Blog navigation

Latest posts

The House Laurent-Perrier is honored and delighted to have signed Mr. Morgan Freeman to advertise Grand Siecle, its most luxurious cuvée.
The House Laurent-Perrier is honored and delighted to have signed Mr. Morgan Freeman to advertise Grand Siecle, its most luxurious cuvée.
61242 views

At Laurent-Perrier, we're different from the rest, or at least we're perceived to be. It took a lot more time, effort...

Read more
How to buy Champagne with cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Ethereum...
How to buy Champagne with cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Ethereum...
50866 views

Recently, e-commerce site pepites-en-champagne.fr took the innovative step of accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment...

Read more
How to uncork a bottle of champagne like a professional: complete guide
How to uncork a bottle of champagne like a professional: complete guide
91354 views

Uncorking a bottle of champagne may seem intimidating, but with the right techniques, it becomes child's play. In...

Read more
The Best Champagnes to Celebrate Christmas with Elegance and Festivity
The Best Champagnes to Celebrate Christmas with Elegance and Festivity
200490 views

Christmas is a magical time of year when we celebrate with family and friends. And what better way to celebrate than...

Read more
Fine de Champagne Cognac
Fine de Champagne Cognac
1330 views

Fine de Champagne is a top-quality cognac, renowned for its refinement and exceptional taste. Contrary to popular...

Read more

What are the different types of grape used in champagne production?

2822 Views
 

When it comes to producing Champagne, winemakers in the Champagne region use three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Each of these grape varieties plays an essential role in the production of this world-renowned sparkling wine. Understanding the characteristics of each grape variety allows us to fully appreciate the diversity of champagnes available on the market.

Grape varieties used in champagne production

1 Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most widely usedwhite grape variety in champagne production. It gives champagnes their characteristic elegance, finesse and freshness. Chardonnay grapes are renowned for their balanced acidity, delicate white fruit aroma and mineral notes. Blanc de blancs champagnes, made exclusively from Chardonnay, are renowned for their lightness and finesse.

2 Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a red grape variety used to produce both white and rosé champagnes. It brings structure, body and complexity to wines. Pinot Noir grapes produce champagnes with aromas of red fruit, such as cherry and strawberry, with spicy nuances. Pinot Noir is often used in blending to add depth and power to champagnes.

3 Pinot Meunier

Pinot Meunier is another red grape variety used in Champagne production. It is renowned for its vigor and resistance to disease, making it a popular choice among the region's winemakers. Pinot Meunier produces fruity champagnes, with aromas of yellow-fleshed fruits such as pear and apple. It brings a pleasant roundness and softness to champagnes, making them accessible and ready to drink more quickly than other grape varieties.

The art of assembly

One of the distinguishing features of Champagne production is the art of blending. Champagne winemakers use a blend of these three grape varieties to create balanced, complex champagnes. Each Champagne house has its own blend proportions, kept secret to preserve their unique identity and style.

For example, some champagne houses favor Chardonnay-dominated blends to produce elegant, fresh champagnes. Others prefer a more balanced blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to achieve a balance between freshness and structure.

Conclusion

Champagne production is a complex process featuring the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grape varieties. Each of these grape varieties brings its own distinctive character and contributes to the diversity of champagnes available on the market.

Whether you prefer light, fresh champagnes, rich, powerful champagnes, or fruity, accessible champagnes, there's something for everyone. The art of blending enables champagne houses to create unique wines, reflecting their expertise and heritage.

Now that you know the different types of grape varieties used in champagne production, you can explore the different champagne houses and discover the one that best suits your preferences. Cheers!