Table of contents
- The main grape varieties and their characteristics
- The forgotten grape varieties
- Crus, Premier Crus and Grands Crus
- The Champagne regions and dominant grapes
- Regulations on grape varieties and harvests
- Single‑varietal and parcel‑based champagnes
- Food pairings by grape variety
- Chardonnay: the emblematic grape of Laurent‑Perrier
- Conclusion
Champagne owes its finesse and aromatic diversity to its grape varieties, its terroir, and viticultural practices regulated by the appellation. Which grape varieties are used to make Champagne, how are they distributed across regions and crus, and what rules govern harvests? Discover everything you need to know to understand these unique wines of Champagne and enjoy an authentic tasting experience.
The main grape varieties and their characteristics
Champagne is principally produced from three Champagne grape varieties, each bringing its own character:
| Grape variety | Characteristics | Influence on Champagne |
|---|---|---|
| Chardonnay | White, refined and elegant | Brings finesse, freshness, floral and mineral notes. Essential for Blancs de Blancs and Prestige Cuvées. |
| Pinot Noir | Black, powerful and structured | Contributes body, roundness and red‑fruit aromas. Essential for Rosés and vintage blends. |
| Meunier | Black, fruity and supple | Provides fruitiness and suppleness, ideal for young non‑vintage champagnes. |
These three Champagne grape varieties form the foundation of all champagnes. Their proportion and blending vary and define the style and aromatic profile of each cuvée.
The forgotten grape varieties
Other historical varieties, now extremely rare, are also part of Champagne’s heritage:
| Grape variety | Characteristics | Distinctive features |
|---|---|---|
| Arbane | White | Fineness and acidity, used in small‑scale historical blends. |
| Petit Meslier | White | Floral aromas and vivid acidity, very rare. |
| Pinot Blanc | White | Roundness and suppleness, complements blends. |
| Pinot Gris | White | Fruity, lightly spiced notes, extremely rare today. |
These four additional grape varieties are sometimes used in small parcel‑based cuvées, creating unique and surprising wines of Champagne.
Crus, Premier Crus and Grands Crus
In Champagne, grape quality is evaluated through the classification of villages (crus):
- – Grand Cru: villages whose grapes are considered exceptional, classified at 100%.
- – Premier Cru: villages of great quality, grapes classified between 90–99%.
- – Other Crus: villages classified between 80–89%.
Examples of Grands Crus by grape variety:
- – Pinot Noir: Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzenay, Mailly‑Champagne, Aÿ
- – Chardonnay: Avize, Cramant, Chouilly, Oger, Le Mesnil‑sur‑Oger
These crus directly influence the aromatic profile, structure, and ageing potential of champagnes.
The Champagne regions and dominant grapes
| Region | Dominant grape | Distinctive features |
|---|---|---|
| Montagne de Reims | Pinot Noir | Structured and powerful; ideal for vintage blends. |
| Vallée de la Marne | Meunier | Fruity and supple; perfect for expressive, youthful champagnes. |
| Côte des Blancs | Chardonnay | Exceptional finesse and minerality; ideal for Blancs de Blancs and Prestige Cuvées. |
| Côte des Bar | Pinot Noir and Meunier | Power and fruitiness for balanced blends. |
Each region, thanks to its terroir and notably its chalky soils, confers distinct aromatic characteristics to the wines of Champagne.
Regulations on grape varieties and harvests
L’élaboration du champagne est strictement régulée :
- – Cépages autorisés : seuls Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier et quelques cépages historiques peuvent être utilisés.
- – Rendements réglementés : limitation du volume de raisins récoltés par hectare pour préserver la concentration aromatique.
- – Vendanges manuelles : obligatoires, permettant un tri précis des raisins.
- – Assemblage strict : suivi rigoureux des cépages, crus et millésimes pour garantir l’identité et la qualité des vins de Champagne.
Ces règles assurent la traçabilité et la qualité optimale de chaque bouteille.
The production of Champagne is strictly regulated:
- – Authorized grape varieties: only Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier (plus certain historical varieties) may be used.
- – Regulated yields: limits per hectare preserve aromatic concentration.
- – Manual harvest: mandatory, allowing precise selection of grapes.
- – Strict blending rules: rigorous tracking of grape varieties, crus and vintages to guarantee the identity and quality of wines of Champagne.
These rules ensure traceability and the optimal quality of every bottle.
Single‑varietal and parcel‑based champagnes
- – Single‑varietal champagnes: Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) or Blanc de Noirs (100% Pinot Noir or Meunier).
- – Parcel‑based champagnes: produced from a specific plot, reflecting the terroir and grape with precision. Some Prestige Cuvées even include forgotten varieties.
Food pairings by grape variety
| Grape variety | Food pairings |
|---|---|
| Chardonnay | Seafood, grilled fish, roasted poultry, cream‑based dishes, hard cheeses (Comté, Beaufort). |
| Pinot Noir | Red meats, game, poultry in sauce, mushroom risotto, mature cheeses such as Époisses or Munster. |
| Meunier | Light, expressive dishes, smoked salmon, quenelles, tender poultry, lightly sweet‑and‑savory dishes. |
These pairings bring out the aromatic qualities of each grape while balancing power and finesse for a true tasting experience.
Chardonnay: the emblematic grape of Laurent‑Perrier
- – Predominant in all Laurent‑Perrier blends, except for rosés.
- – Brings finesse, freshness and elegance, with signature floral and mineral notes.
- – Parcels selected in the Côte des Blancs reveal the grape’s full aromatic complexity and purity.
| Cuvée | Chardonnay | Pinot Noir | Meunier |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Cuvée | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Brut Millésimé | ✔ | ✔ | – |
| Héritage | ✔ | ✔ | – |
| Grand Siècle | ✔ | ✔ | – |
| Ultra Brut | ✔ | ✔ | – |
| Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature | ✔ | – | – |
| Cuvée Rosé | – | ✔ | – |
| Alexandra Rosé | ✔ | ✔ | – |
Conclusion
The Champagne grape varieties—both principal and forgotten—and their terroirs define the aromatic diversity and stylistic identity of the cuvées. The distinctions between crus, Premier Crus and Grands Crus, together with the strict rules of the Champagne appellation and manual harvests, guarantee exceptional fruit. At Laurent‑Perrier, Chardonnay embodies finesse and elegance, while carefully selected parcels allow the full aromatic richness and uniqueness of each grape variety to shine.
