The grapes and grape varieties of Champagne
Only 3 grape varieties are used today for the production of a Champagne used.
37% of the vineyard are therefore Pinot Noir, a red Pinot Noir, another 37% are Pinot Meunier, a red black Riesling, and 26% of the vineyard are Chardonnay grapes, the only white grape variety.
The grape varieties of the Arbane and Petit Meslier, are almost non-existent due to phylloxera, but are still allowed to produce champagne.
Pinot Noir gives the fullness to the champagne, Pinot Meunier the fruitiness - Chardonnay the finesse.
The mixture makes it, one could say, but in the Côte des Blancs, for example, pure Chardonnay cuvées are preferably produced, the Blanc de Blancs.
Blanc de Noirs champagnes, on the other hand, are rather rare to find. The term Blanc de Noirs, for white champagne made from dark grapes was originally used in the Champagne minted. Only the champagne producers of Bollinger, Bruno Paillard or Mailly, mostly from areas around Aÿ, Bouzy, Mailly, Hautvillers and Verzenay, offer this champagne.