The label on a bottle of Champagne is too often taken for granted. It is a way to communicate and attract the attention of the buyer -- a true vehicle of promotion and marketing, unique to
Champagne.
But it was not until the middle of the 18th century that embryonic labels appeared in the region, and elsewhere for that matter. They began as small bits of paper pasted on bottles with a few handwritten comments.
The first true etiquettes, similar to our familiar modern labels, started to be issued by Champagne houses around 1820. Soon producers vied to outdo one another in originality and imagination. As they developed labels for special events and remarkable personalities, the Champagne labels became mirrors of history and culture.
Today, the label is a consumer informant: it is a guide and a protection against fraudulent
imitations. For Champagne producers, it is a flag: it tells the identity and origin of the wine.
The following must appear on all Champagne labels:
Appellation of Controlled Origin: Champagne -- prominently displayed
Brand, marque -- differentiates the wines of different producers.
Degree of sweetness -- extra-brut, driest wines; brut, very dry (most wines are brut); extra-dry, slightly sweet; sec, sweet; demi-sec, very sweet.
Town where the wine was made.
Country of origin --True Champagne only comes from the
region of Champagne, in France.
Alcohol content -- varies between 10.5% and 13%; 11% is the minimum for vintage dated wines.
Volume of bottle -- in milliliters.
Trade registration -- each producer is given a registration
number by CIVC (the Trade Organization for Champagne Producers). When the producer owns the brand, the following initials will be found:
.NM negociant-manipulant, shipper, a Champagne house
.CM cooperative de manipulation, a cooperative of growers
.RM recoltant-manipulant, a grower who independently produces Champagne wines with his/her own grapes
.RC recoltant-cooperateur, a grower who produces Champagne with the help of a cooperative
.MA marque d'acheteur, when the brand is owned by a third party who is not a producer
Winemaker, elaborateur -- Champagne house, grower or cooperative responsible for making the wine. This indication is either spelled out or coded.
Name of the U.S. importer
Other indications on the label are optional.
They include:
Vintage year, millesime -- if the wine is exclusively made from the grapes of one vintage.
Reference to the grape variety used: Blanc de Blancs for Champagne wines from 100% Chardonnay grapes; Blanc de noirs from 100% Pinot noir and/or Meunier grapes.
Reference to the cru: Grand Cru or Premier Cru refer to the best-rated villages of
Champagne. There are 17 Grands Crus, including Ambonnay, Avize, Aye, Bouzy, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Tours-sur-Marne, and 41 Premiers Crus, including Chouilly, Hautvillers,
Mareuil-sur-Ay.
