Champagne Flashcards
What is a “Chaufrette”?
A smudge pot, or oil burning device used to prevent grapes on vines from freezing during a sudden cold snap
What are the 3 levels in the Eschell des crus?
Grand Cru: 100% (17 villages)
Premier Cru: 90-99% (42 villages)
Cru: 80-89% (255 villages)
What is the meaning of the term “Tirage”?
Bottling
What is the contribution of Veuve Cliquot (Ponsardin) to Champagne making?
She developed the process of Riddling (Remuage)
What is “Blanc de Noirs”
A white sparkling wine made from black grapes
What are the aging requirements for Champagne (vintage & non-vintage) versus Cremant?
Non-Vintage: 12 months on lees & 3 more months in cellar
Vintage - 12 months on lees & 24 months in the cellar
Cremant 9 months on the lees
What is the primary grape of the Montagne de Reims?
Pinot Noir
What is the difference between Coteaux Champenois AOC & Champagne AOC?
Coteaux Champenois AOC 100% still
Champagne AOC is 100% sparkling
Both areas cover the same area and use the same grapes
How many standard bottles of wine are contained in a “Salmanazar”?
12 bottles
What is Degorgement (disgorgement) ?
Disgorgement is the removal of yeast after the second fermentation of sparkling wine in the Champagne Method
What are the 3 principle grapes in Champagne today?
Pinot Noir (38%) Pinot Meunier (34%) Chardonnay (28%)
What does the abbreviation “RM” refer to?
Recoltant-Manipulant
A producer who grows his/her own grapes and makes his/her own Champagne
What was the first Champagne house?
Ruinart (1729)
How many standard bottles of wine are contained in a “Rehoboam”?
6
What are the 2 types of chalk found in Champagne?
Belemite (preferred)
Micraster
What is “Liquor d’Expedition”?
A mix of sugar and still reserve wine added to champagne after degorgement and before the cork is inserted
What does the abbreviation “CM” refer to on a bottle of Champagne?
Cooperative de Manipulant
It is a cooperative that makes Champagne using the grapes of its members
What is the primary grape of Vitry-le-Francois?
Chardonnay
What is the primary grape of the Valley de la Marne
Pinot Meunier
What Champagne is drier: Brut Nature or Sec?
Brut Nature
What is “Remuage”?
Riddling, or turning of Champagne bottles to collect the dead lees in the neck
What is “Transversage”
The process of using 750ml bottles to fill larger format bottles (bigger than magnums) and small format bottles after degorgement
How many standard bottles of wine are in a Balthazar?
16
Which Champagne is sweeter: doux or demi-sec?
Doux
What is “Pupitre”?
An A frame rack used for riddling Champagne bottles
What are the 4 principle sub-regions of Champagne?
- Montagne and Val de Reims
- Vallee de la Marne
- Cotes de Blancs
- Cote de Bars
Who is Nicole Barbe Ponsardin?
She discovered Riddling
What is disgorgement “a la volee”?
The traditional disgorgement of Champagne by hand with no freezing of the cap
What is a “Crayere”?
Old chalk cellars dug by the Romans now used as wine cellars
What were the 2 primary grapes of Champagne in the 9th to 16th centuries?
Gouais
Fromenteau
What is “Sur Lie” aging?
The aging of wine on dead yeast cells
What are the 3 AOC’s of Champagne?
Rose des Riceys AOC
Coteaux Champenois AOC
Champagne AOC
How many standard bottles of wine are in a Jeroboam?
4
What is Champagnes most widely planted grape?
Pinot Noir - 38%
What was Louise Pommery’s contribution to Champagne?
She initiated the trend to dry styles of Champagne
What is the term “Prise de Mouse”?
“Seizing of the Foam” or the second alcoholic fermentation in the making of Champagne
What is “Blanc de Blancs”
A white sparkling wine made from white grapes
What was Dom Perignon’s most important contribution to Champagne?
Creating the cuvee’ (blend) of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier
What is the “Tete de Cuvee’”?
A champagne houses prestige bottling
What does the abbreviation “NM” refer to?
Negociant-Manipulant
A producer of Champagne who buys grapes from others for their blend
What is the primary grape of the Cotes des Blancs?
Chardonnay
What is a “Gyropalette”?
A mechanized rack used for riddling
What does the term “sur lattes” refer to?
Storing Champagne bottles on horizontal strips of wood
How many standard bottles of wine are contained in a Methuselah?
8
Which Champagne region is included in the Kimmeridgian ring?
Cote de Bar
What are the 7 levels of sweetness of Champagne?
Driest to Sweetest
- Brut Nature
- Extra Brut
- Brut
- Extra Sec (extra dry)
- Sec (dry)
- Demi-Sec
- Doux
What does the abbreviation “RC” refer to on a bottle of Champagne?
Recoltant-Cooperateur
A grower who send his grapes to a co-op to be made into Champagne, then sells it under a private label
What is the primary grape of the Cotes des Bar?
Pinot Noir
What is Frances northernmost wine region?
Champagne at 49-49.5 degrees north
Why is Belemite chalk preferred over Micraster chalk?
Because of its location.
Belemite is found at the mid to upper slope, where there is more sun and better water retention
Describe Bar-Séquanais..
Comprised of 5 river valleys within the Cote des Bar
Plantings: Pinot Noir dominant on Kimmeridgean soil
Describe Bar Sur Aubois..
Flanks the Aube river within the Cotes de Bar
Pinot Noir Dominant on Kimmeridgean soil
Describe Montgeux..
Located to the west of Troys on chalk
Planted exclusively to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Describe Vitry-le-Francois..
East facing, chalky slopes
Most planted to Chardonnay
Describe Cote de Sezanne..
Located north and south of the town of Sezanne
Mostly chalk with pockets of clay
Vineyards face southwest
Most are Chardonnay
Describe Val du Petit Morin..
The Petit Morin is a tributary of the Marne
Mix of chalk and sand/clay/marl
So there is a split of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier
Describe the Cotes de Blancs..
Located south of Eperney Perpendicular to the Marne Valley Soils are chalk Vineyards face east Chardonnay dominates
Describe the Vallee de la Marne Quest..
The western most section of Champagne
Most of the vineyards are on the right bank of the Marne river, face south and southeast
Soils sand/clay/marl
So Pinot Meunier dominates
Describe the Vallee de la Marne Rive Droit..
Vineyards of the right bank are south facing
Sand/Clay/Marl soils
So Pinot Meunier dominates
Describe the Vallee de la Marne Rive Gauche..
Left bank of the Marne River Valley
Dominated by Pinot Meunier
Soils are sand/clay/marl
Vineyards face north
Describe Coteaux Sud d’Eperney..
South and southwest of Eperney
Soils are chalk and sand/clay/marl
Almost even split of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay with a small amount of Pinot Noir
Describe the Vallee de la Marne..
South of Montagne de Reims and north of Eperney
Combination of chalk and sand/clay/marl
Most of the vineyards are Pinot Noir
There is some Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay
Describe Val de Reims (Vesle & Arde River Valleys)..
Forms the Val de Reims Dominated by Pinot Meunier Vineyards face northeast and southeast Soils of sand/clay/marl Val de Reims includes the vineyards of Massif de St-Thierry and la Vallee de l'Arde
Describe the Monts de Berru..
Vineyards lie east of Reims
Encircle the Mont de Berru
Varying aspects all on chalk
Chardonnay dominates
Describe the Massif de Saint-Thierry..
Along the right bank of the Vesle River
Northernmost region
Dominated by Pinot Meunier
Vineyards face southeast on sand/clay/marl soils
Describe the Grande Montagne de Reims..
Southeast of the city of Reims
Mostly Pinot Noir (some Pinot Meunier & Chardonnay)
Forms a 1/2 circle around the mountain
Vineyards are south, east, northwest and north facing
Limestone rich marls and chalky slopes
What kind of wine does chalk produce?
High in acid, lean wines with reserved aromatics
What kind of wine does sandy soil produce?
Open wines with more overt fruit characteristics and less structure
What kind of wine does limestone-rich marl produce?
Aromatic, earthy expressions of the grapes
What kind of wine does clay produce?
Mineral rich wine with closed aromatics in their youth that need bottle time to open up
Does limestone rich marl retain water like chalk?
No, it retains water
Where is Kimmeridgean marl found in Champagne?
Cote de Bar
What is the growing area with chalk subsoil called?
Dry Champagne
What is chalk?
A type of limestone with tremendous water retaining capacity
79-105 gallons/cubic yard