After dégorgement, the liqueur d'expédition — a blend of wine and sugar — is added to replace the small volume lost. The amount of sugar determines the sweetness designation and style.
- Brut nature / Zero dosage: max 3 g/l residual sugar, no sugar added. Bone dry, pure.
- Extra brut: 0–6 g/l. Very dry.
- Brut: 0–12 g/l. The most common style. Feels dry despite a little sugar.
- Extra sec / Extra dry: 12–17 g/l. Off-dry — actually slightly sweeter despite the confusing name.
- Sec: 17–32 g/l. Noticeably sweet.
- Demi-sec: 32–50 g/l. Sweet, suits dessert.
- Doux: >50 g/l. Emphatically sweet, rarely found.
Sweetness is balanced by acidity. In Champagne with naturally high acidity, some dosage can feel completely dry on the palate.