Tirage

French · bottling for second fermentation

Tirage is, in the OIV definition, filling hermetically closed bottles with the cuvée mixed with tirage liqueur and selected yeasts.1 In Champagne it may start only from 1 January after the harvest.2

The liqueur de tirage supplies the sugar, and the yeasts (levures) ferment it in the closed bottle: the prise de mousse.4 Bottles are sealed with a crown cap holding a bidule.4

Tirage also starts the ageing clock: Champagne requires at least 15 months from tirage for non-vintage and 36 months for vintage.2 Crémant de Loire and Crémant de Bourgogne allow tirage from 1 December after the harvest.3,5 See tirage.

See also

TirageMethodsLiqueur de tirageGlossaryPrise de mousseGlossaryMinimum ageing by appellationMethods

Sources

  1. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.1 Definitions common to all sparkling wines (II.4.1.1-II.4.1.10)
  2. 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)
  3. Cahier des charges AOC Crémant de Loire, proposed modification approved by INAO national committee 27 November 2025 (2025-11-27)
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Tirage or bottling the blended wine
  5. INAO. Cahier des charges AOC Crémant de Bourgogne, modification project after national committee of 11 February 2021 (2021-02-11)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19