Coteaux Champenois

Coteaux Champenois is the official name, or appellation, for still wines from Champagne. Unlike grapes destined for champagne, the price of grapes intended for Coteaux Champenois is not subject to any official regulation (so the price per kilo is generally somewhat lower). Occasionally, once officially approved, these wines are later promoted to reserve wines and used in the making of champagne. The collective term Coteaux Champenois covers red, white and rosé wines. They often come from famous crus such as Ambonnay, Bouzy, Cumières or Vertus. Only about 1 million bottles of these wines are made each year.

Compared with other famous wine regions in France, the houses of Champagne that make red wines, or Coteaux Champenois Rouge, are at a climatic disadvantage because of their northerly position. But in some years nature is generous, with unusually plentiful sunshine, and then the cellar masters of Champagne can produce quite fantastic red wines. Such fruit is available to them every two or three years, or sometimes only every ten. In comparatively small quantities, some houses then make red wines that can inspire real awe, even among some loyal Burgundy or Bordeaux fans. The Bouzy Rouge from the grand cru village of Bouzy, for example, was said to be a favourite red of King Louis XIV. Incidentally, it is red wines of this kind that, when blended in, give rosé champagnes their lovely pink colour and additional flavour notes.

One more point worth noting: the famous Rosé des Riceys is also a still wine from Champagne, but it is not a Coteaux Champenois.