Champagne Flashcards
What are the four main sub-regions of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
Valeé de la Marne
Côte de Blancs
Côte de Bar
Which is the northern most sub-region of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
Which is the southernmost sub-region of Champagne?
Côte de Bar
Which is the westernmost sub-region of Champagne?
Valleé de la Marne
Which was the first Champagne house?
Ruinart
What was the effect of the 1650 and 1770 to 1850 mini-ice age for sparkling wine production?
Stuck fermentation in the winter restarted in the spring, making the wines fizzy
What is a mosser?
A whisk used to release the trapped gas from fizzy wine in the 1600s
What 3 advancements in the 1700s led to the development of modern Champagne?
- Stronger glass bottles
- Uniform neck openings
- Widespread use of cork
Who discovered the importance of yeast?
Louis Pasteur
What is a mono-parcelle?
Single vineyard in Champagne
What is a mono-cru
Wine from a single village in Champagne
True or False - Champagne has more co-operatives than any other French wine growing region?
True
What is the name of the Champagne interprofssional body?
CIVC
Who established vineyards in Champagne?
Romans
What were the names used for Champagne in the 9th C
vins de la Riviere and vins de la montagne
Where were French kings crowned for 600 years?
Reims
What decree of 1728 was a significant point in the development of Champagne?
The King’s decree to allow the wine to be transported in bottle
How did Phylloxera impact Champagne?
Reduced the vineyards to 1/5 their previous size
What is the historical capital of Champagne?
Troyes
True or False - Champagne is the largest AOC in France by volume?
False - it’s the largest by value
What is the climate of Champagne?
Continental with some maritime influences
Which geographic area does Champagne lie within?
Paris Basin
What are the 3 main soil types in Champagne?
- Chalk
- Limestone rich marls
- Sand/ clay composite
What are the features of wines grown on chalk soils?
high acid, lean and reserved aromatics
What are the two types of chalk found in Champagne?
Micraster and Belemnite
Which type of chalk is primarily formed of squid like fossils?
Belemnite
Which type of chalk is primarily formed of sea urchin fossils?
Micraster
Which type of chalk is preferred for vine planting in Champagne?
Belemnite
In what main Champagne regions are chalk soils found?
Côtes de blancs
Montgueux
Vitry-le-Francois
Where is limestone rich marl most commonly found in Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
Cote de Bar
What grape is typically grown on limestone rich marl?
Pinot Noir
Which area of Champagne is formed on Kimmeridean Marl?
Côte de Bar
Which sub-regions ore Champagne are based on sand and clay?
Valleé de la Marne
Val de Reims
Coteaux sud d’ Epernay
Which sub-region of Champagne has chalk and clay soils?
Cote de Sezanne
What is the northernmost terrior of Montagne de Reims?
Massif de Saint-Thierry
What’s the primary soil type of the Massif de Saint-Thierry?
Sand, clay and marl
What’s the primary grape of the Massif de Saint-Thierry?
Meunier
What’s the main soil type of the Valleé de la Marne?
Sand, clay and marl
What’s the primary grape grown in the Grand Valleé de la Marne?
Pinot Noir
What’s the primary soil type in the Côtes des Blancs?
Chalk
What’s the primary grape variety grown in the Côtes des Blancs?
Chardonnay
What’s the primary grape variety of the Côte de Sezanne?
Chardonnay
What’s the primary soil type of the Côte de Sezanne?
chalk
What’s the primary grape variety of the Vitryat?
Chardonnay
What’s the primary soil type of the Vitryat?
chalk
What’s the primary grape variety of Montgueux?
Chardonnay
What’s the primary soil type of Montgueux?
Chalk
What’s the primary soil type of the Côte de Bar
Kimmeridgean Marl
What’s the primary grape grown in the Côte de Bar?
Pinot Noir
What does Chardonnay contribute to the Champagne blend?
Apple/ citrus
High alcohol
High acidity
What does Pinot Noir add to the Champagne blend?
Least amount of acidity
moderate alcohol
Red fruits
What does Munier add to the Champagne blend?
Red fruit, earthiness
Moderate acidity
least amount of alcohol
What are the secondary grapes of Champagne
Pinot Blanc
Arbane
Petit Meslier
Pinot Gris
What is Fromenteau a synonym for in Champagne?
Pinot Gris
What were the 3 historic grapes of Champagne?
Gouais Blanc
Gouais Noir
Fromenteau
How many grand crus exist in Champagne?
17
How many Grands crus does the Côtes des Blancs have
6
How many Grands crus does the Montagne de Reims have?
9
How many Grands crus does the Valleé de la Marne have?
2
How many premier crus are in Champagne?
42
What are the four main training methods allowed in Champagne?
Guyot
Chablis
Cordon
Valleé de la Marne
What training methods are allowed for premier and grand cru vines in Champagne?
Chablis
Cordon
What’s the primary training method for Meunier vines in Champagne?
Valleé de la Marne
Why is it difficult to label a wine as organic in Champagne
The climate
the number of growers
True or false: Champagne labelled premier cru can contain fruit from grand cru villages?
True
What is a special club Champagne?
Must be made on member’s own premises from their own grapes and in outstanding vintages
Undergo two blind tastings
Bottled in club signature bottle
What are the requirements for a Solera/ perpetual reserve Champagne?
Single tank or barrel
Kept topped up
Some is drawn off and undergoes pris de mousse
What’s the style of Côte de Ricys AOC?
Rosé
What’s the grape of Côte de Ricys AOC?
Pinot Noir
What style is Coteaux Champenios?
Still red, white and rosé
What are the primary grapes of Coteaux Chempenois?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier
What’s the most planted grape in Champagne?
Pinot Noir
What’s the least planted grape in Champagne?
ChardonnayW
Who promoted drier styles of Champagne?
Madame Pommery
