Champagne labels

The Champager labels

Die Etiketten der Champagne sind Ausweisen gleichzustellen,
which contain important information governed by strict regulations. For example, a label tells you which house the champagne comes from and what flavour it has.

Champagne labels appeared in primitive form as early as the eighteenth century. Rarely were they more than scraps of paper stuck on, containing scant handwritten information.

Around 1820, the true étiquettes appeared, which are today's
labels were already similar. Shortly afterwards, a regular competition developed to reflect the reputation of the house as well as culture and art on the label.

Although they still often display these beautiful qualities today, champagne labels have also mutated into guarded 'flags' of the houses, which are defended in the fight against imitations to protect consumers.

Label in detail

This example is a label from the famous house of Guts. This Mumm label comes from a bottle from the American market.

The designation 'Champagne'. Without it, the contents are not real champagne!

The brand and/or the name of the company is generally listed in a prominent position. Certain colours are also defended by some houses. The Veuve Clicquot brand, for example, is easily recognisable thanks to its special orange colour on the champagne labels.
This Mumm label features both the name G. H. Mumm and the Cordon Rouge brand in the famous diagonal red ribbon. This prominent red ribbon was first introduced in 1876 as elegant silk loops around the bottles. In 1883, the labels were labelled with the red ribbon instead of the loops. The red ribbon was symbolically derived from the French Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour).

• The city and the country of origin France
• The alcohol content (between 10.5% and 13%)
• The bottle volume

The corresponding American liquid volume (US 1pint, 10 fluid ounces) was listed here. Converted, this bottle was therefore approximately a typical European standard bottle.

The CIVC control number as mandatory information, which begins with two letters and is followed by a multi-digit number. The letters are abbreviations and mean

**N.M.
(négociant-manipulant)
Prepared by a champagne house.

** M.A.
(marque d'acheteur)
A secondary brand. This champagne was
from the champagne house as a special bottling or
private label bottling to, for example, a
delivered to a restaurant or an airline.

** R.M
(récoltant-manipulant)
Prepared by a champagne winemaker from his own
Vines.

** R.C.
(récoltant-coopérateur)
Prepared by a champagne winemaker from his own
vines and the stock of a winegrowers' co-operative.

** C.M.
(coopérative de manipulation)
A winegrowers' co-operative was responsible for the
responsible for bottling.

Labelling the flavour is also very important:
Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec
(see Dosage)

The neck label (or shoulder label) of a champagne bottle is known as the cravat or collerette. It sometimes shows the name of the house, the coat of arms or logo of the house, the vintage of the champagne, the year the house was founded or perhaps a note as the official supplier of a particular royal house. Some houses also dispense with the neck label.

Champagne labels also often contain additional information.

Millésime Champagne labels

Champagner, welcher aus Trauben nur eines bestimmten Jahres gewonnen wurden, werden als Champagne millésime bezeichnet.
Der Jahrgang, wie z.B. 1990 auf diesem Etikett eines Champagner aus dem Hause Jacquesson, wird generell an prominenter Stelle aufgeführt. Zusätzlich wird der Jahrgang auf dem Korken vermerkt (siehe auch Korken)

** Blanc de Blancs
100% made from Chardonnay grapes.
(See also Blanc de Blancs).

** Blanc de Noirs
To 100% made from Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier grapes.
(See also Blanc de Noirs).

** Reference to a Cru
A Grand Cru or Premier Cru refers to the most highly prized wines.
Lagen der Champagne hin. Es bestehen 17 Grand Crus (z.B. Ambonnay, Avize, Aÿ, Bouzy, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Tours-sur-Marne) und 41 Premier Crus (z.B.Chouilly, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ; siehe auch Cru).

Artistic champagne labels

The house Perrier-Jouët uses a harmoniously shaped, transparent label in combination with the famous framing flowers on the bottle (Fleur de Champagne).

From time to time, some champagne houses commemorate historical events in very beautiful labels. This example is a label from the renowned champagne house Lecerc Briant.

In this example, the famous champagne house Deutz commemorates the legendary Orient Express in a fantastic label. No wonder there are so many label collectors

The artistic champagne labels from Bruno Paillard are also an experience.