For a region built on precision, precedent and some of the world’s tightest wine regulations, Champagne is not known for surprises. Yet, recently, the appellation quietly expanded its official framework with the recognition of ‘Chardonnay Rosé’, also known as ‘Pink Chardonnay’, bringing the number of authorised grape varieties in Champagne to eight.
Chardonnay Rosé has now been formally included in the Champagne appellation specifications, effective from July 31, 2025. It joins Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay (blanc), and the four so-called “minor” varieties (Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris) though, like those grapes, it will remain a rarity in vineyard terms.
On paper, this may read as a technical amendment. In practice, it signals something more nuanced: a renewed interest in Champagne’s genetic heritage, and a willingness to explore the margins of possibility without abandoning the region’s core identity.
A conversation that began at the lunch table
I first heard Chardonnay Rosé mentioned not in a press release, but over a harvest lunch two years ago at Louis Roederer. Around the table, between plates and bottles, the grape became the subject of animated discussion; what it might mean, what it could bring, and whether it would ever truly matter.
No one really knew. There was no clear sense of its practical benefit, nor any certainty around its marketability. But it sparked curiosity, nonetheless. And in an industry as heavily regulated as Champagne, anything that feels even remotely “new” tends to do that, particularly among those who are ambitious, creative, and quietly eager to test the outer limits of what the appellation allows.
That sense of curiosity is perhaps the most telling part of Chardonnay Rosé’s return.
A grape history misplaced, not rejected
Chardonnay Rosé is not a modern invention. It is a natural, spontaneous mutation of Chardonnay (as we know it), first observed in Champagne at the very beginning of the 20th century. According to the Comité Champagne, its limited diffusion was never the result of agronomic weakness. Rather, it was a victim of timing.
The upheavals of the first half of the century, namely phylloxera recovery, two world wars and economic instability, left little space for the careful introduction of a grape that existed only in scattered vines. As Champagne rebuilt and streamlined, focus narrowed to reliability and scale. Chardonnay Rosé, rare and poorly understood, gradually slipped from view.
Its survival owed much to individuals rather than institutions. As early as 1900, Champagne grower and ampelographer Rémi Couvreur-Périn identified the mutation and preserved it within his private collection. It was later documented in 1926 and entered into France’s national Vassal collection in 1950, capturing its conservation even as it vanished from commercial plantings. What followed was not extinction, but dormancy.
Rehabilitation rather than reinvention
The modern effort to bring Chardonnay Rosé back into the fold began in 2017, when the Champagne industry initiated a formal rehabilitation process. Its inclusion in the French Catalogue in 2018 was a crucial step, granting it botanical recognition and allowing propagation to resume.
This work was never about novelty for novelty’s sake. Instead, it formed part of a broader strategy; preserving genetic diversity while ensuring the long-term resilience of the vineyard.
That approach culminated in 2025 with Chardonnay Rosé’s inclusion in the appellation specifications.
What “intelligent adaptation” really means
The official announcement described Chardonnay Rosé as an example of Champagne’s ability to “evolve intelligently in the face of climate challenges.” The phrase invites speculation, but its meaning is more philosophical than technical.
According to the Comité Champagne, Chardonnay Rosé is not currently considered better adapted to warmer conditions than Chardonnay (blanc). Viticulturally, the two behave in much the same way. Nor does Chardonnay Rosé offer disease resistance comparable to hybrid varieties such as Voltis, which was authorised earlier as part of Champagne’s sustainability strategy.
Instead, its inclusion reflects a dual commitment to safeguard heritage while expanding the region’s adaptive toolkit. It is more about biodiversity, continuity and having options, ensuring Champagne is not overly dependent on a narrow genetic base as environmental pressures increase.
In that sense, Chardonnay Rosé is less of a solution than a statement.
Familiar, with a subtle difference
From an agronomic and oenological perspective, the newly approved varietal offers reassurance rather than disruption. Despite developing a dark pink skin after véraison, its juice remains white and its tannic contribution is comparable to Chardonnay (blanc), with no particular phenolic signature to distinguish it.
In the glass, its wines are recognisably Champagne. They sit comfortably within the established style, sometimes showing marginally higher acidity, though the difference remains subtle. There is no dramatic shift in flavour profile and no new aromatic category to recalibrate blending philosophies. It is therefore not designed to rewrite expectations. Its strength lies in nuance.
A question of meaning, not scale
In vineyard terms, the impact of Chardonnay Rosé will be modest. The minor varieties collectively account for just 0.5% of Champagne’s vineyard area. That is unlikely to change materially in the near future.
Where its influence will be felt most keenly is in narrative. As the eighth authorised variety, Chardonnay Rosé enriches Champagne’s storytelling potential. It offers producers another layer of context - one rooted in forgotten history rather than futuristic promise.
The Comité Champagne believes its future use will likely emphasise both its patrimonial value and its role within the broader stylistic palette of the region. It may appear quietly in blends, perhaps in limited cuvées, or simply as a point of conversation, as it was around that harvest table two years ago.
As reported in The Drinks Business by Giles Fallowfield, Louis Roederer's Cellar Master, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, has decided to embrace the opportunity with plantings already finding their way to the Maison's nursery in Bouleuse and into the field blend they cultivate in Cumières.
Champagne’s quiet confidence
Champagne has always balanced innovation with restraint. Its greatest strength lies not in dramatic reinvention, but in incremental refinement. The recognition of Chardonnay Rosé fits neatly within that tradition.
It is not a revolution, nor a marketing pivot. It is a reminder that progress can sometimes come from looking backward with fresh intent, re-examining what was once overlooked, and asking whether it still has something to say.
