Champagne Labels: A Simple Guide to Styles and Terms

• Non-vintage (NV) Champagne:

  This is a mix of wines from different years. The idea is to create a consistent taste that remains the same every year. By blending various wines, including some from past years, the Champagne has a balanced flavor that doesn't change much, even if the weather and growing conditions do.

• Vintage Champagne:

  This type is made entirely from grapes harvested in the same year. It's generally produced only in the best years. Since each year's weather is different, these Champagnes can vary greatly. Some years, like 2002 and 2008, were so good that almost every producer made a vintage Champagne. These wines reflect the unique qualities of that year and the producer's signature style.

• Rosé Champagne:

  These are the pink Champagnes. They're usually made by blending little red grapes with white Champagne. Another method is to briefly soak the grape skins in the juice (maceration), which also turns the wine pink. Both methods create different styles of Rosé Champagne.

• Blanc de Blancs:

  This means "white from whites" in French. It's a white Champagne made exclusively from white grapes. These Champagnes can be a bit sharp when young but have great potential to become smoother and more flavorful as they age.

• Blanc de Noirs:

  Translated as "white from blacks," this is a white Champagne made only from black (red) grapes. These tend to have fuller bodies than Blanc de Blancs and are known to age quickly.

• Grand Cru:

  This term is used as a mark of high quality. It means all the Champagne grapes come from the best vineyards, known as "grand cru" villages.

• Premier Cru:

  Similar to Grand Cru, this also indicates quality. The grapes must come from "premier cru" or "grand cru" villages.

• Prestige Cuvée:

  This is typically the best Champagne a producer makes. It's made from the finest grapes and with great care. Some producers, like Krug, specialize in these top-tier Champagnes. They can be either non-vintage or vintage.

• Late Release or Recently Disgorged:

  These Champagnes have been aged longer before they're released. Disgorging is the process of removing sediment from the bottle and doing this later in the aging process makes the wine taste fresher and younger. However, once opened, they might age faster. Examples include Bollinger’s R.D. or Dom Pérignon’s P2.