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Corking, shaking and final inspection

Bouchons de Champagne

The essential finishing touches for an exceptional Champagne

The long process that began with a small bud on a vine plant is now approaching the finishing line in the bottle. Immediately after dosage, the wine is corked with a cork stopper held in place by a wire cage known as a "muselet". Although providing a tight seal, this stopper does allow for some exchange with the outside air, which is why the wine continues to age over the years. The quality of the cork is paramount in this regard. It must also display the name "Champagne" and, where relevant, the vintage too.

Once corked, the bottle is shaken vigorously to mix the wine perfectly in with the liqueur. This is known as "poignettage". Finally, each bottle will be carefully inspected to check its limpidity before cellaring for another few months – this is known as "mirage".

 The essential finishing touches  The essential finishing touches