What is the "dosage" of Champagne?

Dosage is the finishing touch given by the Vigneron to his Champagne. 

Champagne bottles, after spending the years necessary for a good aging in the cellars, are disgorged. 

This operation consists in expelling the deposit of the now inactive yeasts accumulated in the neck of the bottle. During this operation, a small part of the wine is lost, leaving a vacuum.

This void will be filled by the "liqueur de dosage" (or liqueur d'expédition). The addition of this liqueur to freshly disgorged Champagne is called dosage.

THE DOSAGE LIQUEUR 

Dosage liqueur is a mixture of the purest cane sugar and old Champagne wines (wines from previous vintages) adapted by the Vigneron to each of his Cuvées. 

The Vigneron prepares his liqueurs with great wines stored for many years in barrels, foudre or even Magnums, thus building a palette of aromas from which he can choose for the final touch he wants to give. Vignerons jealously guard the secret of their dosage recipe. 

STYLE OF CUVEE

Dosage allows one to model the style of Cuvée sought by the Vigneron:

- if one wants to preserve as much as possible the integrity and personality of the wine, one will use a liqueur that is as neutral as possible. 

- if, on the other hand, one wants to complement the wine's style with other aromas, one will use a more elaborate liqueur (made from great wines placed in reserve, for example).

TYPES OF DOSAGE

There are 7 different types of dosage that correspond to the amount of liqueur added to the wine.

• brut nature or "zero dosage": with no added sugar and less than 3 grams of residual sugar per liter
• extra brut: between 0 and 6 grams of sugar per liter
• brut: less than 12 grams of sugar per liter
• extra dry: between 12 and 17 grams of sugar per liter
• dry: between 17 and 32 grams of sugar per liter
• demi-sec: between 32 and 50 grams of sugar per liter
• sweet: more than 50 grams of sugar per liter

DOSAGE: A MATTER OF TASTE AND FASHION

For years, dosage has tended to be less and less important in Champagne. 

From the very sweet Champagne that was served in past centuries, there has been a shift to Brut Champagne, most often dosed at less than 8 g per liter, and the birth of numerous Cuvée Nature. 

This evolution in dosage reflects changing consumer tastes, but it also symbolizes the great advances made in Champagne winemaking. 

FOOD-CHAMPAGNE PAIRING

Dosage remains a very interesting variable in food-Champagne pairings. 

With identical blending and identical processing at all stages of winemaking, 2 Cuvées can be well differentiated by their dosage!

Nature for one, Extra-Brut for the other, for example, the dosage gives us a vital indication of the type of dishes they can be paired with. 

How to pair the Cuvées at the table?

Visit our online Boutique to find the perfect food-Champagne pairing!

Cheers et à votre santé!