, and after about 1 year, the bubbles are completely developed.

The legend tells the story that a Benedictine monk (Dom Pérignon 1639-1715) invented sparkling wine when he bottled a wine too early, but the oldest recorded sparkling wine is Blanquette de Limoux (1531).

Champagne Sugar Levels

Regulation
EC 607/2009
Sugar
gram/litre
Calories
/glass
Brut Nature (Brut Zero)0-33
Extra Brut 0-6 5
Brut 0-12 7
Extra Dry (Extra Sec, Extra Seco) 12-17 10
Dry (Sec, Seco) 17-32 20
Demi (Semi) 32-50 30
Doux (Sweet, Dulce) 50+ 30+

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