The Grapes

Champagne is typically made from three main grape varieties, each contributing different characteristics to the final wine. Here is an overview of the three primary grapes used in Champagne production:


1. Chardonnay

  • Characteristics: A white grape known for its elegance, finesse, and high acidity. Chardonnay brings freshness, lightness, and a delicate floral and citrus character to Champagne.
  • Flavor Profile: Green apple, lemon, lime, white flowers, and sometimes hints of minerality and toast as the wine ages.
  • Where It's Grown: Primarily grown in the Côte des Blancs area of the Champagne region, where the chalky soils enhance its minerality and brightness.
  • Used In: Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made exclusively from Chardonnay, offering a lighter, more delicate style that ages beautifully.


2. Pinot Noir

  • Characteristics: A black grape that adds structure, body, and depth to Champagne. It provides power, red fruit flavors, and a good backbone for aging.
  • Flavor Profile: Red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, with earthy or spicy notes developing as it matures.
  • Where It's Grown: Primarily grown in the Montagne de Reims and Aube regions, where the cooler climate and clay-limestone soils bring out its character.
  • Used In: Pinot Noir is the dominant grape in many blends and in Blanc de Noirs (Champagnes made only from black grapes). It lends structure and intensity to the wine.


3. Pinot Meunier

  • Characteristics: Another black grape, closely related to Pinot Noir but with slightly different characteristics. It adds fruitiness, roundness, and an approachable quality to the blend.
  • Flavor Profile: Red fruits like red apple, plum, and berry, often with a softer, more easy-drinking nature than Pinot Noir.
  • Where It's Grown: Grown in the Vallée de la Marne area, where the less chalky and more clay-rich soils enhance its fruit-forward profile.
  • Used In: Often used in blends to balance the structure of Pinot Noir and the elegance of Chardonnay. It makes the Champagne more youthful and approachable in its early years.


Blending and Styles

  • Non-Vintage Champagne: Typically blends all three grapes to maintain a consistent house style. Chardonnay provides elegance, Pinot Noir brings structure, and Pinot Meunier adds fruitiness.
  • Vintage Champagne: May focus on specific grape combinations that reflect the best qualities of a single year's harvest, highlighting one grape more than others.
  • Blanc de Blancs: Made exclusively from Chardonnay, offering a refined, light, and elegant style.
  • Blanc de Noirs: Made only from black grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier), resulting in a fuller-bodied, richer style.

These three grapes complement each other in the blend, creating a harmonious balance of flavors, aromas, and structure that defines the unique character of Champagne.