What Does ‘NV’ Mean in Champagne?

Champagne labels can look like they were designed to keep you guessing. “NV” is one of the most common terms you’ll see, and one of the most useful once you know what it means.

NV stands for 'Non-Vintage'. It tells you the Champagne is a blend of wines from multiple harvest years, rather than a single year. It is not a shortcut. It is a deliberate style choice, and it is the foundation of most of the world’s Champagne.

At a Glance: NV Champagne explained

Q: What does NV mean on Champagne?
A: NV means non-vintage. The wine is blended from more than one harvest year to create a consistent house style.

Q: Is non-vintage Champagne good quality?
A: Yes. Many houses put their greatest effort into their NV cuvée because it defines their signature style.

Q: Why is NV Champagne usually more affordable than vintage?
A: NV is produced every year in larger volumes and does not require the same extended ageing as vintage Champagne.

Q: How can you tell if Champagne is NV?
A: If there is no year printed on the label, the Champagne is almost always non-vintage.

What non-vintage really means

Non-vintage Champagne is built for consistency.

Weather, growing conditions, and harvest quality vary every year. NV Champagne allows producers to blend wines from different years to smooth out those variations and present a wine that tastes recognisably the same release after release.

To do this, houses combine:

• Base wine from the most recent harvest

• Reserve wines held back from earlier years to add depth, balance, and continuity

Those reserve wines are the quiet backbone of many great NV Champagnes and the reason two non-vintage bottlings from different houses can taste completely different.

Why NV dominates Champagne

Non-vintage Champagne accounts for the majority of bottles produced and shipped worldwide.

That is because NV delivers three things most drinkers actually want:

• Reliability: the house style stays consistent year to year

• Availability: it is released annually

• Value: the price to quality ratio is often excellent

Vintage Champagne exists for exceptional years. NV is the signature expression of the region.

NV vs vintage Champagne

The simplest distinction is this:

Non-vintage Champagne expresses a house style.
Vintage Champagne expresses a single harvest year.

Vintage Champagne is made only when a producer believes the year is strong enough to stand alone. It is produced in smaller quantities and aged for longer before release. NV Champagne, by contrast, is designed to be dependable, balanced, and ready to enjoy more often.

In practice, many NV Champagnes are aged well beyond the minimum requirements, which is why quality NV can feel more complex than people expect.

NV, multi-vintage, and modern Champagne labels

Some producers now use terms like multi-vintage, collection, or numbered editions on their labels.

These wines are still blends from multiple years, but the producer is signalling a more expressive approach. Rather than aiming for perfect uniformity, each release is allowed to reflect subtle differences while still staying within the house style.

If you see a release number or edition name, think of it as a non-vintage Champagne with a little more personality built in.

How to choose NV Champagne with confidence

Instead of focusing on whether a bottle is vintage or non-vintage, focus on the style you enjoy.

For classic and versatile Champagne
Choose Brut NV. Balanced, fresh, and suitable for almost any occasion.

For drier, more mineral styles
Look for Extra Brut or Brut Nature.

For precision and elegance
Choose Blanc de Blancs NV, made from Chardonnay.

For richness and texture
Look for Blanc de Noirs NV, made from Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier.

For gifting
Established house NV bottlings and gift boxed releases are consistently safe choices.

Non-vintage Champagne is not the compromise option. It is often the smartest buy.

Good to know: While NV Champagne is designed to drink well on release, high-quality examples can improve with short-term cellaring. Two to three years of cool, dark storage can bring softer texture and more pronounced toasty notes. 

KSC Picks: NV Champagne worth knowing

Iconic house NV

• Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut NV

• Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV and Gift Boxed Version
  Best for gifting, celebrations, and crowd-pleasing pours. 

• Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut NV

• Taittinger Brut Réserve NV

NV with extra depth and detail

• Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV
  Best for food pairing and richer dishes.

• Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV

• Louis Roederer Collection NV

Grower and terroir-leaning NV

• Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV

• Jacquesson Cuvée No. 742 Extra Brut NV
  Best for the wine-curious and Champagne enthusiasts. 

FAQs: NV Champagne questions, answered

Q: What does NV mean on Champagne?
A: NV means non-vintage. The wine is blended from multiple harvest years rather than one specific year.

Q: Is non-vintage Champagne lower quality than vintage?
A: No. Many producers treat their NV cuvée as their flagship because it defines the house style.

Q: Why does vintage Champagne cost more?
A: Vintage Champagne is produced in smaller quantities, aged for longer, and made only in selected years.

Q: How long is NV Champagne aged?
A: NV Champagne must be aged in the cellar before release, and many producers exceed the minimum requirements.

Q: How can I tell if a bottle is non-vintage?
A: If there is no vintage year printed on the label, the Champagne is non-vintage.

Explore our Champagne collection and discover NV styles designed for celebrating, gifting, and everyday drinking.