Vin de base

French · base wine

Base wine (vin de base) is, in the OIV definition, wine destined for the production of a sparkling wine.1

In Champagne base wine is called vin clair.2 Base wines are blended into a cuvée by assemblage before the second fermentation.2 Champagne limits them to 102 litres of settled must per 160 kg of grapes.3

Under EU rules the cuvée for sparkling wine must have a total alcoholic strength of at least 8.5% vol, and at least 9% vol for quality sparkling wine.4 See first fermentation and EU categories.

See also

Vin clairGlossaryCuvéeGlossaryFirst fermentationMethodsEU categories of sparkling wineMethods

Sources

  1. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.1 Definitions common to all sparkling wines (II.4.1.1-II.4.1.10)
  2. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)
  3. 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)
  4. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Annex VII Part II (categories of grapevine products), as reproduced on legislation.gov.uk (2013-12-17)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19