FOOD NEWS
What The Term Cuvée Refers To In Winemaking
BY KYLE GRACE MILLS
The original meaning of the French word cuvée refers to the first step in winemaking and denotes the wine as a blend of superior quality, but it can refer to different things.
When you apply this term to sparkling wine, it refers to the juice extraction process, indicating the wine will be particularly pure and sweet with a high acidity and low pH.
Cuvée can also refer to the "first cut" of the wine press, which again suggests a high-quality wine. With any bottle, the term is meant to denote quality and method of production.
Keep in mind, the term cuvée isn't regulated and you can't always count on it really denoting quality, because any brand can slap it on their bottle without consequences.