Champagne: Styles, How It's Made and 10 Best Bottles to Buy in 2026
Champagne is a sparkling wine made exclusively in the Champagne region of France, using a strictly regulated method that includes a second fermentation inside the bottle. Only wine produced this way, in this region, can legally be called Champagne — sparkling wine made anywhere else, however similar, is Prosecco, Cava, or simply sparkling wine. Prices range from around $12 for entry-level non-vintage bottles to well over $9,000 for rare prestige cuvées.
Further reading
- If you’re a French wine fanatic, be sure not to miss this Ultimate Guide to French Wine.
- Also, find out all about The Irresistible Moet Champagne and how to invest in them!
What Makes Champagne Different from Other Sparkling Wine
Champagne is legally protected — only sparkling wine made in the Champagne region using the traditional method (élaboration selon la méthode traditionnelle) can carry the name. That process requires a second fermentation to happen inside the bottle itself, rather than in a large tank, which builds finer, longer-lasting bubbles and more complex flavour over time. The primary grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, and Champagne must age on its lees (spent yeast) for a legal minimum before release — 15 months for non-vintage, 3 years for vintage.
Champagne Sweetness Levels
Champagne's sweetness is determined by the “dosage” — a small addition of sugar and wine after the second fermentation. From driest to sweetest:
| Style |
Sugar Content | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Brut Nature / Zero | 0–3 g/L | Bone dry; no dosage added |
| Extra Brut | 0–6 g/L | Very dry |
| Brut | 0–12 g/L | Dry — the most common style |
| Extra Dry | 12–17 g/L | Slightly sweeter than the name suggests |
| Sec | 17–32 g/L | Noticeably sweet |
| Demi-Sec | 32–50 g/L | Sweet — good with dessert |
| Doux | 50+ g/L | Very sweet; rare today |
- pressed gently to avoid extracting colour — fuller-bodied and richer.
Champagne Bottle Sizes
Champagne is bottled in a range of formats beyond the standard 750ml, from the half-bottle up to the enormous, rarely-seen ceremonial sizes. Magnums (1.5L) are widely considered to age Champagne more gracefully than standard bottles, due to the more favourable ratio of wine to the small amount of oxygen trapped under the cork.
10 Champagne Houses to Know
- Dom Pérignon — Moët & Chandon's prestige cuvée; one of the most recognised names in the world.
- Krug — intensely rich, complex, non-vintage-focused house style.
- Louis Roederer (Cristal) — Cristal is one of the most collected prestige cuvées in the world.
- Bollinger — full-bodied, Pinot Noir-dominant house style.
- Veuve Clicquot — the iconic yellow label; consistent, approachable, widely available.
- Moët & Chandon — the world's best-selling Champagne house.
- Taittinger — elegant, Chardonnay-forward style.
- Ruinart — the oldest established Champagne house, founded 1729.
- Perrier-Jouët — known for its distinctive floral Art Nouveau bottle and delicate style.
- Jacques Selosse — a cult grower-Champagne producer favoured by serious collectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?
Champagne can only legally be called Champagne if it's made in the Champagne region of France using the traditional method. Sparkling wine made anywhere else — Prosecco (Italy), Cava (Spain), or generic sparkling wine — cannot use the name, regardless of production method.
How much alcohol is in Champagne?
A standard bottle of Champagne contains around 12.2% ABV, though this varies slightly by house and style. See our complete Champagne alcohol content guide for the full breakdown.
Does Champagne go bad?
Yes — opened Champagne lasts only 1–3 days, while unopened non-vintage keeps for 3–5 years and vintage can age 10–20+ years. See our full guide to Champagne shelf life for storage tips and signs of spoilage.
Prestige vintage Champagne from top houses is also one of the most established fine wine investment categories, combining luxury brand recognition with genuine decades-long ageing potential. See our guide to investing in Champagne or explore how Vinovest handles fine wine storage and investment.
