Champagne Flashcards
What is “disgorgement”?
In sparkling wine production, the removal of yeast after the second fermentation
What is disgorgement “à la volée”?
Disgorgement by hand (vs. machine)
What is a “mosser”?
A 17th century wooden whisk used to release trapped gas from wine
What is the climate of Champagne?
Continental with maritime influences
When did the King of France famously allow wine to be sold and transported in bottle?
1728
What is the most popular style of Champagne?
NV Brut
What city was historically the capital of the Champagne region?
Troyes
What is chalk?
A porous limestone; a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate
What was the first Champagne house?
Ruinart (1729)
T or F: In Champagne, vineyards are ranked Grand/1er Cru.
FALSE. It is the village that is ranked.
In Champagne, which is the higher ranking, “Grand Cru” or “Premier Cru”?
Grand Cru
What are the two types of chalk found in Champagne?
Belemnite and Micraster
What is the dominant grape in the Montagne de Reims?
Pinot Noir
What is the dominant grape in the Vallée de la Marne?
Meunier
What is Kimmeridgean Marl?
A limestone-rich clay whose dominant fossil is Exogyra virgula ( a small comma-shaped oyster)
What is the dominant fossil found in Belemnite chalk?
Ancient arrow- or dart-like relatives of today’s squid
Define “Mono-Parcelle
Single Vineyard
Define “Mono-Cru”
Single Village
What is a “gyropalette”?
A mechanized riddling machine
What is a “Blanc de Blancs”?
A white sparkling wine made from white grapes
What is the dominant grape of the Grande Vallée de la Marne?
Pinot Noir
List the seven dosage levels from driest to sweetest.
From driest to sweetest: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Sec (or Extra Dry), Sec (Dry), Demi-Sec, Doux
What is the dominant grape of the Côte de Sézanne?
Chardonnay
What is a “Blanc de Noirs”?
A white sparking wine made from black grapes
What does the abbreviation “RM” refer to?
Récoltant-Manipulant; a champagne producer who vinifies only his or her estate-grown grapes
What is a “Tête de Cuvée”?
A champagne house’s prestige bottling
What are the three principal grapes of Champagne?
Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay
What are the four authorized (but ancillary) grapes of Champagne?
Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier
What was the contribution of Veuve Cliquot (Ponsardin) to the champagne method?
The process of riddling
T or F: A champagne labeled “Grand Cru” hails from a single vineyard.
FALSE. A producer with several grand cru-ranked vineyards may blend them and label his wine “Grand Cru.”
Define “Perpetual Reserve”
A vat of reserve wine in which multiple vintages of wine are aged together in the same vessel; similar to a solera
T or F: Most Coteaux Champenois production is white.
TRUE
What were the two principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th to 16th centuries?
Gouais and Fromenteau
What is a “crayère”?
Defunct chalk quarries dug by the Romans, now used as wine cellars
What is the dominant grape of the Côte des Blancs?
Chardonnay
T or F: There is a set blending formula within the Champagne AOC.
FALSE. Every champagne house has its own proprietary blend and house style.
What is the difference between AOC Coteaux Champenois and AOC Champagne?
AOC Coteaux Champenois is 100% still, while AOC Champagne is 100% sparkling.
Define “remuage”?
Riddling; the turning and shifting of champagne bottles from horizontal to vertical in order to collect the lees in the neck
What does the abbreviation “NM” refer to?
Négociant-Manipulant; a champagne producer who incorporates grapes from others into his champagne
What is a synonym for “liqueur d’expédition”?
Dosage
What is the dominant grape of the Côte des Bar?
Pinot Noir
Define “liqueur d’expédition”?
The mix of sugar and still reserve wine added to champagne after dégorgement and before the cork is inserted
Define “prise de mousse”?
“Seizing of the foam”; in champagne production, the second alcoholic fermentation (which captures the bubble)
What is “transversage”?
The process of using 750 ml bottles of champagne to fill large (bigger than magnums) and small format bottles after disgorgement.
What is the primary grape of Rosé des Riceys?
Pinot Noir
What are the three AOCs in Champagne?
Rosé des Riceys, Coteaux Champenois and Champagne
