Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec
The house’s sweet bottle, made for the moment when the cake is served. With 45 grams of sugar per liter, it stands in stark contrast to Brut Vintage, which contains 9 grams.
Forty-five grams, and what that changes
Just before the bottle is sealed, every champagne gets a splash of sugar solution: the dosage. That amount determines which category the bottle falls into and how it works at the table. This Demi Sec contains 45 grams of sugar per liter, placing it in the demi-sec category. The difference within the same house is enormous: Brut Vintage contains 9 grams, so this has five times as much sugar. The grapes are the same three varieties the house uses throughout: pinot noir, meunier and chardonnay, but the result is a different drink.
Sugar does more than add sweetness. It softens the acidity, adds body and brings the fruit to the fore, making a naturally crisp champagne suddenly feel round and soft. That’s exactly why this bottle works better with pastries than a brut: with a sweet dessert, a dry champagne falls flat and tastes sour. It’s too full-bodied for an aperitif; that’s where Yellow Label or Brut Vintage belongs.
In brief
Wine gums, ripe fruit, and fresh bread
Candy-like fruit
Ripe fruit edging toward candy: berries and wine gums. It's an openly inviting nose, without the austerity of a brut.
Soft and round
The sugar fills the mouth and softens the acidity. As a result, the bubbles feel softer than in a dry champagne.
Toasted bread
Beneath all that fruit is a note of freshly toasted bread, from aging on yeast. It keeps the finish lively and stops it from tasting like lemonade.
The Demi Sec's flavor profile. Pour it alongside the Brut Vintage and you'll taste in one sip what 45 grams versus 9 grams of sugar per liter means.
At the end of the meal
A sweet champagne can be served on the cooler side, at 8 to 10 degrees: the chill keeps it fresh enough to avoid becoming syrupy. Pour smaller glasses than you would for a brut, as this style feels fuller.
With tart and pastries
Pour 10 cl alongside a piece of fruit tart, apple pie, or a bowl of strawberries. Rule of thumb: the dessert shouldn't be sweeter than the champagne, otherwise the food will overwhelm the bottle.
Glass: flute or coupe →With blue cheese
Sweet and salty is another winning pairing. Serve 8 cl alongside a piece of pungent blue cheese: the sugar balances the salt, while the toasted bread in the finish complements the rind.
Wine glasses →As a Sgroppino
Briefly stir together one scoop of lemon sorbet, 20 ml vodka, and 80 ml Demi Sec until frothy. The sweetness of the bottle means you don't need syrup here, just the tartness of the lemon.
Go to recipe →Cocktails with a sweet champagne
When mixing, keep in mind how much sugar is already in it: skip the syrup and choose a mixer with acidity or bitterness, otherwise the drink will turn cloying.
Sgroppino
Lemon sorbet, vodka, and bubbles stirred together until frothy. The Demi Sec makes it rounder.
Christmas cocktails
Bubbles with herbs and red fruit. A sweeter champagne works better here than a crisp brut.
Bellini
Peach purée topped up with bubbles. Skip the sugar syrup; the bottle already brings the sweetness.
Mimosa
Orange juice and champagne. Use freshly squeezed juice; its acidity keeps it balanced.Which glass goes with a demi-sec?
A smaller glass is a good choice here: you pour more often, and the champagne stays cold. A flute holds the mousse that carries the sweetness, while a coupe adds a festive touch to dessert.
More Veuve Clicquot flavors
Veuve Clicquot
Where it began. Read all about Veuve Clicquot on the brand page: its origins, varieties and classic cocktails.
Go to Veuve Clicquot →
Veuve Clicquot Rosé
Copper-colored, full and juicy. Raspberry, wild strawberry and cherry, with pastry notes underneath.
View Veuve Clicquot Rosé →
Veuve Clicquot Brut Vintage
A single harvest, partly aged in large oak vats. Apricot, fig, honey and mocha.
View Veuve Clicquot Brut Vintage →
Veuve Clicquot Rich
Citrus and floral notes, full and rounded. Made for ice cubes and a single garnish.
View Veuve Clicquot Rich →
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame
Grand Cru grapes only, floral and silky. The bottle for oysters and caviar.
View Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame →
Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old
Made entirely from reserve wines, the oldest dating back to 1988. Silky smooth, complex and elegant.
View Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old →Everything about champagne: the types, the best-known brands and the cocktails.
Questions about Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec
Can't find your question here? Read more on the Veuve Clicquot page or check out our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Veuve Clicquot →How sweet is Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec?
What percentage of alcohol does it contain?
What's the difference from Yellow Label Brut?
What pairs well with Demi Sec?
Can you make cocktails with it?
Buy Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec
Want the bottle delivered right away? Order Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec online at Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it won't cost you anything extra. No 18, no alcohol.
