Champagne Flashcards
Where is Champagne located?
In northern France, 90 miles NE of Paris
What is the climate of Champagne?
Cool continental, similar to Chablis which is only 20 miles away
On what latitude is Champagne located?
49th parallel
What body of water has a great influence on Champagne?
Atlantic Ocean
What is a distinct climatic feature of Champagne?
Often cloudy with unpredictable weather.
One of the coolest wine growing regions in the world
What is the soil in Champagne?
Limestone and chalk
How do vines/roots react in the soil of Champagne?
The roots dig deep because the soil drains well. However, it also retains adequate moisture for the vine
How does temperature of the soils in Champagne change throughout the year?
The soils remain at a relatively constant temp throughout the year
What grape varieties are grown in Champagne?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Meunier
What viticulture threats do growers face?
Rain, frost, hail
What are the ways to create blends in Champagne?
By grape (chard + pinot noir + meunier) By sub region, village, or vineyard By vintage
What is the method by which the wines of Champagne are made?
Methode champenoise
Known as methode classique outside of Champagne
What are the steps of making sparkling wine in the traditional method?
- Making the base still wine
- Assemblage of the “cuvee” (blend)
- Secondary fermentation
- Sur lie aging
- Riddling (Remuage) - removal of sediment part 1
- Disgorging (Degorgement) - removal of sediment part 2
- Dosage
What is the important aspect of pressing grapes when making champagne?
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.
What are characteristics of the base wines in Champagne?
Very light in color
Low in alcohol
High in acidity
What fermentation vessels are used for the still wines made in the methode champanoise?
Stainless steel or oak
What are the three types of blends made in Champagne?
Non-vintage Vintage Prestige cuvee (premier vintage)
What does cuvee mean?
A blend of wine
What options for variation are there when making a blend of champagne?
It can be a blend of:
Grapes
Vintages
Regions
Villages
Vineyards
Why is secondary fermentation necessary in champagne?
To create the carbonation in champange and impact additional flavors and textures
Where does secondary fermentation in champagne take place?
In the bottle
How is secondary fermentation of champagne created?
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
What is the syrupy mixture called that is added to the base wine to make champagne?
Liqueur de tirage
What is autolysis?
The gradual break down and break apart of yeast cells after completion of fermentation. Creating additional texture in the wine
What is sur lie aging? What flavors are added with this method?
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
What is the minimum time period for aging champagne sur lie?
12 months on lees
15 months total aging required, minimum
What is riddling?
Also known as Remuage
The process of moving sediment to the neck of the bottle for removal
Why is riddling necessary?
Removal of the lees creates a clear wine.
How is riddling completed?
Each bottle is gently turned to gradually move the lees into the neck
By hand via a pupitre
By machine via a gyropalette
What is a pupitre?
A wooden A-frame wine rack used for the purpose of riddling
Who created the pupitre?
Widow Clicquot
She made it from her dining room table
How many bottles does a pupitre hold?
60
How long does riddling via pupitre take to complete?
8 weeks
What is a gyropalette?
A large machine used for automated riddling
How many bottles does a gyropalette hold?
504 bottles at once
How long does riddling via gyropalette take to complete?
8 days
What is disgorging (degorgement)?
The process of removing the sediment that has collected in the neck of the bottle via the riddling process
How is disgorging completed?
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
What is the step after disgorging?
Dosage
What is dosage?
A mixture of wine and sugar (called liqueur d’expedition) is added to the bottle.
What is liqueur d’exposition?
A mixture of wine and sugar added to champagne during dosage
What determines the amount of liqueur d’exposition added during dosage?
The style of wine being made. The more that is added, the sweeter the finished product
What are the sweetness levels of Champagne and their corresponding styles?
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
What are the appellations of Champagne?
- *Champagne AOP**
- sparkling wine made via methode champenoise
- *Champagne Sub-regions**
- Vallee de la Marne
- Cotes des Blancs
- Montagne de Reims
What are the Champagne Age Designations?
- *Non-Vintage (NV) Champagne**
- aged minimum 15 months, at least 12 months on lees
- *Vintage Champagne**
- aged minimum 36 months
What are the 3 main regions of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
Vallee de la Marne
Cote des Blancs
What is the northern most sub region of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
What is the southern most sub region of Champagne?
Cote des Blancs
What are the main cities near Champagne?
Reims, Epernay, Cramant
What are the 4 styles of champagne?
- *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
What is a single vineyard champagne?
Champagne made from grapes from a single vineyard.
The single vineyard is listed on the label
What is a Clos or Mono Parcel champagne?
A noted single parcel in a vineyard under a single owernship
What is Cuvee Prestige or Tete de Cuvee?
The top end bottling of a particular champagne house or producer
What are the types of producers of champagne?
- *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
How much does vintage variation in champagne occur?
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)
What are some of the top recent vintages of champagne?
Red: 2015, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2005
White: 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006
What percent of each grapes is grown in Champagne?
38% pinot noir
32% meunier
30% chardonnay
What is the rule about harvest in Champagne?
The grapes have to be harvested by hand
What piece of equipment is used for pressing champagne grapes?
The basket press
What is the term for the character imparted by the dead yeast cells
Autolytic character
Can you taste the difference in a bottle that was riddled by hand vs by machine?
No, there is no discernable difference in taste
What is the river that runs through Champagne?
The Marne river
Who are some key producers in Champagne?
Krub, Louis Roderer, Dom Perignon,
Which two regions are home to all 17 Grand Cru villages in champagne?
Montagne de Reims, Cote des Blancs
How many Premier Cru villages are in champagne?
42
