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Sparkling Wines > Champagne > Flashcards

Champagne Flashcards

1
Q

Where is Champagne located?

A

In northern France, 90 miles NE of Paris

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2
Q

What is the climate of Champagne?

A

Cool continental, similar to Chablis which is only 20 miles away

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3
Q

On what latitude is Champagne located?

A

49th parallel

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4
Q

What body of water has a great influence on Champagne?

A

Atlantic Ocean

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5
Q

What is a distinct climatic feature of Champagne?

A

Often cloudy with unpredictable weather.
One of the coolest wine growing regions in the world

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6
Q

What is the soil in Champagne?

A

Limestone and chalk

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7
Q

How do vines/roots react in the soil of Champagne?

A

The roots dig deep because the soil drains well. However, it also retains adequate moisture for the vine

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8
Q

How does temperature of the soils in Champagne change throughout the year?

A

The soils remain at a relatively constant temp throughout the year

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9
Q

What grape varieties are grown in Champagne?

A

Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Meunier

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10
Q

What viticulture threats do growers face?

A

Rain, frost, hail

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11
Q

What are the ways to create blends in Champagne?

A 
By grape (chard + pinot noir + meunier)
By sub region, village, or vineyard
By vintage
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12
Q

What is the method by which the wines of Champagne are made?

A

Methode champenoise
Known as methode classique outside of Champagne

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13
Q

What are the steps of making sparkling wine in the traditional method?

A
  1. Making the base still wine
  2. Assemblage of the “cuvee” (blend)
  3. Secondary fermentation
  4. Sur lie aging
  5. Riddling (Remuage) - removal of sediment part 1
  6. Disgorging (Degorgement) - removal of sediment part 2
  7. Dosage
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14
Q

What is the important aspect of pressing grapes when making champagne?

A

You want to press the grapes quickly and gently to avoid skin contact and color from the red varities (noir and meunier) and avoid oxidation.

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15
Q

What are characteristics of the base wines in Champagne?

A

Very light in color
Low in alcohol
High in acidity

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16
Q

What fermentation vessels are used for the still wines made in the methode champanoise?

A

Stainless steel or oak

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17
Q

What are the three types of blends made in Champagne?

A 
Non-vintage
Vintage
Prestige cuvee (premier vintage)
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18
Q

What does cuvee mean?

A

A blend of wine

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19
Q

What options for variation are there when making a blend of champagne?

A

It can be a blend of:
Grapes
Vintages
Regions
Villages
Vineyards

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20
Q

Why is secondary fermentation necessary in champagne?

A

To create the carbonation in champange and impact additional flavors and textures

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21
Q

Where does secondary fermentation in champagne take place?

A

In the bottle

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22
Q

How is secondary fermentation of champagne created?

A

Base wine is bottle with a syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar (called liqueur de tirage).
Bottle is sealed with a cap and the yeast turns the sugar into CO2 and alcohol. CO2 remains trapped in the sealed bottle

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23
Q

What is the syrupy mixture called that is added to the base wine to make champagne?

A

Liqueur de tirage

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24
Q

What is autolysis?

A

The gradual break down and break apart of yeast cells after completion of fermentation. Creating additional texture in the wine

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25
Q

What is sur lie aging? What flavors are added with this method?

A

The wine is aged with the lees still in the fermentation vessel (in the bottle for champagne).
Imparts flavors of yeast, dough, and fresh baked bread

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26
Q

What is the minimum time period for aging champagne sur lie?

A

12 months on lees
15 months total aging required, minimum

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27
Q

What is riddling?

A

Also known as Remuage
The process of moving sediment to the neck of the bottle for removal

28
Q

Why is riddling necessary?

A

Removal of the lees creates a clear wine.

29
Q

How is riddling completed?

A

Each bottle is gently turned to gradually move the lees into the neck
By hand via a pupitre
By machine via a gyropalette

30
Q

What is a pupitre?

A

A wooden A-frame wine rack used for the purpose of riddling

31
Q

Who created the pupitre?

A

Widow Clicquot
She made it from her dining room table

32
Q

How many bottles does a pupitre hold?

A

60

33
Q

How long does riddling via pupitre take to complete?

A

8 weeks

34
Q

What is a gyropalette?

A

A large machine used for automated riddling

35
Q

How many bottles does a gyropalette hold?

A

504 bottles at once

36
Q

How long does riddling via gyropalette take to complete?

A

8 days

37
Q

What is disgorging (degorgement)?

A

The process of removing the sediment that has collected in the neck of the bottle via the riddling process

38
Q

How is disgorging completed?

A

By freezing the bottle’s neck in an icy bath, solidifying the contents in the neck.
Then the cap is removed and the frozen contents are ejected, leaving clear wine

39
Q

What is the step after disgorging?

A

Dosage

40
Q

What is dosage?

A

A mixture of wine and sugar (called liqueur d’expedition) is added to the bottle.

41
Q

What is liqueur d’exposition?

A

A mixture of wine and sugar added to champagne during dosage

42
Q

What determines the amount of liqueur d’exposition added during dosage?

A

The style of wine being made. The more that is added, the sweeter the finished product

43
Q

What are the sweetness levels of Champagne and their corresponding styles?

A

Brut Nature (non dose): bone dry
Extra Brut: very dry
Brut: dry
Extra Dry: off dry
Sec: semi sweet
Demi Sec: sweet
Doux: very sweet

44
Q

What are the appellations of Champagne?

A
  • *Champagne AOP**
  • sparkling wine made via methode champenoise
  • *Champagne Sub-regions**
  • Vallee de la Marne
  • Cotes des Blancs
  • Montagne de Reims
45
Q

What are the Champagne Age Designations?

A
  • *Non-Vintage (NV) Champagne**
  • aged minimum 15 months, at least 12 months on lees
  • *Vintage Champagne**
  • aged minimum 36 months
46
Q

What are the 3 main regions of Champagne?

A

Montagne de Reims
Vallee de la Marne
Cote des Blancs

47
Q

What is the northern most sub region of Champagne?

A

Montagne de Reims

48
Q

What is the southern most sub region of Champagne?

A

Cote des Blancs

49
Q

What are the main cities near Champagne?

A

Reims, Epernay, Cramant

50
Q

What are the 4 styles of champagne?

A
  • *Rose** - a pink colored champagne
  • *Blanc de Blancs** - 100% chardonnay
  • *Blanc de Noirs** - Made only from pinot noir and pinot meunier
  • *Non-labeled** - made from a blend of red and white grapes
51
Q

What is a single vineyard champagne?

A

Champagne made from grapes from a single vineyard.
The single vineyard is listed on the label

52
Q

What is a Clos or Mono Parcel champagne?

A

A noted single parcel in a vineyard under a single owernship

53
Q

What is Cuvee Prestige or Tete de Cuvee?

A

The top end bottling of a particular champagne house or producer

54
Q

What are the types of producers of champagne?

A
  • *Negociants** - producers who buy grapes, juice, or finished wine and bottle the wine under their own name or label
  • *Growers** - producers that make the wine from grapes grown in vineyards they own
55
Q

How much does vintage variation in champagne occur?

A

Frequently. There are extreme weather differences season to season, meaning vintages vary widely.
Some years go without a vintage from some houses
Most champagnes are non-vintage (i.e. a blend of wine from multiple vintages)

56
Q

What are some of the top recent vintages of champagne?

A

Red: 2015, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2005
White: 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006

57
Q

What percent of each grapes is grown in Champagne?

A

38% pinot noir

32% meunier

30% chardonnay

58
Q

What is the rule about harvest in Champagne?

A

The grapes have to be harvested by hand

59
Q

What piece of equipment is used for pressing champagne grapes?

A

The basket press

60
Q

What is the term for the character imparted by the dead yeast cells

A

Autolytic character

61
Q

Can you taste the difference in a bottle that was riddled by hand vs by machine?

A

No, there is no discernable difference in taste

62
Q

What is the river that runs through Champagne?

A

The Marne river

63
Q

Who are some key producers in Champagne?

A

Krub, Louis Roderer, Dom Perignon,

64
Q

Which two regions are home to all 17 Grand Cru villages in champagne?

A

Montagne de Reims, Cote des Blancs

65
Q

How many Premier Cru villages are in champagne?

A

42

Sparkling Wines (2 decks)

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