Types of Champagne

There are many different types of champagne, however in today’s market the majority of champagnes you will find are non-vintage, meaning the grapes used are a blended product from several different vintages.

Champagne producers often start their blending with a specific year vintage and then add older vintages. The blending is regulated and states, “both vintage and non-vintage wines are allowed to use no more than 80% of the total vintage’s harvest for the production of vintage Champagne.”

In some cases, the champagne producer may use wine from a single vintage but label it as a non-vintage as the wine will not be as high a quality and the producer does not wish to reserve the wine for blending at a later date.

Everyone has their own preference of champagnes; however, for those that have not experienced the various types of champagne that is available, there may be confusion as to which one should be served.

The following description will give you an idea of which champagne you may wish to serve at your next event. As we look into the types of champagnes, we will find Prestige cuvee, Blanc de noirs, Blanc de Blanc, and Rosé Champagne.

Prestige cuvee or cuvee de prestige is a blend of champagne that is often considered by most to be the top of the range of the producer.

The first prestige cuvee was available in 1936 using the 1921 vintage, Moët & Chandon’s Dom Pérignon.

Prior to this time, many champagne houses were creating cuvees all with different qualities, however the idea of a top of the range champagne with a price tag to match was not considered. One such top of the range champagne was created by Louis Roederer known as Cristal beginning in 1876; however, this champagne was designed for the private consumption of the Russian tsar.

A few famous prestige cuvees include Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne vintage 1952, Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle ‘La Cuvée’ in 1960 that used vintages 1952, 1953, and 1955.

The most popular prestige cuvee you will hear about are Louis Roederer’s Cristal, Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle, Moët & Chandon’s Dom Pérignon, and Pol Roger’s Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill.

Blanc de noirs is a French term meaning white of blacks.

Blanc de noirs champagnes are white champagnes created exclusively with black grapes. This type of champagne is rare but can be found.

A few of the most popular Blanc de noirs includes Bollinger’s Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Francaises, the 1985 Bollinger Blanc de Noirs, and the 1928 Krug.

Blanc de noirs may also be known as Pinot Noir. 

Blanc de Blancs is a French term meaning white of whites.

Unlike the Blanc de noirs, Blanc de Blancs as the name suggests is created from white Chardonnay grapes. The type of champagne can be a vintage or a non-vintage. The flavor is usually a lighter more delicate taste than other champagnes.

The most popular champagnes houses that make Blanc de Blancs champagne include Taittinger Comte de Champagne, Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger Blanc de Chardonnay, and Deutz Blanc de Blancs.

Rose champagne also known as rosé wines of Champagne or Pink Champagne are made from pinot noir or chardonnay grapes.

In some cases, champagne houses will add just a tad of pinot noir red wine to add to the taste and color of the champagne. The way in which the house creates the color has more to do with the color that is created which can be from pale onion skin to salmon to rosy pink.

This type of champagne is usually fuller and rounder than other champagnes and is often used for romantic dinners instead of large events.

The sweetness of champagnes is very different from one type or brand to another.

The amount of sugar that is added to the wine after the second fermentation as well as the amount of aging helps determines the sweetness of the champagne. As a rule of thumb, the level of sweetness can be derived using this table.

Champagne	Sugar (per litre)
Brut Natural	less than 3 grams
Brut Zéro	less than 3 grams
Extra Brut	less than 6 grams
Brut	less than 15 grams
Extra Sec	12 to 20 grams
Extra Dry	12 to 20 grams
Sec	17 to 35 grams
Demi-Sec	33 to 50 grams
Doux	more than 50 grams