R.D. - Recently Disgorged

Méthode Traditionnelle sparkling wines goes through a primary fermentation in the tank and a second fermentation in the bottle.  Once the wine goes through its second fermentation in bottle it is left to age on its lees, the dead yeast cells.  At this time, the sparkling wine continues to age for several more years resulting in a toasty, yeasty characteristic.  

Next we need to disgorge, remove the yeast cells from the wine and then it will be ready to drink.  This is when we will date the disgorgement date on the label and it is titled R.D.

This special aging on the lees allows the wine to maintain a unique combination of freshness and liveliness, while developing delicate and complex aromas. Sparkling wines benefit from a prolonged maturation on its lees reinforcing the aromatic subtlety and complexity of the final wine.

Below is our disgorging line.  The first image shows all of the sparkling bottles with their necks down in a glycol bath.  Whereas the next image is the bottling line where the dosage is added.

Next time you pick up a bottle of sparkling wine please go ahead and take a look at the label and look for the disgorgment date!

Cheers!