Blanc de blanc: Made with all white grapes, usually Chardonnay.

Blanc de noirs: “White from Red” White wine made with all red grapes, usually
Pinot Noir.

Brut: It literally means natural, but in the case of Champagne, it means dry.
Brut is drier than
Extra Dry (Why ask why?).

Charmat Bulk Process: A process to make less expensive sparkling wine by
speeding up the traditional Champagne production method using pressure and
heat. Sometimes deceptively translated as “Fermented in the bottle.” (It’s
true, but it just happens to be a very, very large bottle.)

Methode Champenoise: Made by the expensive Champagne process. In English, this
is sometimes translated to “Fermented in this bottle.”

Cuvee: A blend of varietals. — R.W.

This article appears in December 22 • 1995 and December 22 • 1995 (Cover).

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