same-bottle rule

French AOC rule · same bottle

Champagne must be sold in the bottle in which the prise de mousse took place; only formats under 37.5 cl or over 150 cl may be transferred to another bottle.1

What it covers

The rule is part of the AOC Champagne specification. The demie (37.5 cl), the standard bouteille (75 cl) and the magnum (1.5 L) therefore go through the prise de mousse in the bottle they are sold in.2,1 Smaller formats such as the quart and large ones from the jéroboam up may be filled by transvasage, an isobaric transfer.3,1

See bottle sizes and the traditional method.

The Comité Champagne list runs from the quart (20 cl) to the melchizédec (30 L, about 240 glasses).2

See also

TransvasageGlossaryBottle sizesServingPrise de mousseGlossarymagnumGlossaryTraditional methodMethodsChampagneRegions

Sources

  1. 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)
  2. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Factsheet: Champagne bottle sizes (EN) (2024-05)
  3. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.1 Definitions common to all sparkling wines (II.4.1.1-II.4.1.10)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19