collerette (collar)

French · collar

The collerette (collar) is the ring of bubbles that gathers against the side of the glass at the wine's surface.1

Context

Bubbles are released at nucleation sites and rise to the surface, where they form the mousse; the collerette is the part that stays against the glass.1 It is one of the visual signs of effervescence observed in tasting.

The same French word is used for the neck band label on a bottle; that meaning is on collerette (label).2 See bubbles and foam.

The glass matters too: UMC regards the tulip glass, an egg-shaped bowl narrowing at the top, as today's standard, and the coupe as poor because the bouquet escapes and the mousse does not develop.3

See also

Foam and collarSciencemousseGlossaryeffervescenceGlossarynucleation siteGlossaryColleretteGlossary

Sources

  1. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). The language of the senses
  2. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Packaging and labelling
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). Choosing the right wine glass

Facts checked on 2026-10-19