Dosage in Champagne

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▲ How much sugar is in champagne?

Dosage

Dosage literally means dosing and describes the sugar content of the champagne. When the bottle receives its final cork (dégorgement), a little champagne is lost during the corking process. This is topped up with a so-called dosage liqueur (liqueur d’expédition), consisting of reserve wine with a small amount of sugar. Exactly how much sugar is added depends on the champagne producer and their taste vision.

The dosage liqueur can in fact influence the development of the flavours and aromas of the champagne. Does the producer want to create a champagne that stays as close as possible to the ‘original’? Then they add a liqueur that is as natural as possible. This is applied, for example, when the grapes are of exceptional quality, or when the producer wants to represent a specific grape variety, vineyard or year in their champagne. Other producers use the liqueur precisely to express a certain style. Some, for instance, keep a fine collection of liqueurs, produced with special reserve wines, each containing a specific set of aromas.

A few months before the dégorgement takes place, the liqueurs are tasted thoroughly several times, and it is ultimately decided which liqueur can help express the desired style. There are various categories that indicate how much sugar is in the bottle of champagne. This must always be stated on the label. The dosage is expressed in grams of sugar per litre (so not per bottle!).

Also read
About calories in champagne

Categories

Doux

≥ 50 grams per litre
To the average champagne drinker, this type of champagne will taste sickly sweet. But did you know that long ago a minimum sugar addition of 50 grams per litre was perfectly normal? This enormous amount of sugar was added not so much because people found it delicious, but to mask off-putting flavours and aromas. Of course, over time the techniques for producing champagne have improved enormously, and our taste has changed too. Nowadays there are hardly any champagnes of this dosage available. The ones that exist are often drunk with various kinds of garnish and ice, and lean more towards a cocktail than a glass of champagne.
Example: Champagne Veuve Clicquot Rich

Demi-sec

32-50 grams per litre
The demi-sec champagne is back; consumption is rising. These champagnes generally taste more sweet than dry and are drunk with, for example, a dessert. These variants too can be enjoyed with ice and garnishes.
Example: Champagne Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial

Sec

17-32 grams per litre
‘Dry’ is the literal translation of the word sec. These champagnes generally sit between dry and sweet.
Example: Champagne Taittinger Nocturne Sec

Extra sec or extra dry

12-17 grams per litre
Extra sec or extra dry does not mean that these champagnes are extra dry, but rather extra dry compared to the regular sec.
Example: Champagne Pommery Falltime Extra Dry

Brut

< 12 grams per litre
About 80% of champagnes fall into the Brut category and it is the most consumed type of champagne. The liqueur is generally used to create a nicely balanced blend. Non-vintage Brut champagnes often have a higher dosage than, for example, a vintage Brut. Why? A non-vintage champagne is usually younger than a vintage champagne and ‘needs’ more sugar to round out the fresh and slightly acidic aromas. A champagne that lies in the cellars for longer has more time to develop these fresh and mineral aromas into rounder ones. That is why these variants often have a lower dosage.
Example: Champagne Boutrop Brut Tradition

Extra brut

< 6 grams per litre
A champagne that has been produced and consumed more in recent years. A development that goes hand in hand with a change in lifestyle and taste. Although you might expect these champagnes to taste more acidic and fresh, this is certainly not always the case!
Example: Champagne La Villesenière Les Cuteries

Brut Nature, Brut Zero, Zero Dosage

< 3 grams per litre
These are often champagnes with a present minerality. They come closest to the ‘natural’ champagne and best represent the specific grape varieties, the year or the vineyard. Note: the dosage can be 0, but usually there is some residual sugar in the champagne.
Example: Champagne William Saintot Meunier de mes Grands-Pères

Are you a fan of dry wines, sweeter wines, or do you have no idea? There is a champagne for every taste. Go and taste! That is the only way to get to know your own palate. At Selected by Dronk you can put together your own package. That way you can try 1 (or several) of each variant! Great for a tasting.