How to Read a Champagne Label: Decoding RM, NM, Dosage & more...

As with most wines, the label on a Champagne bottle holds the key to understanding exactly what's inside... if you know how to read it. Those small codes, French terms, and classification systems are a roadmap to identifying Champagnes you'll love.

The most important secret? Two small letters can tell you whether you're buying from a small family grower crafting wine from their own vineyards, or a large négociant blending purchased grapes. Once you know what to look for, you'll never choose Champagne blindly again.

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The Producer Codes: RM, NM, CM and What They Mean

Every Champagne bottle carries a two-letter code in the fine print – usually near the bottom of the front label or on the back. This code reveals who made the wine and where the grapes came from.

RM – Récoltant-Manipulant (Grower Producer)

This is the code for grower Champagne. An RM producer grows their own grapes, makes the wine, and sells it under their own name. By law, at least 95% of the grapes must come from their own estate.

RM Champagnes are typically:

• Made by small, family-run estates

• Terroir-focused and site-specific

• Produced in limited quantities

• More likely to express unique character

Note... RM labelled Champagnes cover the vast majority of the Sip Champagnes portfolio.

NM – Négociant-Manipulant (Merchant Producer)

In Champagne, if you buy in even a small proportion of your grapes (but make the wine yourself) you are denoted NM. All the famous ‘Grandes Marques’ fall under this umbrella as they produce so many bottles it would be impossible to own enough land to make them all. But... it is also the reason you may occasionally see 'NM' on a bottle by someone considered a 'Grower'. This is typically the case with smaller producers with limited parcels of land who may need to buy some grapes to cater for growing demand for their wines.

NM Champagnes are typically:

• Blended for consistency year after year

• Produced in larger volumes

• More widely available

• Often excellent, but less terroir-specific

CM – Coopérative-Manipulant (Cooperative)

This label covers a cooperative that makes and markets Champagne from member growers' pooled grapes. Quality varies widely with some cooperatives selecting carefully to produce excellent wines, while others prioritise volume. 

Other Codes

• RC (Récoltant-Coopérateur): A grower who has a cooperative make their wine but sells it under their own name

• SR (Société de Récoltants): A family or group of growers who pool resources

• MA (Marque d'Acheteur): A buyer's own brand – the label you see isn't who made the wine

• ND (Négociant-Distributeur): A reseller, not a producer

Understanding Dosage Levels

Dosage refers to the small amount of sugar (dissolved in wine, called 'liqueur d'expédition') added after disgorgement. It balances acidity and influences the Champagne's sweetness, style and ageing potential.

The dosage level appears on every label. Here's what each term means:

 

Note... It's important to remember that lower dosage doesn't automatically mean better quality. Whilst low and no-dosage Champagne continues to grow in popularity, producing great Champagne is about achieving balance, and a well-integrated 8g/l can be more elegant than a poorly-made Brut Nature.

Vintage vs Non-Vintage (NV)

Non-Vintage (NV)

Most Champagne is non-vintage – a blend of multiple harvest years designed to maintain a consistent house style. The base wine typically comes from the most recent harvest, blended with reserve wines from previous years.

NV Champagne must age at least 15 months on lees before release but quality producers often exceed this significantly.

Vintage / Millésimé

Vintage Champagne comes entirely from a single declared year, shown on the label (e.g., '2018'). Producers only declare vintages in exceptional years.

Vintage Champagne must age at least 36 months on lees, though many age far longer. These wines showcase a specific year's character and often have greater ageing potential.

Discover more with our article: What is Vintage Champagne?

Village Classifications: Grand Cru and Premier Cru

Champagne's 320 villages are classified based on historical grape pricing:

Grand Cru

Only 17 villages hold Grand Cru status – the highest classification. If a Champagne is labelled 'Grand Cru', all grapes came from these elite villages.

Grand Cru villages include: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger and Oiry in the Côte des Blancs; Ambonnay, Bouzy, Louvois, Verzy, Verzenay, Sillery, Mailly Champagne, Puisieulx, Beaumont sur Vesle and Tours sur Marne in the Montagne de Reims; and just Aÿ in the Vallée de Marne.

* The gently sloping hillsides of the Grand Cru Village 'Cramant' in the Côte des Blancs

Premier Cru

42 villages carry Premier Cru status – excellent but one tier below Grand Cru.

No Classification Mentioned

Grapes from non-classified villages. This doesn't indicate lower quality – many outstanding growers work in 'lesser' villages that simply weren't historically as famous.

Note: Village classification tells you where grapes grew but not necessarily quality of that particular parcel of land. A plot with excellent soil and exposition in an unclassified village can outshine a mediocre plot in Grand Cru territory. Furthermore, a skilled producer who selects grapes carefully at harvest will always beat blanket picking, no matter the classification of the village.

Other Label Terms Worth Knowing

Grape Varieties

• Blanc de Blancs: 100% white grapes (Chardonnay)

• Blanc de Noirs: 100% black grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Meunier)

• Rosé: Pink Champagne, made by blending or skin contact

Production Methods

• Méthode Traditionnelle / Méthode Champenoise: Secondary fermentation in bottle (required for all Champagne

• Fermentation Malolactique: Sometimes denoted 'FML' or 'Pas de FML' or 'Malo / No Malo' . This indicates whether Malolactic fermentation was sought or blocked
• Vinification: 'Fût de chêne' or 'Suis bois' indicates that the wine was aged in wooden barrels, whilst 'acier inoxydable' or similar denotes steel vats.
• Dégorgement: The date the wine was disgorged (when the sediment and lees are removed from the bottle and it is resealed to be sold)
   

Special Designations

• Cuvée Prestige / Tête de Cuvée: A producer's top wine

• Réserve: Often indicates use of reserve wines (no legal definition)

• Vieilles Vignes: Made from old vines

How to Spot Quality Grower Champagne

Armed with label knowledge, here's your checklist for finding excellent grower Champagne:

1. Look for RM – Confirms it's a grower-producer

2. Check the village – Even non-classified villages can be excellent if you research the producer

3. Note the dosage – Lower dosages (Extra Brut, Brut Nature) often indicate confidence in base wine quality

4. Consider vintage information – Either a declared vintage or information about base wine age

5. Research the producer – Small production numbers and family ownership are good signs

Or simply browse our curated selection of grower Champagnes – we've done the research for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What does RM mean on a Champagne bottle?

RM stands for Récoltant-Manipulant, indicating a grower-producer who makes Champagne from their own estate-grown grapes. At least 95% of grapes must come from their own vineyards. This is the code to look for when seeking artisan grower Champagne.

What's the difference between Brut and Extra Brut Champagne?

Brut Champagne contains 0-12 grams of sugar per litre, while Extra Brut contains 0-6 g/l. Extra Brut is drier and often showcases the base wine's natural character more prominently. Both are considered 'dry' styles.

Is Brut Nature the same as Zero Dosage?

Yes, these terms are interchangeable. Both indicate Champagne with 0-3 grams of sugar per litre and no added dosage after disgorgement. The French term 'Brut Nature' and 'Zero Dosage' or 'Non-Dosé' all mean the same thing.

Does Grand Cru mean the Champagne is better?

Not necessarily. Grand Cru indicates grapes came from one of Champagne's 17 highest-classified villages, but wine quality depends on the producer's skill, not just grape origin. Many exceptional Champagnes come from Premier Cru or even unclassified villages.

How do I know if a Champagne is vintage or non-vintage?

Vintage Champagne displays the harvest year prominently on the label (e.g., '2018' or 'Millésime 2018'). If no year appears, it's non-vintage (NV), meaning it's blended from multiple harvests.

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Start Reading Labels Like an Expert

Now you have the tools to decode any Champagne label. But the real education happens in the glass – tasting different styles, dosage levels, and producer types to discover your preferences.

Explore our producer directory to learn about the grower Champagne makers in our collection, or start with our Artisan Champagne Introduction case to taste the difference for yourself.