Champagne Structure

Question 1

What are the three major business groups in Champagne?

Answer 1

Growers, Cooperative and Houses (négociants)

Question 2

Under what 3 categories can growers bottle?

Answer 2

RM, SR and RC

Question 3

What is the mening of RM?

Answer 3

Récoltant-Manipulant RM: This is an individual grower who makes and sells his/her own wines. They canbuy in grapes but in total their purchases can amount to no more than 5% of their own crop.

Question 4

What is the mening of SR?

Answer 4

Société de Récoltants SR: Growers’ Society. Two or more growers who share the same winery to produce and market champagne made from their harvest, often members belonging to the same family. This labelling term differs from CM (see below) because the growers control the winemaking, with the right to ask for help from a cooperative if necessary.

Question 5

What is the mening of RC?

Answer 5

Récoltant-Coopération RC: In this instance the grower supplies grapes to a cooperative. The cooperative makes the wine and finished wine is then supplied back to the grower who sells it under his/ her own label.

Question 6

Under what categories can cooperative bottle?

Answer 6

Cooperative-Manipulant CM: These are the cooperatives; businesses that are made up of and owned by a number of growers. The growers supply the grapes but the wines are made by the cooperative’s team and sold as the cooperative’s own brands.

Question 7

Under what categories can Houses bottle?

Answer 7

Négociant-Manipulant NM: These businesses are the classic Maisons or Houses. They are the only producers who are permitted to purchase significant volumes of either grapes, must, still wine or wine sur latte. The wine is marketed under the brand of the House.

Question 8

Under what categories can you bottle if you dont make wine?

Answer 8

Négotiant Distributeur ND: These businesses do not make wine. Instead they buy finished wines and sell them under their own label.

Marque d’Acheteur MA: This denotes a champagne that has been made either by a cooperative or a House. However, the label on the bottle belongs to a client such as a supermarket, restaurant or famous personality, often referred to as Own Label, Private Label or Buyer’s Own Brand.