Cuvée

French · first juice; blend for sparkling

Cuvée has two meanings. In Champagne pressing it is the first 2,050 L of juice from a 4,000 kg marc;1 in EU law it is the grape must, wine or blend intended for the preparation of a specific type of sparkling wine.2,3

The second pressing fraction is the taille, 500 L per marc.1 The difference between the two is explained on cuvée vs taille.

In the legal sense the cuvée is what goes on to second fermentation. The OIV describes tirage as filling bottles with the cuvée mixed with tirage liqueur and selected yeasts.3 A cuvée is built by assemblage of base wines.4 See also pressing and assemblage.

See also

Cuvée vs tailleStylesTailleGlossaryMarcGlossaryPressingMethodsAssemblage and reserve winesMethods

Sources

  1. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Pressing
  2. legislation.gov.uk (copy of EU OJ text). Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Annex II Part IV (terms used in the wine sector), original version as adopted (2013-12-17)
  3. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.1 Definitions common to all sparkling wines (II.4.1.1-II.4.1.10)
  4. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19