Champagne

Question 1

What is disgorgement?

Answer 1

The removal of yeast after the second fermentation, in sparkling wine production

Question 2

What is disgorgement a la volee?

Answer 2

Disgorgement by hand, as opposed to by machine

Question 3

What is a mosser?

Answer 3

A whisk used to release trapped gas from wine

Question 4

What is the climate of the Champagne region?

Answer 4

Continental with maritime influences

Question 5

In what year did the King of France allow wine to be sold and transported in bottle?

Answer 5

1728

Question 6

What is the most popular style of Champagne?

Answer 6

Brut non-vintage

Question 7

Which was the first Champagne house?

Answer 7

Ruinart

Founded in 1729

Question 8

In Champagne, are the vineyards or the villages ranked Premier/Grand Cru?

Answer 8

The villages

Question 9

What is the dominant grape variety grown in Grande Montage de Reims?

Answer 9

Pinot Noir

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Meunier

Question 11

What is a mono-parcelle Champagne?

Answer 11

A Champagne made from a single vineyard

Question 12

What is a mono-cru Champagne?

Answer 12

A Champagne made from a single village

Question 13

What is a gyropalette?

Answer 13

A mechanized riddling machine

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Chardonnay

Question 15

List the 7 dosage levels from driest to sweetest.

Answer 15

Brut Nature
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Sec (or Extra Dry)
Sec (Dry)
Demi-Sec
Doux

Question 16

What is the dominant grape variety of the Cote de Sezanne?

Answer 16

Chardonnay

Question 17

What does the abbreviation “RM” refer to on a Champagne label?

Answer 17

Recoltant-Manipulant

This is a producer who vinifies only their own estate-grown grapes

Question 18

What are the 4 authorized (but ancillary) grape varieties of Champagne?

Answer 18

Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Arbane
Petit Meslier

Question 19

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

Answer 19

The development of the riddling process

Question 20

Can Grand Cru Champagne wines come from multiple vineyards?

Answer 20

Yes

The grapes for Grand Cru Champagne wines are sourced from 1 or more of the 17 Grand Cru villages

Question 21

What is a perpetual reserve Champagne?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is a tete de cuvee?

Answer 22

A Champagne house’s prestige cuvee

A prestige cuvee is a house’s highest-quality bottling
Most are vintage but some NV exist too

Question 23

What were the 2 principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th and 16th centuries?

Answer 23

Gouais
Fromenteau (Pinot Gris)

Question 24

What are the crayeres?

Answer 24

Chalk quarries dug by the Romans
These are now used as cellars for aging Champagne

Question 25

Which grape variety is the most widely planed in Champagne?

Answer 25

Pinot Noir

Question 26

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

Answer 26

AOC Coteaux Champenois wines are still AOC Champange wines are sparkling

Question 27

What is remuage?

Answer 27

Riddling This is the process of turning and tilting Champagne bottles from horizontal to vertical to collect the lees in the neck

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Negociant-Manipulant This is a Champagne producer that includes grapes purchased from other growers in their wines Most big houses are NMs

Question 29

What is another term for liqueur d'expedition?

Answer 29

Dosage

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Pinot Noir

Question 31

What is the liqueur d'expedition?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

What is the prise de mousse?

Answer 32

Seizing of the foam In Champagne production, this is the second alcoholic fermentation, which creates the bubbles

Question 33

What is transversage?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

What are the 3 AOCs in the Champagne region?

Answer 34

Rose des Riceys AOC Coteaux Champenois AOC Champagne AOC

Question 35

What are the ageing requirements for vintage Champagne?

Answer 35

Minimum 36 months - Including 12 months on lees Common for most to spend 3+ years on lees

Question 36

What are the ageing requirements for non-vintage Champagne?

Answer 36

Minimum 15 months - Including 12 months on lees - Including 3 months bottle ageing

Question 37

How many Premier Cru villages are there in Champagne?

Answer 37

42 Premier Cru champagne can also be made with fruit from the 17 Grand Cru villages

Question 38

What is a late-disgorged Champagne?

Answer 38

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

Question 39

What is a special club Champagne?

Answer 39

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"

Question 40

Describe the Rose des Riceys AOC.

Answer 40

Rose wine only Red grapes: Pinot Noir 100% Pinot Noir Only produced in the three villages of Les Riceys in the Aube

Question 41

Describe the Coteaux Champenois AOC.

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Describe the Champagne AOC.

Answer 42

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