Champagne is a sparkling wine that originates from the Champagne region of France. It’s a popular choice to celebrate special occasions due to its festive bubbles and slightly sweet taste. However, many people avoid champagne due to its carb content. Each glass can contain 1-2 grams of carbs from residual sugar left after fermentation. For people following a low-carb or keto diet, minimizing carb intake is a priority. The good news is that there are options for low carb and zero carb champagnes on the market today.
What affects the carb content of champagne?
Several factors impact the carbohydrate content of champagne:
Sugar Added After Second Fermentation
Champagne goes through two fermentation processes. After the second fermentation, winemakers determine the dosage or amount of sugar to add back into the wine. This impacts the final carb count. Less sugar equals fewer carbs.
Sweetness Level
The sweetness level directly correlates to carb content. Brut Nature and Extra Brut are the driest with 0-3 grams of sugar per liter. They have the fewest carbs, around 0-1g per glass. On the other end, Doux champagnes are the sweetest with over 50 grams of sugar per liter. They can have 10 or more carbs per serving.
Grape Varieties
The main grapes used are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Chardonnay tends to be the lowest carb since it produces the least sugar during ripening. Pinot Noir has slightly higher natural sugar levels. Meunier is the sweetest tasting. Blends impact the carb amounts.
Vintage
The year and conditions the grapes are grown in can affect carb levels of the finished champagne. Cooler vintages tend to produce grapes with less sugar. Warmer years increase sugar development.
How Many Carbs Are in Different Types of Champagne?
The carb content varies significantly by champagne type:
Brut Nature/Extra Brut
- 0-3 g/L sugar
- Around 0-1g carbs per 5oz glass
Brut
- 0-12 g/L sugar
- 1-2g carbs per 5oz glass
Extra Dry
- 12-17 g/L sugar
- 2-4g carbs per 5oz glass
Sec
- 17-32 g/L sugar
- 4-7g carbs per 5oz glass
Demi-sec
- 32-50 g/L sugar
- 7-10g carbs per 5oz glass
Doux
- Over 50 g/L sugar
- 10+ carbs per 5oz glass
As shown, the driest styles – Brut Nature, Extra Brut and Brut – contain the lowest amounts of carbs. A 5oz glass can contain just trace amounts up to 2g net carbs. The sweetest Demi-sec and Doux champagnes have the most carbs, ranging from 7-10+ carbs per serving.
Low Carb Champagne Brands
Several champagne brands offer low carb options under 2g carbs per serving:
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut
This well-priced Brut champagne uses a higher proportion of Chardonnay which contributes to its dry, mineral taste. With no added sugar after the second fermentation, a 5oz pour contains about 1g carb.
Champagne Launois Brut Spéciale
This vintage Blanc de Blancs is made entirely from Chardonnay. It offers crisp green apple and citrus notes in an extra dry style with 1g carb per serving.
Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut
The high percentage of Chardonnay provides a light freshness. With a low dosage of 7g/L, it has approx 1g carb per glass.
Henri Billiot Brut Vintage
Made using 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay, this well-rated Brut contains 0 dosage. Its dry mineral profile has about 0.5g net carbs per 5oz.
Gosset Brut Excellence
Gosset uses over 50% Chardonnay blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Aged over 3 years on lees, this non-vintage Brut has 0.5g carbs per serving.
Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve
This prestige cuvée blend has a low dosage of 8 g/L. With 40% Chardonnay, it offers crisp green apple flavors with 1g carb per glass.
Zero Carb Champagnes
Some champagnes reduce residual sugar to “zero dosage” resulting in no carbohydrates:
Collet Brut Art Deco Premier Cru
Sourced from premier cru vineyards, this Blanc de Blancs has no added sugar after disgorging. It provides zero carb, bone dry champagne.
Pierre Moncuit Delos Brut Nature
Made entirely of Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. With no dosage, it has zero carbs and bracing acidity.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Nature
This Blanc de Blancs combines crisp minerality with citrus and pear notes. With no dosage, it delivers true brut nature flavor with zero carbs.
Pol Roger Pure Brut Nature
Pol Roger adds zero dosage to this blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It has a dry, chalky profile without any carbs.
Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
Made entirely from Grand Cru Chardonnay, this crisp sparkler has zero carbs thanks to no added sugar.
Low Carb Champagne Cocktails
In addition to sparkling wines, you can make low carb champagne cocktails:
Champagne Spritzer
Mix 3oz Brut champagne with 2oz sparkling water. Adds bubbles with zero additional carbs.
Kir Royale
Combine 5oz Brut champagne with 1oz zero carb crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur).
French 75
Mix 1oz gin and 1oz fresh lemon juice with 4oz Extra Brut champagne. Garnish with lemon twist.
Mimosa
Top 3oz Extra Dry champagne with 2oz fresh orange juice. Has trace carbs only.
Bellini
Fill a champagne flute halfway with Brut champagne then top with 1oz peach puree. Delicious and low carb.
Tips for Choosing Low Carb Champagne
Follow these tips to select low carb champagne options:
Check Sugar Levels
Select Brut Nature, Extra Brut or Brut styles which have 0-12g/L sugar. Avoid sweeter champagnes with higher sugar content.
Focus on Chardonnay Heavy Blends
Chardonnay is the lowest carb grape variety used in champagne. Prioritize bottles with higher percentages of Chardonnay.
Vintage Matters
In warmer years, grapes produce more sugar leading to higher carbs. Choose champagnes from cooler vintages.
Trust Reputable Producers
Research champagne houses known for quality low dosage or zero dosage styles like Billecart-Salmon, Henri Billiot and Collet.
Check Servings
A typical serving is 5oz. Calculate the carb count based on your poured portion. Bigger pours mean more carbs.
The Lowest Carb Champagnes
To summarize, these champagnes contain the least carbs:
| Champagne | Carbs per 5oz Serving |
|---|---|
| Collet Brut Art Deco | 0g |
| Pierre Moncuit Delos Brut Nature | 0g |
| Nicolas Feuillatte Brut | 1g |
| Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut | 1g |
| Gosset Brut Excellence | 0.5g |
Focus on zero or very low dosage brut and extra brut champagnes using high proportions of Chardonnay to limit carb intake. With the many delicious options available, you can still enjoy bubbly and stay low carb. Santé!
Conclusion
Champagne can fit into a low carb lifestyle when you choose the right styles. Look for brut or extra brut champagnes with low to no sugar dosage added after disgorging. Focus on champagnes with higher percentages of Chardonnay in the blend, from cooler vintages. Prioritize bottles from quality producers dedicated to zero or low dosage styles. With the carb counts in mind, you can confidently pour a glass for any celebratory occasion without going over your limits. Limiting yourself to 5oz pours or spritzers diluted with sparkling water can allow you to enjoy the flavors and effervescence of champagne while keeping carbs minimal. Cheers to keeping the bubbly flowing in a low carb way!
