I always considered “pink champagne” to be another name, albeit an old one, for rose champagne. But now it’s officially recognized as an ancient grape variety in Champagne. A natural mutation of white chardonnay, this summer it joined the seven main varieties that can be used in champagne.
Pink champagne was identified in the early 1900s in both Champagne and Burgundy.
Among the other minor grapes in the lineup are arbane, petit meslier, pinot black and pinot gris.