How To Pronounce Tricky Champagne Names
Have you ever asked yourself, ‘How do you pronounce Veuve Clicquot?’ The answer, ‘verve kli-koh’, might be straightforward if you’ve heard it a few times, but for those less familiar with French, it might not be so obvious. So here we’re outlining exactly how to pronounce the best champagne names, from Ruinart (‘ru-in-arr’) to Moët & Chandon (‘mo-wet ee shan-don’), so that you can stay in the moment as you pop that fizz.
A tip for correctly pronouncing champagne names
For most of these names, we’re leaning into the French pronunciation (with the brands often founded in France’s esteemed Champagne region), however, there are a handful of brands that originate outside of the country, so it makes sense to pronounce them how they are originally intended. For example, Moët & Chandon is pronounced ‘mo-wey ee shan-don’ in French, but the founder, Claude Moët, was Dutch, where they pronounce the ‘t’ at the end of his name (‘mo-wet’). It’s a similar story for the ‘Jouët’ in Perrier-Jouët. Ultimately, you can choose how you want to say each of the below – this is more of a guide to make you feel more confident when you do next time you’re ordering a glass (or bottle) at a champagne bar.
How do you pronounce Veuve Clicquot?
(verve kli-koh)
Veuve Clicquot is pronounced “verve kli-koh”. The term veuve is French for “widow,” honouring Madame Clicquot, who took the helm in 1805 and pioneered the modern riddling process that made Champagne crystal clear. When ordering their world-famous Yellow Label Brut, simply drop the hard ‘v’ sound at the end of veuve for a smooth, natural delivery.
How do I pronounce Moët & Chandon correctly?
(mo-wet ee shan-don)
Moët & Chandon is pronounced “mo-wet ee shan-don”. Many people mistakenly drop the ‘t’ assuming standard French grammar rules apply, but founder Claude Moët was actually of Dutch descent, which gives his family name a hard final consonant. Best known for its iconic Impérial Brut and long-standing royal warrants, this Épernay landmark remains one of the most requested bottles on any wine list.
How do I pronounce Taittinger?
(tay-tah-jhey)
Taittinger is pronounced “tay-tah-zhay”. The trick to mastering this name is softening the final syllable into a gentle French ‘zhay’ rather than a hard English ‘ger’. Still proudly family-owned and operated today, this grand Reims estate is famous for its chardonnay-heavy blends, including the world-renowned Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs.
What’s the correct way to say Ruinart?
(ru-in-arr)
Ruinart is pronounced “ru-in-arr”. Founded in 1729, this is officially the oldest established Champagne house in existence, making it a true icon of French heritage. Skip the final hard ‘t’ sound entirely and finish with a soft, rolled ‘arr’ when ordering a glass of their signature Blanc de Blancs in its distinct clear bottle.
How do I say Laurent-Perrier?
(lo-ron pe-ri-ay)
Laurent-Perrier is pronounced “lo-ron pe-ri-ay”. Keep the ‘t’ in Laurent completely silent (same as with Saint Laurent), and treat the ‘er’ at the end of Perrier like a crisp ‘ay’ sound. Celebrated for its iconic Cuvée Rosé poured from its distinctive antique-style bottle, this house is a quintessential favourite across top London dining rooms.
How do I pronounce Charles Heidsieck?
(sharl hide-sick)
Charles Heidsieck is pronounced “sharl hide-sick”. Named after its adventurous founder (nicknamed “Champagne Charlie” during his travels across 19th-century America), this producer combines a French first name with a German family surname. Saying ‘hide-sick’ instead of ‘heed-siek’ ensures you sound like a seasoned sommelier when selecting their acclaimed Brut Réserve.
How do I say Bollinger?
(bol-an-jey)
Bollinger is pronounced “bol-an-jey”. While British fans often affectionately shorten it to ‘Bolly’, pronouncing the full name with a soft French cadence gives it proper elegance. Forever linked with James Bond as his Champagne of choice since 1979, this house in Aÿ specialises in rich, Pinot Noir-dominant styles like its legendary Special Cuvée.
How do I pronounce Billecart-Salmon?
(beel-kahr sahl-moh)
Billecart-Salmon is pronounced “beel-kahr sahl-moh”. Avoid saying ‘salmon’ like the fish; the French pronunciation completely drops the final ‘n’ sound in favour of a soft, nasal ‘moh’. Established in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in 1818, this independent house is revered by wine critics for producing what is widely considered the gold standard of Brut Rosé.
What’s the correct way to say Louis Roederer?
(lu-wee ro-duh-rer)
Louis Roederer is pronounced “lu-wee ro-duh-rer”. Rolling off the tongue with three soft syllables at the end, ‘ro-duh-rer’ is much easier to say if you keep your voice light and effortless. While globally famous for crafting the legendary prestige cuvée Cristal for Tsar Alexander II, the house is equally admired today for its pioneering commitment to organic farming.
How do you pronounce Dom Pérignon?
(dom pe-ri-nyon)
Dom Pérignon is pronounced “dom pe-ri-nyon”. Named after the 17th-century Benedictine monk who pioneered key winemaking refinements in Hautvillers, the key is pronouncing the ‘gn’ like the ‘ny’ in ‘canyon’. Because every single bottle of Dom Pérignon is exclusively a vintage release, it stands as one of the ultimate luxury fizz choices.
How do you pronounce Perrier-Jouët?
(perri-yeh jew-et)
Perrier-Jouët is pronounced “perri-yeh jew-et”. Similar to Moët, the ‘Jouët’ portion comes from co-founder Adèle Jouët’s family lineage, meaning that final ‘t’ is distinctly voiced rather than silent. Instantly recognisable by the hand-painted white anemones on its Belle Époque bottles, it looks as stunning on the table as it tastes in the glass.
What’s the correct way to pronounce Nicolas Feuillatte?
(ni-co-la foy-ye-at)
Nicolas Feuillatte is pronounced “ni-co-la foy-ye-at”. As one of the best-selling Champagne brands across France, it pops up on drink menus everywhere, even if the multi-syllable name looks tricky at first glance. Produced by a giant cooperative of local growers in Chouilly, their approachable Réserve Exclusive Brut is a reliable crowd-pleaser for any gathering.
How do you pronounce Krug?
(kroog)
Krug is pronounced “kroog”. Short, sharp, and straightforward, simply pronounce the double ‘o’ like the ‘u’ in ‘rule’ without any complex vocal twists. Founded in Reims by Joseph Krug in 1843, this prestigious house is legendary for blending over 120 different wines across a dozen vintages to create its masterclass Grande Cuvée.
How do you say Lanson correctly?
(lohn-son)
Lanson is pronounced “lohn-son”. Rather than using a hard English ‘Lan’, open up the first syllable to a rounded ‘lohn’ sound to give it authentic French polish. Instantly recognisable by its bold red cross emblem, this house avoids malolactic fermentation to deliver an extraordinarily crisp, fresh style, making it a perfect fit as the long-standing official partner of Wimbledon.
