LA BOUTEILLE DORÉE | The guide to Champagne grape varieties

WHAT GRAPE VARIETIES ARE USED FOR CHAMPAGNE?

1. What grape varieties are allowed to make Champagne?

There are 7 of them, of which 5 grape varieties have white skin and flesh:
- Chardonnay
- Arbanne
- Petit Meslier
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Gris
And 2 grape varieties have a black skin and a white flesh:
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Meunier

In actual fact, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier account for 99.99% of the blends made for Champagne wines.

2. What is Champagne Blanc de blancs?

When the mention Blanc de blancs is indicated, Champagne is made only from white-skinned grapes (Chardonnay, Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris) or from a blend of these grape varieties, but in reality, overwhelmingly Chardonnay alone.
The Côte des Blancs is the region of Champagne which, as its name suggests, mainly produces Blanc de Blancs champagnes but these champagnes are also found on some chalky terroirs of the Montagne de Reims (Grande Montagne) and the Côte des Bar (Montgueux).

3. What is Champagne Blanc de noirs?

When the mention Blanc de Noirs is indicated, the Champagne is only made from black-skinned grapes, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, either on their own or blended.

4. Which grape varieties are used for Champagne rosé?

Champagne Rosé is made with any of the 7 authorized grape varieties: Pinot Noir only, Pinot Meunier only or a blend of the other grape varieties with at least Pinot Meunier or Pinot Noir.
It is then made by macerating the black-skinned grapes or by adding a certain proportion of Champagne red wine to the blend (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier). In France, it is the only rosé wine that can be produced this way, by adding red wine.

To learn more about Champagne, check out our The guide to making Champagne.