Blanc de Blancs is a French term that literally translates as “white from whites”. It is used to denote a wine that has been made solely from white grapes. In the vast majority of cases, the wine will be sparkling and usually from the Champagne region. Around the world, most white wines are made exclusively from white grapes but in Champagne producers frequently blend wines from both red and white grapes, hence the need for the term. Almost all white grapes grown in Champagne are chardonnay although this won’t appear on the label.
As well as a Blanc de Blancs, some Champagne houses produce a Blanc de Noirs, a white wine made from red grapes. This is made by quickly crushing the grapes and separating juice from skins. The permitted red grapes in Champagne include pinot noir and pinot meunier.
Typically, a larger Champagne producer will offer a range of wines including a Brut Non-Vintage, made from a blend of red and white grapes from several vintages and several sub-regions. There will also be a vintage, made from grapes produced in one year, a rosé, a demi-sec (medium dry), and a luxury cuvée, the very best wine they produce. Some will also produce a Blanc de Blanc (or Blancs) or a Blanc de Noirs, or both.
You may also come across the term Côte des Blancs on the label of some Champagne bottles. This translates as “hillside of the whites” and refers to a specific area rich in chalk and limestone soils that produce very crisp mineral wines made from the Chardonnay grape. So it is a Blanc de Blancs from the Côte des Blancs.
READ MORE
Blanc de Blanc Champagne tends to have a lively acidity, fresh floral notes, with plenty of lemon and peach fruits. It is usually finer and less fruity than a blended wine. With age it takes on notes of brioche, toasted hazelnuts and freshly baked bread. These are among the best Champagnes so don’t ignore them.
