Pupitre

French · riddling rack

A pupitre is an A-frame oak riddling rack holding 120 bottles at about 35°; the modern form was patented by M. Michelot in 1864.1,2

Bottles go into the holes neck first. A remueur turns them 1/8 or 1/4 at a time and tilts them gradually until they stand sur pointe.3 Manual riddling on pupitres takes 4-6 weeks according to the Comité Champagne.3

The machine alternative is the gyropalette, patented in 1968, which holds 504 bottles.1,2 Each turn is 1/8, 1/6 or 1/4 of a circle.1 See remuage, riddling and history of technique.

See also

RemuageGlossaryGyropaletteGlossaryRiddlingMethodsInventions: cork, bottle, riddling, museletHistory

Sources

  1. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Pointage, remuage (riddling) and dépointage
  2. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). The history of riddling (remuage)
  3. Comité Champagne (champagne.fr). Riddling

Facts checked on 2026-10-19