How to read a label to recognize a real champagne?

The Champagne Committee whose mission is to defend the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée Champagne, informs you that the name Champagne is invariable.

Champagne is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) which designates exclusively a sparkling wine elaborated in France, in the wine-growing region of Champagne, according to methods strictly defined by the law.

Thus, to say that a Champagne is French is a plenoasm and to use the mention Champagne to qualify sparkling wines of foreign origin would be a misuse of the AOC.

Distinguishing Champagne from other sparkling wines

To distinguish Champagne from other sparkling wines, you must know how to read the label. On the label, some compulsory information must appear, giving precise details on the origin of the wine and its production.

How to recognize a real Champagne : read the label

The name or the company name of the producer, the name of the town where the head office is located and the name "France" (+ the name of the town where the wine is produced if different from the head office),

A professional registration number issued by the Champagne Committee preceded by the initials that give information on the professional category of the winemaker,

The identification of the batch (or directly on the bottle),

The mention of allergens (for example sulphur dioxide, sulphites or sulphur dioxide...),

The mention "the consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, even in small quantities, can have serious consequences on the health of the child "*.

The "green point" logo for the producer who has signed a contract for the recovery of packaging with an approved company,

 If applicable, the year of the vintage or any particularity of the wine (blanc de blancs, rosé, blanc de noirs, etc.),

Information on the grape varieties, the date of disgorgement, the sensory characteristics, the food and wine associations, etc...

The mention "Product of France"

* Mention or logo (only mandatory on certain markets)

The compulsory mentions

Some details must appear on the label:

    the mention "champagne
    the brand or the company that bottled the wine
    the sugar content or dosage that characterizes the type of wine (brut, dry...)
    the volume of the bottle (in cl or ml)
    the name of the winemaker
    the commune of elaboration
    the country of origin
    the professional registration number issued by the CIVC (and its status)

The other mentions

Other information can appear on the labels, although they are not mandatory as the previous ones.

    the alcoholic strength by volume (% vol.)
    the mention of allergens
    the mention "the consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, even in small quantities, can have serious consequences on the health of the child" or its logo
     the "green dot" for producers who have signed a contract for the recovery of packaging
    the year of production of a vintage
    the particularities of the vintages (rosé, white of white...)

The labels

A label is placed on the bottle of champagne in order to inform the consumer, and to include the mandatory information.

This label is a bit like the identity document of the bottle. Indeed, it is there that we find all its history: where it comes from, the producer, the grape varieties used... and its characteristics: its degree of alcohol, its capacity...

The first thing that should jump out at you is the A.O.C. "Champagne", it is the appellation that guarantees the origin of your wine. Secondly, the name of the house having produced this bottle, in general, the big houses display it proudly. Then, it is the place of elaboration. Indeed, it is an obligation of the law. Another clear indication is the dosage, i.e. how much sugar your bottle contains. You will know more thanks to the designations "brut", "sec", "non dosé"...

On some bottles, you can also see the notion "Produit de France" appear. The goal is to always bring a confirmation in addition as for the origin of the product and its quality.

On others, you can see from time to time what is called a "reward". When a winemaker receives one, it can be seen via a third-party label on it, or via a collar on the neck of the bottle. It can help consumers to make their choice if they do not have sufficient knowledge or if they are not accompanied by a wine merchant. It also helps to reinforce the sales when the sale of champagne is done on the internet.

Two useful little letters...

There are also two small letters on the label that say a lot about the origin of the bottle. They appear necessarily at the bottom of the label, lost among the indications of volume of alcohol