Glossary
Every word of sparkling wine, from tirage to muselet, defined in one or two sentences with a source.
Process
Adjuvant de remuageRiddling aid added at tirage so the lees slide into the neckFrench · riddling aidAignesChampagne word for the pressed grape residue sent to distillationFrench · pressed grape residueAssemblageBlending base wines of different crus, varieties and years into a cuvéeFrench · blendingAutolyseBreakdown of dead yeast cells during ageing on leesFrench · autolysisBelonOpen tank that receives cuvée juice from the Champagne pressFrench · press receiving tankBiduleHollow plastic cylinder under the crown cap that collects the leesFrench · lees-collecting insertBourbesMuddy deposit removed from must after settlingFrench · must sedimentCapsule couronneMetal cap that seals the bottle during second fermentation and ageingFrench · crown capCentre de pressurageApproved pressing facility in Champagne, inspected under set rulesFrench · pressing centreCoquardTraditional vertical basket press of 2,000 or 4,000 kgFrench · Coquard pressCuve closeSecond fermentation in a closed tank, then isobaric bottlingFrench · closed tank methodCuvéeFirst 2,050 L of juice from a Champagne marc, or the blend for sparkling wineFrench · first juice; blend for sparklingDosageLiqueur added before final closure; sets the sweetness categoryFrench · dosageDoseuseMachine that adds liqueur d'expédition and tops up bottles after disgorgementFrench · dosing machineDébourbageSettling of fresh must so solids sink, then racking off clear juiceFrench · settling of mustDégorgementRemoving the deposit gathered on the closure after riddlingFrench · disgorgementDégorgement à la glaceDisgorgement after freezing the neck, trapping the deposit in iceFrench · disgorgement with iceDégorgement à la voléeManual disgorgement without freezing, about 400 bottles a dayFrench · disgorgement on the flyDépointageStacking riddled bottles neck down, ready for disgorgementFrench · stacking neck downEntreillageStacking bottles head to tail on wooden slats during second fermentationFrench · stacking on slatsFermentation alcooliqueConversion of sugar into alcohol and CO2 by yeastFrench · alcoholic fermentationFermentation malolactiqueOptional conversion of malic into lactic acid in base winesFrench · malolactic fermentationGrappes entièresWhole bunches: Champagne grapes go to the press uncrushedFrench · whole bunchesGyropaletteComputer-controlled riddling cage for 504 bottles, patented 1968French · riddling machineLevurageInoculating the cuvée with a selected yeast culture at tirageFrench · inoculation with yeastsLevuresTirage yeasts: Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains in ChampagneFrench · yeastsLiesResidue in wine vessels; in sparkling wine, the dead yeast after second fermentationFrench · leesLiqueur d'expéditionCane sugar dissolved in wine, added after disgorgementFrench · dosage liqueurLiqueur de tirageSugar and wine mixture added before tirage to start second fermentationFrench · tirage liqueurMacérationSkin contact of black grapes to extract colour for roséFrench · skin contactMarcChampagne press load of 4,000 kg of grapes, or the pressed cakeFrench · press load; pressed cakeMetodo MartinottiItalian name for second fermentation in tank (autoclave)Italian · tank (autoclave) methodPointageShaking bottles so sediment slides from the sides into the neckFrench · shaking down sedimentPressuragePressing of grapes, in Champagne on whole bunches and in fractionsFrench · pressingPressurage directPressing grapes without maceration, a listed method for Champagne roséFrench · direct pressingPrise de mousseSecond fermentation in the closed bottle that creates the bubblesFrench · taking of the foamPupitreA-frame oak riddling rack for 120 bottles, patented 1864French · riddling rackRebêcheFinal press juice beyond the Champagne yield, sent to distillationFrench · final press juiceRemuageRiddling: gathering the deposit onto the bottle closureFrench · riddlingRosé d'assemblageRosé made by blending white and red wines before tirageFrench · blended roséSaignéeRosé made by bleeding off juice from black grapes after brief skin contactFrench · bleeding (rosé method)Secondary fermentationAlcoholic fermentation in hermetically closed containers (OIV)English · second fermentationSoutirageRacking: drawing clear wine or must off its depositFrench · rackingSur lattesBottles lying horizontally on slats during second fermentation and ageingFrench · on slatsSur pointeBottles neck down and nearly vertical at the end of riddlingFrench · on the pointTailleSecond Champagne press fraction, 500 L per 4,000 kg marcFrench · second pressingTirageBottling the cuvée with tirage liqueur and yeasts for second fermentationFrench · bottling for second fermentationTransvasageIsobaric transfer of sparkling wine between containersFrench · transfer under pressureVieillissement sur liesAgeing on lees in bottle: Champagne minimum 15 months, vintage 36French · ageing on leesVin clairStill Champagne base wine before blending and second fermentationFrench · clear still base wineVin de baseWine destined for the production of a sparkling wine (OIV)French · base wineVin de réserveWine from earlier harvests kept for blending into later cuvéesFrench · reserve wineVins de l'annéeWines of the latest harvest used in a blendFrench · wines of the yearcontinuous methodSecond fermentation in linked closed tanks fed continuously with base wineEnglish · OIV tank method variantisobaric bottlingBottling tank-made sparkling wine under equal pressureEnglish · OIV tank-method steptirage in a closed tankCuvée, tirage liqueur and yeast sealed in a pressure-resistant tankEnglish · OIV tank-method step
Law
AOCFrench appellation system; AOC Champagne recognised in 1936French · appellation d'origine contrôlée, controlled designation of originAOPFrench form of the EU PDOFrench · appellation d'origine protégée, protected designation of originBottle-fermentedEU term: second fermentation in a bottle, 9 months process, 90 days on leesEnglish · EU labelling termCavaSpanish PDO: traditional method, at least 9 months on leesSpanish · Spanish PDO for traditional-method sparkling wineCava de GuardaBase Cava category, at least 9 months of ageingSpanish · base Cava categoryCava de Guarda SuperiorHigher Cava classification: Reserva, Gran Reserva, Paraje CalificadoSpanish · higher Cava classificationComité ChampagneChampagne's interprofessional body, created in 1941French · Champagne interprofessional body (CIVC)Consejo ReguladorSpanish regulatory board of a designation of originSpanish · regulatory board of a DOCoupageEU term for mixing wines or musts of different origins, varieties or yearsFrench · blending (EU legal term)DOSpanish designation of origin, e.g. D.O. CavaSpanish · denominación de origen, designation of originDOCItalian traditional term for PDO winesItalian · denominazione di origine controllata, controlled designation of originDOCGHighest Italian PDO tierItalian · denominazione di origine controllata e garantita, controlled and guaranteed designation of originDOPSpanish and Italian abbreviation of the EU PDOSpanish · denominación de origen protegida, protected designation of originGran ReservaCava aged at least 30 months; only Brut Nature, Extra Brut or BrutSpanish · Cava ageing categoryIGPFrench and Italian abbreviation for the EU PGIFrench · indication géographique protégée, protected geographical indicationINAOFrench body publishing appellation specifications and approving AOC certificationFrench · French appellation bodyMetodo classicoItalian name for the traditional bottle-fermented methodItalian · classic methodMillesimatoItalian for vintage; in Franciacorta 85% of the year and 30 months on leesItalian · vintageMéthode traditionnelleEU term: bottle fermentation, 9 months on lees, separation by disgorgingFrench · traditional methodPDOEU name whose grapes come exclusively from the defined areaEnglish · protected designation of originPGIEU name with at least 85% of grapes from the areaEnglish · protected geographical indicationParaje CalificadoTop Cava category: single site, single vintage, at least 36 months on leesSpanish · qualified sitePerlweinGerman for semi-sparkling wineGerman · semi-sparkling wineProduit de FranceCompulsory origin statement on a Champagne labelFrench · Product of FranceQualitätsperlwein b.A.German PDO semi-sparkling wine from a specified regionGerman · quality semi-sparkling wine from a specified regionQualitätsschaumweinGerman for quality sparkling wineGerman · quality sparkling wineReservaCava aged at least 18 months from tirage to disgorgementSpanish · Cava ageing categoryRiservaIn Franciacorta, at least 60 months on leesItalian · reserveRiveConegliano Valdobbiadene Spumante from one named comune or hamletItalian · named-village mention in Conegliano ValdobbiadeneRotlingGerman wine type; Schaumwein or Perlwein may use it only if made from eligible wineGerman · German wine-type nameSchaumweinGerman for sparkling wineGerman · sparkling wineSektGerman term for quality sparkling wineGerman · quality sparkling wineSekt b.A.German PDO quality sparkling wine from a named growing areaGerman · Sekt from a specified regionSuperioreIn Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, the label term for the Spumante typeItalian · label term in Conegliano ValdobbiadeneSuperiore di CartizzeConegliano Valdobbiadene Spumante from the Cartizze sub-zoneItalian · Conegliano Valdobbiadene sub-zoneVigne de / Vignoble deWording required in Champagne for a commune name outside the listed communesFrench · vine of / vineyard ofWeißherbstGerman rosé term, allowed on Sekt b.A. only from eligible wineGerman · German rosé termabboccatoItalian EU term equal to demi-sec, 32-50 g/LItalian · half-dryaeratedEU qualifier for sparkling or semi-sparkling wine with added CO2English · EU label qualifieraerated semi-sparkling wineEU category 9: 1 to 2.5 bar from wholly or partly added CO2English · EU wine category 9aerated sparkling wineEU category 7: non-PDO/PGI wine with added CO2, at least 3 barEnglish · EU wine category 7amabileItalian 'semi-sweet', top sweetness for CV Prosecco FrizzanteItalian · semi-sweetbrutEU: sugar content less than 12 g/LFrench · dry (raw)brut natureEU: under 3 g/L sugar, no sugar added after second fermentationFrench · natural brutcahier des chargesFrench specification of an AOC/AOP: area, grapes, yields, rulesFrench · product specificationcarbonated wineOIV: looks like sparkling wine, but its CO2 is partly or wholly addedEnglish · OIV termconsorzio di tutelaItalian producers' consortium protecting a denominationItalian · protection consortiumcrémantEU-reserved term for white or rosé PDO traditional-method sparkling wineFrench · EU-reserved quality sparkling termdemi-secEU sweetness term for 32-50 g/L of sugarFrench · half-drydisciplinare di produzioneItalian production specification for a DOC or DOCGItalian · production specificationdolceItalian EU term equal to doux, over 50 g/LItalian · sweetdosage zéroEU-listed equivalent of brut natureFrench · zero dosagedosaggio zeroItalian EU-listed equivalent of brut natureItalian · zero dosagedouxEU sweetness term for more than 50 g/L of sugarFrench · sweetdulceSpanish EU term equal to doux, over 50 g/LSpanish · sweetextra brutEU: sugar content between 0 and 6 g/LFrench · extra dry (brut)extra dryEU: sugar content between 12 and 17 g/LEnglish · EU sweetness termextra secoSpanish EU term equal to extra dry, 12-17 g/LSpanish · extra dryfrizzanteItalian for semi-sparkling wineItalian · semi-sparkling winehalbtrockenGerman EU term equal to demi-sec, 32-50 g/LGerman · half-dryherbGerman EU-listed equivalent of brutGerman · dry, brutlieu-ditNamed cadastral locality; in Champagne one of two names allowed on the labelFrench · named cadastral localitymatriculeComité Champagne number on the label, with a two-letter producer codeFrench · registration numbermousseuxFrench for sparkling, as in vin mousseuxFrench · sparklingnaturherbGerman EU-listed equivalent of brut natureGerman · naturally drypas doséEU-listed equivalent of brut natureFrench · not dosedpliego de condicionesSpanish product specification of a DOPSpanish · product specificationquality aromatic sparkling wineEU category 6: from aromatic-variety must only, at least 3 barEnglish · EU wine category 6quality sparkling wineEU category 5: at least 3.5 bar at 20 °C, cuvée at least 9% volEnglish · EU wine category 5same-bottle ruleChampagne is sold in the bottle where its bubbles formedFrench AOC rule · same bottlesecEU sweetness term for 17-32 g/L of sugarFrench · drysemi secoSpanish EU term equal to demi-sec, 32-50 g/LSpanish · half-drysemi-sparkling wineEU category 8: 1 to 2.5 bar of CO2 from fermentationEnglish · EU wine category 8smaller geographical unitEU: a unit smaller than the PDO/PGI may be named with 85% of grapes from itEnglish · EU labelling termsparkling wineOIV: at least 3.5 bar at 20 °C (3 bar in bottles under 0.25 L)English · OIV definitionsparkling wineEU category 4: at least 3 bar at 20 °C, cuvée at least 8.5% volEnglish · EU wine category 4spumanteItalian for sparkling wineItalian · sparkling winestill wineOIV: a wine with less than 4 g/L CO2 at 20 °CEnglish · OIV CO2 thresholdsugar toleranceMeasured sugar may differ from the label term by 3 g/L at mostEnglish · EU labelling rulesulphur dioxide limitEU maximum total SO2: 185 mg/L quality sparkling, 235 mg/L other, 150 mg/L crémantEnglish · EU limit for SO2 in sparkling winesweeteningAdding sugar to wine, allowed only at production and wholesale stagesEnglish · EU wine-law termvariety labellingEU: one variety may be named if it makes at least 85% of the productEnglish · EU 85% variety rulevendemmia tardivaLate harvest; Moscato d'Asti vendemmia tardiva is a still wineItalian · late harvestvino espumoso de calidadSpanish for quality sparkling wineSpanish · quality sparkling winevintage yearEU: a vintage may be stated only with at least 85% of grapes from that yearEnglish · EU 85% vintage ruleélaborateurProducer responsible for making the Champagne, named after 'élaboré par'French · producer
Bottle
AgrafeMetal clip for tirage stoppers, patented 1846French · clipBouchonChampagne cork: agglomerated body with natural discs, 31 mm wideFrench · corkCoiffeFoil capsule covering the cork and neckFrench · foil capsuleColleretteNeck band label applied during packagingFrench · neck labelContre-étiquetteBack label, often with grapes, disgorgement date and other detailsFrench · back labelFicelleString tied by hand over corks before wire cagesFrench · stringHabillageDressing of the bottle: foil cap, front label and back labelFrench · bottle dressingMancheBody of a Champagne cork, made of agglomerated cork granulesFrench · cork bodyMiroirNatural cork disc at the base of a Champagne cork, touching the wineFrench · mirror (cork disc)MuseletWire cage that holds the cork against the pressureFrench · wire cageMuseleteuseAutomated pneumatic machine that fits the wire cageFrench · caging machinePlaque de museletMetal cap on top of the cork under the wire cage, patented 1844French · cage capbalthazar12 L, sixteen standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatbottle pressure resistanceA Champagne bottle is built to withstand 12 atmospheresEnglish · bottle strengthbouteilleStandard bottle, 75 clFrench · bottle formatdemie (demi-bouteille)Half bottle, 37.5 clFrench · bottle formatjéroboam3 L, four standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatmagnum1.5 L, two standard bottlesLatin · bottle formatmathusalem6 L, eight standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatmelchizédec (midas)30 L, forty standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatnabuchodonosor15 L, twenty standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatprimat27 L, thirty-six standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatpuntHollow in the base of a bottleEnglish · base of the bottlequartChampagne bottle of 20 clFrench · bottle formatréhoboam4.5 L, six standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatsalmanazar9 L, twelve standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatsalomon18 L, twenty-four standard bottlesFrench · bottle formatsouverain26.25 L, thirty-five standard bottlesFrench · bottle format
Glass
ISO tasting glassSmall tulip on a short stem for professional tastingsEnglish · standard tasting glasscoupeWide shallow bowl, the 'Champagne saucer'French · cupflûteTall glass with a tapering bowlFrench · flutepomponneFlute with a ring or ball at the base instead of a stemFrench · glass typetulip glass (verre à Champagne classique)Egg-shaped bowl narrowing at the top, the standard glassFrench · classic Champagne glass
Tasting
autolytic notesAromas attributed to yeast autolysis on leesEnglish · lees-derived aromascollerette (collar)Ring of bubbles against the side of the glassFrench · collarcordonLine of bubbles; pour above the glass to form oneFrench · lineeffervescenceRelease of carbon dioxide bubbles in the wineFrench · bubblingmousseFoam that forms at the surface as bubbles collectFrench · foamnucleation siteMicro-cavity or particle where bubbles formEnglish · bubble-forming pointsabler le ChampagneFrench expression: to drink a glass of Champagne in one goFrench · expression
People
CM (coopérative de manipulation)Cooperative making wine from its members' grapesFrench · producing cooperativeChef de caveCellar master who tastes base wines and decides the blendFrench · cellar masterGrande MarqueUMC's term for the major Champagne housesFrench · major brandMA (marque d'acheteur)Finished bottles sold under a retailer's or client's brandFrench · buyer's own brandND (négociant distributeur)Business that buys finished bottles and labels them itselfFrench · distributorNM (négociant manipulant)Champagne house that buys grapes or wine and makes ChampagneFrench · trading houseRC (récoltant coopérateur)Grower selling under its own label wine made by its cooperativeFrench · cooperative growerRM (récoltant manipulant)Grower making Champagne only from its own harvestFrench · grower-producerRemueurRiddler who turns bottles by hand in the pupitreFrench · riddlerSR (société de récoltants)Company of growers, often one family, with a shared labelFrench · growers' companyStation Œnotechnique de ChampagneFirm founded in 1973 that developed and sold the gyropaletteFrench · firmcoopérativeGrower-owned cooperative; more than 100 in ChampagneFrench · cooperativemaisonChampagne trading house, usually an NMFrench · housenégociantMerchant producer or distributor (NM, ND)French · merchantrécoltantGrower who harvests its own grapes (RM, RC, SR)French · growervigneronVine grower; UMC counts 16,086 in ChampagneFrench · vine grower
Place
CaveCellar where bottles age on lees, in Champagne at a steady 9-12 °CFrench · cellarCrayèreChalk pit; many Champagne cellars are said to have begun as crayèresFrench · chalk pitCôte des BarChampagne region of 64 villages and about 7,898 haFrench · Champagne vineyard regionCôte des BlancsChampagne region of 58 villages and about 6,304 haFrench · Champagne vineyard regionMontagne de ReimsChampagne region of 94 villages and about 7,966 haFrench · Champagne vineyard regionVallée de la MarneLargest Champagne region: 103 villages, about 12,150 haFrench · Champagne vineyard regioncruVillage (commune) of production; Champagne has 319French · growthcépages de ChampagneSeven authorised varieties plus VoltisFrench · grape varieties of Champagnegrand cruChampagne label mention for 17 listed communesFrench · great growthpremier cruChampagne label mention for 42 further listed communesFrench · first growthéchelle des crusChampagne village rating: 100% grand cru, 90-99% premier cruFrench · scale of growths
Unit
% vol (ABV)Actual alcoholic strength by volumeEnglish · alcohol by volumeatm (atmosphere)Pressure unit in some specifications, e.g. Satèn max 5 atmEnglish · unit of pressurebarPressure unit in EU definitions of sparkling wineEnglish · unit of pressureg/LGrams per litre, the unit for sugar in sweetness termsEnglish · grams per litrekg/cm²Older pressure unit; Champagne's prise de mousse gives about 6 kg/cm²English · unit of pressuremg/L (SO2)Unit for SO2 limits: 185 mg/L quality, 235 mg/L other sparklingEnglish · milligrams per litrenatural alcoholic strengthTotal alcoholic strength before any enrichmentEnglish · natural alcoholic strengthpotential alcoholic strengthAlcohol that full fermentation of the sugars could produceEnglish · potential alcoholic strengthquintale (q/ha)100 kg; Italian yields are given in q/haItalian · quintaltotal alcoholic strengthSum of actual and potential alcoholic strengthEnglish · total alcoholic strength