Blanc de Noirs, "white from blacks", is one of Champagne's most fascinating paradoxes: a white wine made entirely from red-skinned grapes, either Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier or a combination of both. The winemaker presses the grapes very gently and quickly to extract the juice before the skins can impart colour. The result is a pale, golden wine with significantly more body, structure and generosity than Chardonnay-based Champagnes.
How a White Champagne Comes from Red Grapes
The colour of a red grape sits in its skin, not in its juice. The flesh of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier is almost colourless, so everything depends on keeping skin contact to a minimum. Whole bunches go into the press as soon as they are picked, the pressing is slow and gentle, and the first, purest juice is set apart from the later fractions, which carry more colour and tannin. A faint copper or straw glint in the glass is normal and simply shows where the wine comes from.
After the first fermentation, Blanc de Noirs follows the same rules as every other Champagne. The appellation rules summarised by the Comité Champagne set a minimum time on the lees in the cellars: 15 months for a non-vintage wine and 36 months for a vintage. Many houses and growers keep their Blanc de Noirs much longer, because the extra time softens the firm structure of the black grapes and brings out notes of brioche, toasted nuts and dried fruit.
Pinot Noir is not a niche grape in the region: the Comité Champagne puts its share of the area under vine at 38%, which makes it the most planted variety in Champagne. Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay share the rest, which explains why a Blanc de Noirs can come from almost every part of the appellation, from the slopes of the Montagne de Reims to the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Bar.
Pinot Noir vs Pinot Meunier: Different Characters
When made from Pinot Noir alone, a Blanc de Noirs shows red apple, wild strawberry and a firm, grippy backbone. The Montagne de Reims, with its grand cru villages like Bouzy and Verzy, is the traditional source for Pinot Noir of this quality. Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises, sourced from ungrafted old vines in Aÿ, is perhaps the most celebrated example, rare, powerful and deeply mineral. When Pinot Meunier dominates, the style tends to be rounder, softer and earlier-drinking, with stone fruit and a generous, creamy texture.
How to Read the Label
The words "Blanc de Noirs" on the label tell you that no Chardonnay went into the blend. They do not say which black grape was used: check the back label or the producer's notes for the share of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Two other mentions help you anticipate the style. The dosage (Extra Brut, Brut, and so on) indicates how dry the wine will taste, and a vintage date means a single harvest and a longer minimum ageing. A grower Champagne, made by the family that tends the vines, often names the village of origin, which is a good clue: Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims or the Côte des Bar for structure, Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne for fruit and roundness.
How to Pair Blanc de Noirs at the Table
Because of its weight and structure, Blanc de Noirs is one of the most food-friendly styles in Champagne. It pairs naturally with roast chicken, guinea fowl, pork tenderloin and creamy mushroom dishes. Richer expressions stand up to veal, mild game and matured semi-hard cheeses. Unlike a délicate Blanc de Blancs, a Blanc de Noirs does not get overwhelmed by strong flavours. Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is often held up as a benchmark for finesse in its category, but for power and character, seek out grower Blanc de Noirs from producers in the Montagne de Reims for some of the most distinctive and rewarding bottles in all of Champagne.
Serve it a little warmer than a light aperitif Champagne, in a tulip glass or a white wine glass rather than a narrow flute: the extra air lets its red fruit and its toasty, autumnal notes open up. It also works as the only bottle of a meal, from the starter to the cheese board.
Blanc de Noirs Champagne: Common Questions
Is Blanc de Noirs a red or a white Champagne?
It is a white Champagne. Only the grapes are red-skinned; their juice is pressed off the skins straight away, so the wine stays pale gold. A rosé Champagne, by contrast, takes its colour either from skin contact or from a little red wine added to the blend.
What is the difference between Blanc de Noirs and Blanc de Blancs?
A Blanc de Blancs is made only from white grapes, almost always Chardonnay, and tends towards citrus, finesse and tension. A Blanc de Noirs uses only Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier and offers more body, red fruit and structure, which makes it easier to match with food.
Is Blanc de Noirs sweeter than other Champagnes?
No. Sweetness depends on the dosage written on the label, not on the grape. A Blanc de Noirs can be Brut Nature, Extra Brut or Brut like any other Champagne; its roundness on the palate comes from the black grapes, not from sugar.
Can Blanc de Noirs age well?
Yes, especially Pinot Noir-based and vintage bottles, which already spend at least 36 months on the lees before release. Meunier-led wines are usually best enjoyed younger, while their fruit is at its freshest.
