Bidule

French · lees-collecting insert

A bidule is the hollow plastic cylinder placed under the crown cap at tirage to collect the lees during riddling.1

The bidule sits in the neck under the crown cap through the prise de mousse and ageing.1 During remuage the bottle ends sur pointe, neck down, and the deposit gathers on the closure.2,3

At dégorgement the deposit is expelled by the pressure, either directly (à la volée) or trapped in an ice plug after the neck is frozen (à la glace).4 See riddling.

See also

Capsule couronneGlossaryRemuageGlossaryRiddlingMethodsDisgorgementMethods

Sources

  1. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Tirage or bottling the blended wine
  2. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.2 Second fermentation in bottle (II.4.2.1-II.4.2.6)
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Pointage, remuage (riddling) and dépointage
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Disgorgement

Facts checked on 2026-10-19