Dosage [pronunciation: doh-suhj]
Sugar added to sparkling wine after disgorgement, either through a liqueur d’expédition, which is a solution of cane or beet sugar and wine, or MCR (concentrated and rectified grape must). The dosage is a crucial component of Champagne, as it balances the naturally high acidity of the wine and plays an important role in the development of flavor.
The level of dosage determines the category of Champagne (i.e. Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Sec, Sec, Demi-Sec, and Doux) The majority of Champagne today is dosed as brut, between 0-12 grams of sugar per liter. In recent times the trend has been to lower dosage, although this is not always advisable. The dosage in Champagne is often improperly understood by both consumers and retailers alike, and in reality a dosage functions much more like salt in food rather than sugar in your tea, expanding and amplifying flavor, body, and mouthfeel rather than simply providing sweetness.
See also: Disgorgement, Non-Dosé
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