A Guide To Sweet Champagne: 8 Refreshing Bottles, Prices

Even though dry Champagne takes center stage today, it was the sweeter Champagnes that lured Russian nobles and other wine connoisseurs in the 18th and 19th century.

So, what is sweet Champagne?

A sweet Champagne has a high amount of residual sugar (32 to 50+ grams per liter.) Demi-sec and doux Champagnes come under this category.

Let’s travel to the Champagne region of France and explore everything about this sparkling wine - its sweetness levels, delicious food pairings with this bubbly, and 8 luscious sweet Champagnes to buy in 2023.

What Type Of Champagne Is Sweet?

Different Champagne styles like brut and demi-sec have varying sugar content. Let’s take a quick look at the Champagne sweetness scale:

• Brut Nature (Brut Zero): 0-3 g/L residual sugar
• Extra Brut: 0-6 g/L residual sugar
• Brut 0-12: g/L residual sugar
• Extra Sec: 12-17 g/L residual sugar
• Sec: 17-32g/L residual sugar
• Demi-Sec: 32-50 g/L residual sugar
• Doux: 50+ g/L residual sugar

What Makes Doux and Demi-Sec Champagne Sweet?

Like all Champagnes, sweet Champagne is produced from the classic blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier using the traditional “Methode Champenoise.” 

The only difference is its sweetness level. Hence, demi-sec and doux Champagnes with their high sweetness level are considered sweet Champagne.

The sweetness level of a Champagne is the result of “dosage.”

In this process, a small amount of grape must is added to the wine bottle with yeast, triggering a secondary fermentation that produces bubbles in the sparkling wine. This grape must in the wine bottle gives the bubbly a sweet flavor. 

However, some mass-produced wines have added sugar as well.

Sweet Champagne: Taste and Food Pairings

Sweet Champagne is a fizzy and refreshing wine with about 12% ABV levels and bright acidity. 

Serve this sparkling wine in a Champagne flute to capture its intense nutty aromas of dried fruit, hazelnut, and caramel.

The wine has a creamy mouthfeel that pairs well with seafood, creamy dessert, and cheese. 

You can also replace your dry Champagne (or some other brut sparkling wine like Cava) in your mimosa with this sweet sparkling wine.

When To Drink Sweet Champagne

Sweet sparkling wine like demi sec Champagne is an excellent party drink. 

Be it a casual brunch, valentine’s day, or a baby shower, a luscious sweet Champagne would be a perfect drink to serve your guests!

8 Best Sweet Champagnes To Buy In 2023 (Including Prices, Tasting Notes)

Here are some delicious sweet Champagnes for you to indulge in:

• Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Demi-Sec
• 1996 Andre Beaufort a Polisy Reserve Demi-Sec
• Doyard La Libertine Doux
• 1988 Andre Beaufort Grand Cru Doux
• 1999 Andre Beaufort a Ambonnay Grand Cru Doux Rose
• 2000 Fleury Pere et Fils Doux Millesime
• Bertrand Senecourt Beau Joie Special Cuvee Sugar King Demi-Sec
• Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial With Glasses

1. Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Demi-Sec ($403)

Armand de Brignac demi sec Champagne has stunning Chardonnay aromas of fruit, caramel, and brioche. The palate of this bubbly has subtle spice notes.

2. 1996 Andre Beaufort a Polisy Reserve Demi-Sec ($183)

This sparkling wine has enchanting lychee, candied pear, and citrus aromas. The palate of this sweet wine showcases firm structure and great length.

3. Doyard La Libertine Doux ($209)

It is a light and fresh sweet Champagne with toasted almonds and brioche aromas. The palate has bright acidity.

4. 1988 Andre Beaufort Grand Cru Doux ($110)

This sweet wine gives off toasted almonds, butter, and spice aromas. The palate has lively acidity.

5. 1999 Andre Beaufort a Ambonnay Grand Cru Doux Rose ($301)

This rosé wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It has a fresh aromatic bouquet of citrus and red fruits. 

6. 2000 Fleury Pere et Fils Doux Millesime ($172)

This 2000 vintage has complex red and citrus fruit aromas. The palate has the dryness of Brut Champagne - a unique treat for doux Champagne lovers.

7. Bertrand Senecourt Beau Joie Special Cuvee Sugar King Demi-Sec ($83)

This crisp and acidic sweet Cuvee has a white fruit juice flavor with a lusciously sweet finish.

8. Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial With Glasses ($72)

The Moet & Chandon Champagne house created this crisp and fresh bubbly to be enjoyed over ice. Its seductive palate has a distinguished fruitiness.

Sip A Luscious Sweet Champagne

Sweet demi-sec and doux Champagne bottles are perfect for any festive celebration.

But, when it comes to long-term investing, sweet Champagnes are not a great choice.

If you want to invest in an age-worthy Champagne bottle, Pinot Noir, or a bottle of Chardonnay wine, a professional wine investment company like Vinovest can help.

So, hop onto the website and find out how to build a fine wine collection today!