Champagne Flashcards
What is disgorgement?
The removal of yeast after the second fermentation, in sparkling wine production
What is disgorgement a la volee?
Disgorgement by hand, as opposed to by machine
What is a mosser?
A whisk used to release trapped gas from wine
What is the climate of the Champagne region?
Continental with maritime influences
In what year did the King of France allow wine to be sold and transported in bottle?
1728
What is the most popular style of Champagne?
Brut non-vintage
Which was the first Champagne house?
Ruinart
Founded in 1729
In Champagne, are the vineyards or the villages ranked Premier/Grand Cru?
The villages
What is the dominant grape variety grown in Grande Montage de Reims?
Pinot Noir
What is the dominant grape variety grown in the Vallee de la Marne?
Meunier
What is a mono-parcelle Champagne?
A Champagne made from a single vineyard
What is a mono-cru Champagne?
A Champagne made from a single village
What is a gyropalette?
A mechanized riddling machine
What is the dominant grape variety of the Cote des Blancs?
Chardonnay
List the 7 dosage levels from driest to sweetest.
Brut Nature
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Sec (or Extra Dry)
Sec (Dry)
Demi-Sec
Doux
What is the dominant grape variety of the Cote de Sezanne?
Chardonnay
What does the abbreviation “RM” refer to on a Champagne label?
Recoltant-Manipulant
This is a producer who vinifies only their own estate-grown grapes
What are the 4 authorized (but ancillary) grape varieties of Champagne?
Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Arbane
Petit Meslier
What was the contribution of Veuve Cliquot (Ponsardin) to the champagne method?
The development of the riddling process
Can Grand Cru Champagne wines come from multiple vineyards?
Yes
The grapes for Grand Cru Champagne wines are sourced from 1 or more of the 17 Grand Cru villages
What is a perpetual reserve Champagne?
Also known as “Solera”
This is the reserve wine from each year used to make NV Champagne.
Occasionally this is bottled as its own wine
What is a tete de cuvee?
A Champagne house’s prestige cuvee
A prestige cuvee is a house’s highest-quality bottling
Most are vintage but some NV exist too
What were the 2 principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th and 16th centuries?
Gouais
Fromenteau (Pinot Gris)
What are the crayeres?
Chalk quarries dug by the Romans
These are now used as cellars for aging Champagne
Which grape variety is the most widely planed in Champagne?
Pinot Noir
What is the difference between AOC Coteaux Champenois and AOC Champagne?
AOC Coteaux Champenois wines are still
AOC Champange wines are sparkling
What is remuage?
Riddling
This is the process of turning and tilting Champagne bottles from horizontal to vertical to collect the lees in the neck
What does the abbreviation “NM” refer to on a Champagne label?
Negociant-Manipulant
This is a Champagne producer that includes grapes purchased from other growers in their wines
Most big houses are NMs
What is another term for liqueur d’expedition?
Dosage
What is the dominant grape variety of the Cote des Bar?
Pinot Noir
What is the liqueur d’expedition?
The mix of sugar and still reserve wine added to Champagne after degorgement and before the cork is inserted
What is the prise de mousse?
Seizing of the foam
In Champagne production, this is the second alcoholic fermentation, which creates the bubbles
What is transversage?
The process of using 750ml bottles to fill larger or smaller bottles
What are the 3 AOCs in the Champagne region?
Rose des Riceys AOC
Coteaux Champenois AOC
Champagne AOC
What are the ageing requirements for vintage Champagne?
Minimum 36 months
- Including 12 months on lees
Common for most to spend 3+ years on lees
What are the ageing requirements for non-vintage Champagne?
Minimum 15 months
- Including 12 months on lees
- Including 3 months bottle ageing
How many Premier Cru villages are there in Champagne?
42
Premier Cru champagne can also be made with fruit from the 17 Grand Cru villages
What is a late-disgorged Champagne?
A Champagne that has spent longer on the lees than the producer’s normal cuvees
They are disgorged later than usual
These taste like older Champagne, but are less oxidative and retain their full sparkle
What is a special club Champagne?
A prestige cuvee made from members of the Club Tresors de Champagne (a group of artisan wine makers)
These Champagnes must be made entirely on a member’s own premises, with their own grapes, and only in outstanding vintages.
They also must undergo blind tasting to earn the right to be labeled “Special Club”
Describe the Rose des Riceys AOC.
Rose wine only
Red grapes: Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir
Only produced in the three villages of Les Riceys in the Aube
Describe the Coteaux Champenois AOC.
Dry white, rose, and red wine
White grapes: Chardonnay
Red grapes: Pinot Noir, Meunier
Lies within the production zone of Champagne AOC
Still wines only
Most production is non-vintage and white
Describe the Champagne AOC.
Sparkling white, sparkling rose wine
White grapes: Chardonnay
Red grapes: Pinot Noir, Meunier
No set blending rules
Rose can be made by mixing red and white wine
