What happens during the first fermentation in Champagne production?

• A. Yeast converts sugar into alcohol, creating still wine
• B. Carbon dioxide forms bubbles
• C. Grapes are pressed
• D. Sugar is added after fermentation

Answer: (A)

During the first fermentation, yeast consumes the natural sugars in the grape must and converts them into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This alcoholic fermentation creates a still wine—the base wine for Champagne. The carbon dioxide is released as gas and does not stay dissolved, so no bubbles form yet. This step establishes the wine’s alcohol level and flavor that will later be built upon for the sparkling process. The bubbles in Champagne come from a second fermentation that happens later in the bottle with added sugar and yeast, which traps the CO2 under pressure. Pressing happens before fermentation, and adding sugar after fermentation isn’t part of this initial stage.