Champagne Flashcards
What is the “rural” or “ancestral” method?
Sparkling wine made through one single fermentation that undergoes a winter pause- yeast bottled when dormant due to cold awakens in bottle and carbon dioxide gas dissolves in solution
Who is credited with crafting the first French sparkling wine?
The monks of Saint Hilaire located near Languedoc town of Limoux in the 1500s
How was sparkling wine created up until the 1600s
serendipitous occurrence, no one understood why wine developed bubbles or how to control, advent of stronger bottles and airtight corks made it easier to capture effervescence
When were the champagne houses established?
Followed swiftly on kings decree allowing transport and trade of champagne in bottle- Ruinart- 1729, Moet- 1743, Delamotte- 1760, Veuve-Clicquot- 1772
When did Champagne develop an identity
In 17th century wines of Champagne referred to as “vins de Champagne”
When did the Champenois learn how to control the method of making sparkling wine?
end of 17th century and beginning of the 18th century
When did the fight for ownership of the word “Champagne” begin?
1887 received declaration from the court of appeals in Angers that “Champagne” could be used only for wines from that region
When did phylloxera arrive in Champagne and what was the impact?
1890, vineyard coverage went from 150,000 acres to 30,000 acres; vineyard density went from 20,000 vines per acre to 3,200 vines per acre
When was the Champagne zone of production delineated?
1908, significant unrest followed ruling, growers from Aube not included, added as second zone of production until 1927 when recognized and included as official part of Champagne region
What terms do sparkling wines in France outside of Champagne use?
They use the terms cremant, petillant, or mousseux- cannot be called Champagne or use terms “Champagne Method” or “Methode Champenoise” so use term “Methode traditionnelle” (traditional method)
Where is Champagne located in France?
Most northerly of all french wine regions, between 49 and 49.5 parallel north, 1.5 hour east of Paris
What is Champagne’s climate?
Climate is dual, strong continental and Atlantic (maritime) influences; gets cold in winter, spring and fall have significant threat of frost, proportionate year-round rain fall
Describe the seasons in Chamagne?
Spring: frost common and sever, cna reduce yields by killing fruit bearing buds
Summer: can be warm under continental climate; maritime climate means often under abundant rain cover
Fall: early frost often
Winter: Brutal freezes
How do vignerons fight frost damage?
Sprinklers used during danger period; continuous sprinkling creates ice capsule around bud and protects plant by maintaining a 32 degree temperature
What were the traditional Champagne grapes of the 9th-16th century?
Gouais Noir, Gouais Blanc, Fromenteau (gray pink berry, commonly called Pinot Gris)
What are the modern Champagne grapevines (16th century-today)?
Pinot Noir (38%) - Contributes least acidity and moderate alcohol Pinot Munier (34%) - Contributes moderate acidity and least alcohol Chardonnay (28%) - Contributes most acidity and most alcohol
What are the four primary sub-regions of Champagne?
- The Montagne & Val de Reims
- Vallee de la Marne
- Cote des Blancs and surroundings
- Cote des Bar
What are the four terroirs of Montagne & Val de Reims and what grapes do they produce?
- Massif de Saint-Thierry: Pinot Meunier
- Vesle and Ardre Valleys (Val de Reims): Pinot Meunier
- Monts de Berru: Chardonnay
- Grande Montagne de Reims: Pinot Noir
What are the six terroirs of Val de la Marne and what grapes do they produce?
Grand Vallee de la Marne: Pinot Noir
Coteaux Sud d’Epernay: Chardonnay/Pinot Meunier
Vallee de la Marne Rive Gauche: Pinot Meunier
Vallee de la Marne Rive Droite: Pinot Meunier
Conde: Pinot Meunier
Vallee de la Marne Ouest: Pinot Meunier
What are the five terroirs of Cote des Blancs and surroundings and what grapes do they produce?
Cotes des Blancs: Chardonnay Val du Petit Morin: Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay Cote de Sezanne: Chardonnay Vitryat: (Vitry-le-Francois): Chardonnay Montgeux: Chardonnay
Whate are the two terroirs of the Cotes des Bar and what grapes do they produce?
Bar sur Aubois: Pinot Noir
Barsequanais: Pinot Noir
What is the soil of Champagne?
Head in tertiary and feet in cretaceous- top root burrows through 90 million yeah old cretaceous chalk, upper exist in much younger soils
What are the two primary types of chalk in Champagne?
Belemnite (ancestors of squids) and Micraster (sea urchin)- Belemnite is preferred, no significant mineral or physical difference between the two, positioned at different parts of slopes, Belemnite at upper and mid slope which is ideal for optimum sun exposure and moisture retention; Micraster where slope begins to flatten
What type of soil is found in Cote des Bar?
Kimmeridgean marl, formed during Jurassic period (199-145 million years ago), part of ring of limestone rich marl outcroppings through England and France
What are the qualities of wines grown in chalk?
Chalk is porous limestone, grapes grown in chalk are high in acid producing lean wines with reserved aromatics, as subsoil it stores water- drains topsoil of moisture, makes Champagne treeless landscape because thin topsoil can’t support trees
What are Crayeres?
Underground quarries dug out by the Romans, maintain cool and humid environment year round, used for wine storage
What soil is in Vallee de la Marne and Val de Reims? What kind of wines do they produce?
Mix of marl, clay, and sands; clay soils produces wines that are mineral rich, need aging to express their true flavors and aromas; sandy soils produce wines with with overt wine characteristics, open and easy drinking; Cote de Sezanne are mix of chalk and clay
What type of soil is found in the Cote des Bar?
Limestone rich marl, doesn’t have water retention qualities of chalk, called “wet champagne” - subsoil doesn’t pull moisture out of topsoil; preferred soil for Pinot Noir (deeply aromatic, early expression)
How many AOCs are there in Champagne? What are they?
AOC Rose des Riceys - 100% Pinot Noir Rose (produced in three villages of Riceys in Aube)
AOC Coteaux Champenois - 100% still (lies within AOC Champagne area)
AOC Champagne - 100% Sparkling
Describe the Champagne grape
Pinot x Gouais cross, indigenous to France; prefers limestone or limestone rich marls, early budding, early ripening, productive; can achieve high sugar and high extract levels but at risk of being low acid; primary fruit aromas of apple and citrus, secondary/tertiary aromas of butter, nuts, ginger, vanilla, nutmeg; pale yellow to gold depending on age and terroir
Describe the Pinot Meunier grape
Black, frost and freeze resistant; produces wine of good acidity and red fruit wiht touch of earthiness (pumpernickel/rye bread), “Millers Pinot” because underside of leaf looks like its dusted with flour, genetic mutation of Pinot Noir, indigenous to France
Describe Pinot Noir grape
Aromatic grape ripens with good acidity and moderate tannin levels, light in color; name derived from pineau meaning pine cone because cluster is tight and compact like pine cone; early budding grape susceptible to spring frost, ripens early and often harvested before autumn rains; finicky with regard to site and challenging to grow; thrives in cool climates, prefers limestone/marl; primary fruit cherry/strawberry, secondary and tertiary earth, leather, violets, clove, cinnamon, sandalwood, smoke, truffles
