Cuvée in Champagne
In Champagne, cuvée has a precise legal meaning: the first 2,050 litres of juice extracted from 4,000 kg of grapes. This first pressing yields the purest, most delicate juice. The subsequent pressing is called the taille and produces juice of lesser quality.
Cuvée as a Blend
Outside Champagne, cuvée simply means a particular blend or batch. Winemakers use the term to distinguish their bottlings:
- Cuvée Prestige or Tête de Cuvée — the top-tier wine
- Cuvée Spéciale — a special selection
- Grande Cuvée — a flagship blend (as in Krug Grande Cuvée)
Assemblage and Cuvée
The art of assemblage — blending different grape varieties, vineyard parcels, or vintages — is what creates a final cuvée. In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other varieties are assembled into the Grand Vin (first wine) cuvée.