cuvées

Cuvée is a wine term of French origin meaning "vat" or "tank." In wine, cuvée denotes a particular blend or a portion of wine prepared for bottling from selected grapes or lots. The exact meaning varies by producer and region, but the common idea is that cuvée marks a deliberate selection intended to achieve a defined style or quality.

In general use, cuvée can refer to either a blended wine assembled from multiple vineyard parcels or varieties, or to the wine produced from a specific lot that a winery has chosen for its bottling. The term often signals a higher level of quality or a special release within a producer's range, but it is not a legally defined category.

In sparkling wine production, particularly Champagne, cuvée most often designates the juice from the first pressing, valued for its finesse and acidity. The first-press juice is contrasted with later pressings, sometimes called taille. When used on labels, cuvée can indicate the intended blend for a particular vintage or nonvintage bottle, depending on the house’s practices.

Because cuvée's meaning varies, readers should consider the context: the producer's notes, region, and labeling. The term functions as a marketing and production descriptor, signaling a selected blend or a premium portion rather than a fixed legal designation.