Champagne

Question 1

What is “Disgorgement”

Answer 1

In Sparkling wine production, the removal of yeast after the second fermentation

Question 2

What is Disgorgement “a la volee”?

Answer 2

Disgorgement by hand (vs machine)

Question 3

What is a “Mosser”?

Answer 3

a 17th century wooden whisk used to release trapped gas from wine

Question 4

What is the climate of Champagne?

Answer 4

Continental with Maritime influences

Question 5

When did the King of France famously allow wine to be sold and transported in bottle?

Answer 5

1728

Question 6

what is the most popular style of Champagne?

Answer 6

NV Brut

Question 7

What city was historically the capital of the Champagne region?

Answer 7

Troyes

Question 8

what is chalk?

Answer 8

a porous limestone; a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate

Question 9

what was the first Champagne house?

Answer 9

Ruinart - 1729

Question 10

T or F: in Champagne, vineyards are ranked Grand/1er Cru

Answer 10

False-
It is the Village that is ranked

Question 11

what are the two types of Chalk found in Champagne

Answer 11

Belemnite and Micraster

Question 12

What is the dominant grape found in the Montagne de Reims

Answer 12

Pinot Noir

Question 13

What is the dominant grape in the Vallee de la Marne?

Answer 13

Meunier

Question 14

What is Kimmeridgean Marl?

Answer 14

A limestone-rich clay whose dominant fossil is Exogyra virgula (a small comma-shaped oyster)

Question 15

What is the dominant fossil found in Belemnite chalk?

Answer 15

Ancient arrow- or dart-like relatives of today’s squid

Question 16

Define “Mono-Parcelle”

Answer 16

Single Vineyard

Question 17

Define “Mono-Cru”

Answer 17

Single Village

Question 18

What is Gyropallet?

Answer 18

A mechanized riddling machine

Question 19

What is the dominant grape of the Grande Vallee de la Marne?

Answer 19

Pinot Noir

Question 20

List the 7 dosage levels from driest to sweetest

Answer 20

1. Brut Nature
2. Extra Brut
3. Brut
4. Extra Sec
5. Sec
6. Demi-Sec
7. Doux

Question 21

What is the dominant grape of Cote de Sezanne?

Answer 21

Chardonnay

Question 22

What does the abbreviation “RM” refer to?

Answer 22

Recoltant-Manipunlat; a champagne producer who vinifies only his or her estate-grown grapes

Question 23

What are the four authorized (but ancillary) grape varieties of Champagne?

Answer 23

Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Arbane
Petite Meslier

Question 24

What was the contribution of Veuve Clicquot (Ponsardin) to the champagne method?

Answer 24

The development of the riddling process.

Question 25

A champagne labeled "Grand Cru" comes from a single vineyard. True or False?

Answer 25

False. The grapes for "Grand Cru" Champagne are sourced from one, or more, of the 17 Grand Cru Villages.

Question 26

What is a "Perpetual Reserve"?

Answer 26

A vat of reserve wine in which multiple vintages of wine are aged together in the same vessel - similar to a solera.

Question 27

What is a "Tete de Cuvee"?

Answer 27

A Champagne house's pretige cuvee.

Question 28

What were the two principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th to 16th centuries?

Answer 28

Gouais and Fromenteau

Question 29

What are the "Crayeres"?

Answer 29

Chalk quarries dug by the Romans and now used as cellars for aging Champagne.

Question 30

Which grape variety is the most widely planted in Champagne?

Answer 30

Pinot Noir

Question 31

There is a set blending formula for the Champagne AOC. True or False?

Answer 31

False. Every Champagne house has its own blend and house style.

Question 32

What is the difference between AOC Coteaux Champenois and AOC Champagne?

Answer 32

AOC Coteaux Champenois wines are still, while AOC Champagne wines are sparkling.

Question 33

What is "remuage"?

Answer 33

Riddling; the turning and tilting of champagne bottles from horizontal to vertical to collect the lees in the neck.

Question 34

What does the abbreviation "NM" refer to on a Champagne lable?

Answer 34

Negociant-Manipulant; a champagne producer that includes grapes purchased from other growers in the their wines.

Question 35

What is another term for "liqueur d'expedition"?

Answer 35

Dosage

Question 36

What is the dominant grape variety of the Cote des Bars?

Answer 36

Pinot Noir

Question 37

What is the "liqueur d'expedition"?

Answer 37

The mix of sugar and still reserve wine added to champagne after degorgement and before the cork is inserted.

Question 38

What is the "prise de mousse"?

Answer 38

"Seizing of the foam"; in champagne production this is the second alcoholic fermentation, which creates the bubbles.

Question 39

what is "transversage"?

Answer 39

The process of using 750ml bottles to fill larger or smaller bottles.

Question 40

What is the primary grape variety of rose des Riceys?

Answer 40

Pinot Noir