Have you heard the latest chuchotement from Champagne? It’s official! Pink Chardonnay has been named an official grape variety authorized for use in Champagne, the Comité Champagne has said.
Now, before you pop another cork, a touch of background: the Champagne AOP, guardian of all things mousseux and magnificent, has standards more precise than a Parisian tailor. From the sacred requirement that secondary fermentation must occur in the bottle (that divine méthode champenoise you’ll find in our Glossary of Bubbles) to how long a wine must slumber before it can flaunt a vintage (a stately 36 months), every detail is enshrined in law. Even the way vines may be trained, or how much juice can be pressed from the grapes (102 liters per 160 kilograms, for those keeping score).
For nearly a century, the list of permitted grape varieties was a closed guest list of seven: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Arbane, and Petit Meslier. But now, a new guest has arrived: Pink Chardonnay, shimmering in blush hues and bringing with her both grace and practicality.
You see, this isn’t some novelty to charm the influencers (though she photographs divinely). Pink Chardonnay is a natural, rare mutation. One that many growers in Champagne have quietly admired in their vineyards for generations. Her delicate skins are said to resist both rot and sunburn (we love a resilient queen), and she ripens just a touch later than her golden sister, helping maintain acidity even as the climate grows warmer. The result? Wines that are beautifully aromatic, balanced, and exceptionally romantic.
So, what does this mean for us? Well, imagine a future where your favorite grower Champagne has a subtle, rosé-tinted halo… a wine that tastes like a midsummer evening, all white flowers, peaches, and whispers of pink grapefruit. Pair it with buttery lobster, truffled popcorn, or if you’re feeling truly decadent, a late breakfast of strawberries-and-cream in bed.
As with all things truly enchanting, Pink Chardonnay will remain a rare gem — the kind of secret you share only with your most discerning friends (and perhaps your favorite sommelier).
À votre santé,
Last Bubbles