Understanding Champagne labels
12th December 2013
These are the 10 things that must appear on all Champagne labels:
No.1 – Appellation of Controlled Origin Champagne-prominently displayed
No. 2 – Brand Marque differentiates the wines of different producers
No.3 – Degree of sweetness, Extra-brut, driest wines; brut, very dry; extra-dry, slightly sweet; sec, sweet; demi-sec, very sweet
No. 4 – The town where the wine was made
No. 5 – Country of origin, Champagne can only be called so if it comes from the Champagne region of France
No. 6 – Alcohol content, this varies between 10.5% – 13% 11% is the minimum from vintage dated wines
No.7 – Volume of bottle in millilitres
No. 8 – Trade Registration, Each producer is given a registration number by CIVC When the producers owns the brand, one of the following initials will be found: NM, CM, RM, RC, MA
No. 9 – Winemaker, elaborateur
No. 10 – Champagne house, grower or cooperative responsible for making the wine
Glass of Bubbly
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