What are the Differences Between Brut, Extra-Brut, Sec, Demi-Sec and Doux Champagne?

Various operations are carried out to make Champagne, including dosage. This consists of adding an expedition liqueur, a mixture of cane sugar and reserve wines, to make up the few centilitres lost after disgorging. The amount of liqueur added depends on the type of Champagne desired. When the sugar content is very high, it is called doux Champagne, meaning sweet Champagne. This category of sparkling wine contains more than 50 grams of sugar per litre.

Made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grape varieties, doux Champagne is sparkling and sweet. As it is the sweetest, it is best served with desserts (crêpes, fruit tarts, cakes, etc.). With its brilliant golden yellow colour, sweet Champagne reveals flavours of beeswax and honey.

Sec Champagne, or Dry Champagne, is made in the same way as the other denominations. The main difference is the sugar content after dosage. Sec Champagne contains between 17 and 32 grams of sugar per litre.

Relatively sweet, sec Champagne is perfect with desserts such as tarts and pastries. It also goes well with cheese. Outside of mealtimes, it can be enjoyed with sweet biscuits such as pink Reims biscuits or boudoirs.

The most common type of Champagne, Brut Champagne goes well with many dishes. It differs from the other categories in that it contains between 6 and 12 grams of sugar per litre.

This sparkling wine can be served from the beginning to the end of a meal. Thanks to its low sugar content, it goes equally well with poultry, fish and seafood. Brut Champagne is also perfect as an aperitif.

To enjoy a Champagne where the wine and the terroir express themselves without artifice, the Brut Nature is the perfect choice. Also known as ‘zero dosage’, this sparkling wine has not been dosed. This means that no expedition liqueur has been added before corking the bottle. Brut Nature Champagne therefore contains between 0 and 3 grams of sugar per litre.

This is the sugar naturally present in the grapes. With its remarkable finesse and fresh flavours, this wine is ideal as an aperitif. It goes very well with iodised dishes such as seafood (caviar, fish, oysters, etc.). This Champagne also goes well with fresh cheeses, especially goat's cheese.

Whatever your tastes or the occasion, Vinatis has a wide range of Champagnes to match your dishes.