Champagne Grand Cru (Non-vintage) - Bernard Remy

Winemaking methods used for Champagne Grand Cru

Metodo Classico

The Metodo Classico is a refined sparkling winemaking technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. This method, also known as méthode champenoise (when speaking of Champagne), involves a second fermentation in the bottle, which gives the wine its characteristic fine, persistent bubbles, together with complex aromas and an elegant structure.

Alcoholic fermentation with selected yeasts

Fermentation with selected yeasts is a winemaking technique that uses specific yeast strains chosen to start and control alcoholic fermentation. This practice ensures a stable and predictable fermentation, allowing producers to obtain wines with well-defined aromatic and flavour profiles.

Second fermentation in the bottle

Second fermentation in the bottle is the distinctive stage of the Metodo Classico (or Champenoise), the technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. After a first fermentation that gives rise to a base wine, the wine is bottled with the addition of a “liqueur de tirage” (a mixture of sugar and yeasts) which starts a new fermentation directly in the bottle, responsible for the natural formation of the bubbles. This practice lies behind some of the world's most refined wines, such as Champagne, Franciacorta, Trento DOC and Crémant.

Ageing methods used for Champagne Grand Cru

In stainless steel

Ageing in stainless steel is a winemaking practice aimed at preserving the freshness, aromatic integrity and varietal purity of the wine. It is used above all for white, rosé and young red wines, but also for light, easy-drinking reds that do not require maturation in wood. Stainless steel vessels are inert and impermeable to oxygen, so they do not interact with the wine: this makes it possible to bring out the fruity, floral and mineral component of the grape and of the terroir.

In bottle

Ageing in bottle is a fundamental stage in the production of quality wines, during which the wine continues to develop in an oxygen-free environment. This process allows the wine to harmonise its components, soften the tannins and develop more complex, mature aromas, without the external influence of wood or other materials. Ageing in bottle can last from a few months to several years, depending on the type of wine and the style sought, and is particularly used for structured red wines, long-lived whites and metodo classico sparkling wines, improving their elegance, finesse and length on the palate.

In bottle (over 36 months)

Ageing in bottle for more than 36 months is a practice reserved for wines for long laying down, designed for those seeking depth, finesse and maximum aromatic development. During this extended period, the wine matures sheltered from light and oxygen, letting time do its work in silence. This stage is particularly important for vintage wines, riservas and great classics, which in this way reach a perfect balance between intensity, elegance and sensory complexity.

Time on the lees for Champagne Grand Cru