Assemblage

French · blending

Assemblage is the blending of base wines from different crus, varieties and years to build a cuvée.1 The OIV defines blending as mixing musts or wines of different varieties, regions or harvest years.2

The blend is decided by the chef de cave, who tastes the vins clairs.3 It may combine wines of the year with reserve wines, or use a single year for a vintage.4

In Champagne the principal varieties must make up at least 90% of the blend, and Voltis at most 10%.5 Rosé can also be made by blending: see rosé d'assemblage. EU law uses the related term coupage.6 See assemblage.

See also

Assemblage and reserve winesMethodsChef de caveGlossaryVin de réserveGlossaryCoupageGlossaryNon-vintage (sans année)Styles

Sources

  1. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)
  2. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.1 Definitions common to all sparkling wines (II.4.1.1-II.4.1.10)
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Blending a Grande Marque cuvée
  4. Comité Champagne (champagne.fr). Blending
  5. Cahier des charges de l'AOP « Champagne » - modifications approved by the INAO national committee on 11 September 2024 (national opposition procedure text) (2024-09-11)
  6. EUR-Lex. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934 (oenological practices), Articles 7-8 and Annex I (2019-03-12)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19