Champagne Flashcards
What two parallels is the region of Champagne located between
48th and 49th
What are the primary soils in Champagne
Chalk and limestone
What are the 3 main grapes authorized in Champagne AOC
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Pinot Meunier
What other grape varietals are legal in Champagne AOC besides the major 3
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Arbane
Petit Meslier
What percentage of plantings do Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier make up in Champagne
99.7%
What are the 5 major regions within Champagne
Montagne de Reims
Vallée de la Marne
Côte de Blancs
Côte de Sézanne
Côte des Bar
What is the primary grape variety grown in Montagne de Reims
Pinot Noir
What is the primary grape variety grown in Vallée de la Marne
Pinot Meunier
What is the primary grape variety grown in Côte de Blancs
Chardonnay
What is the primary grape variety grown in Côte de Sezanne
Chardonnay
What is the primary grape variety grown in Côte des Bar
Pinot Noir
How many villages are authorized to produce Champagne
357
How many Grand Cru villages are located in Champagne
17
How many 1er Cru villages are located in Champagne
42
What is the classification of a Champagne producer who purchases grapes or base wine from growers or smaller houses to bottle or blend as their own
Negociant
What is the classification of a producer in Champagne who makes wine from at least 95% estate fruit
Recoltant Manipulant
Define Assemblage (Traditional Method)
Winemakers taste and blend individual base wines to conform to house style or create a unique expression
Define Secondary Fermentation (Traditional Method)
Base wines are bottled after assemblage with yeast and sugar to begin fermentation again, creating alcohol and Carbon Dioxide which is trapped in the bottle
Define Sur Lie Aging (Traditional Method)
Wine is rested on dead yeast cells following secondary fermentation
-NV usually 15 months
-Vintage usually at least 3 years
Define Remuage (Traditional Method)
Bottles are gradually twisted by hand or gyropalette to slowly move dead yeast cells to the neck of the bottle
Define Disgorgement (Traditional Method)
The neck of the bottle is dipped in an ice-salt bath which freezes dead yeast cells, after which the cap is removed causing pressure to shoot the frozen dead yeast cells out of the bottle
Define Dosage (Traditional Method)
A blend of sugar and reserve wine is added to top off each bottle to finalize the style of the wine
Define Corking (Traditional Method)
The wine is corked, after which it hits the market or returns to the cellar for extended aging
What are the sweetness levels of Champagne from dry to sweet
Brut Nature
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Dry
Sec
Demi-Sec
Doux
Define NV Champagne
A house’s signature style, a blend of vintages and base wines often bottled Brut
Define Vintage Champagne
Only declared in exceptional years, often bottled Brut
Define Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Must be 100% white grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc etc.) and is the most age-worthy style of Champagne
Define Blanc de Noirs Champagne
White wine produced from Pinot Noir and Pinot Muenier, often rich, powerful, and intense
Define Tête du Cuvée Champagne
The finest bottling of a house
Give 3 examples of Tête du Cuvée
Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’
Möet & Chandon ‘Dom Perignon’
Pol Roger ‘Sir Winston Churchhill’
Tattinger ‘Comtes de Champagne’
Veueve Cliquot ‘La Grande Dame’
How is Rosé Champagne made
White and red wines blended together
What weather threats face vines in Champagne
Rain
Spring Frosts
Summer Hail
What is Autolysis
A process when dead yeast cells decompose, releasing proteins and flavor compounds reminiscent of bread
What flavor profile does sur lie aging add to Champagne
Brioche, biscuit, toast
What AOC covers still wines produced within the production boundaries of Champagne AOC
Coteaux Champenois AOC
What styles of wine are authorized in Coteaux Champenois AOC
Still whites, rosé, & red
What are the names for large format bottles from ‘Double Magnum’ to 15L
3L - Jeroboam (Double Magnum)
6L - Imperial
9L - Salamanzar
12L - Balthazar
15L - Nebuchadnezzar
