In order to achieve the optimal balance between high acidity and low sugar levels, the grapes allocated for sparkling wine are picked earlier than those for still wines. Preserving the light golden shade characteristic of champagne requires pressing the grapes soon after they’ve been harvested. The méthode champenoise involves two sequential fermentation stages. The first occurs in all wines, transforming natural sugars into alcohol.
The second, however, takes place after the wine is transferred into bottles and left to age horizontally in cellars, following the addition of yeast and a small amount of sugar to further refine flavour and develop pressure. The Appellation d’origine contrôlée designation, which certifies that a product originates from a specific French region—Champagne included—stipulates that this second fermentation must last at least 15 months for non-vintage wines and 3 years for vintage wines.
At this stage, the champagne is still far from ready to be served, as the lees must be removed through a process known as riddling. This involves placing the bottles at a 35° angle on special racks called pupitres. The bottles are gently shaken and turned every two days. Over the course of 8 to 10 weeks, their angle is gradually increased until they reach a fully inverted position. During this time, the lees settle in the neck, making them easier to remove through a process called disgorging.
For efficiency, disgorging involves freezing the liquid in the bottle’s neck, trapping the lees in a plug of ice which is then expelled. After disgorging, the flavour is refined during the dosage stage by adding the liqueur d’expédition—a mixture that typically blends sugar and base wine, in a recipe most Maisons prefer to keep secret.
Unless the label indicates a specific year, the wine is usually a blend of reserves from multiple harvests. Should this process be replicated outside the Champagne region—whether elsewhere in France or beyond—labels will indicate that the sparkling wine has been produced using the traditional method.
#historyofluxury #champagne #traditionalmethod #luxurydrinks