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Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce Champagne and sparkling wine terms

Sparkling wine has its own vocabulary: the sweetness scale on the label, the production method, and the regional names that double as wine names. This page covers the terms from France, Italy, Spain and South Africa that you will see on a bottle.

16 terms. Each has native audio, IPA, an easy respelling and the meaning on its own page.

Champagne is shahm-PAHN-yuh in French; the English “sham-PAYN” is universal and correct. Brut is BROOT with the t pronounced, one of the few French wine words where the final consonant is heard. Demi-sec is duh-mee-SEK. Méthode traditionnelle is may-tohd trah-dee-see-oh-NEL.

Prosecco is proh-SEK-koh with a hard double k and the grape is Glera (GLEH-rah). Asti Spumante is AHS-tee spoo-MAHN-teh. Cava is simply KAH-vah. Méthode Cap Classique, the South African term for bottle-fermented sparkling wine, is meh-TOD KAP klah-SEEK. The three Champagne grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier (mun-YAY).

  1. Champagne shahm-PAHN-yuh /ʃɑ̃ˈpaɲ/ French · A wine region in northern France famous for sparkling wines made using the traditional method.
  2. Brut BROOT /bʁyt/ French · A dry style of sparkling wine with minimal residual sugar typically less than 12 g/L.
  3. Demi-sec duh-mee-SEK /dəmiˈsɛk/ French · Medium-sweet style especially in Champagne with 32-50 g/L residual sugar.
  4. Méthode traditionnelle may-tohd trah-dee-see-oh-NEL /metɔd tʁadisjɔˈnɛl/ French · Traditional method for producing sparkling wine with second fermentation in bottle.
  5. Traditional method trah-DISH-un-ul METH-ud English · The winemaking technique used to produce Champagne and many other premium sparkling wines worldwide, involving a secondary fermentation in the individual bottle. Key steps include blending the base wine, adding yeast and sugar to the bottle, aging on lees, riddling, and disgorgement.
  6. Méthode cap classique meh-TOD KAP klah-SEEK French · South Africa's term for sparkling wine made using the traditional method (secondary fermentation in bottle), abbreviated MCC. These wines are typically produced from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, following the same process as Champagne.
  7. Prosecco proh-SEK-koh /proˈsekko/ Italian · A DOC in Veneto and Friuli producing sparkling wines from Glera with apple and pear notes.
  8. Glera GLEH-rah /ˈɡlera/ Italian · A white grape variety used to produce Prosecco with apple and pear flavors.
  9. Asti Spumante AHS-tee spoo-MAHN-teh /ˈasti spuˈmante/ Italian · A DOCG in Piedmont producing sweet sparkling wines from Moscato with grape and floral notes.
  10. Asti AH-stee Italian · A sparkling wine DOCG from the town of Asti in Piedmont, Italy, made from Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains). Asti spumante is a sweet, low-alcohol, fully sparkling wine with exuberant floral and peach aromas, while Moscato d'Asti is a gently frizzante, even lower-alcohol version.
  11. Moscato d'Asti moh-SKAH-toh DAHS-tee /mosˈkaːto ˈdasti/ Italian · A DOCG in Piedmont producing lightly sparkling sweet wines from Moscato with grape flavors.
  12. Moscato moh-SKAH-toh Italian · The Italian name for Muscat grape varieties and the wines made from them, most famously the gently sparkling, sweet Moscato d'Asti from Piedmont. Moscato wines are characterized by their intensely aromatic, grapey, floral character, typically low alcohol, and refreshing sweetness balanced by lively acidity.
  13. Cava KAH-vah /ˈkaβa/ Spanish · A DO for traditional method sparkling wines from Spain primarily made in Catalonia.
  14. Chardonnay shar-doh-NAY /ʃaʁdɔˈnɛ/ French · A white grape variety known for producing versatile wines ranging from crisp and mineral to rich and buttery.
  15. Pinot Noir PEE-noh NWAR /pino ˈnwaʁ/ French · A black grape variety producing elegant red wines with delicate tannins and flavors of red cherry and earth.
  16. Meunier mun-YAY French · A black grape variety widely planted in Champagne, France, where it is one of the three permitted grapes alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It contributes fruity, round, and approachable characteristics to Champagne blends and ripens earlier than Pinot Noir.

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