The sommelier's word: read a label

Meanings of one of the principal use on the labels of Champagne, written by two initials

NM:

Trader-handle, champagne house licensed to buy grapes.

RM:

Reaping-handle, and sparkling winemaker who does not market its own grapes.

C-M:

Cooperative, a group of harvesters.

RC:

Grower-Cooperator winemaker who puts his own label on a wine produced by a cooperative.

ND:

Champagne grapes from a grower and sold under its own label, but wine is made by a firm that distributes.

M-A:

Mark of buyers, a large buyer. For example, a chain or group whose name appears on the label that the wine comes from a cooperative or a champagne house.