Champagne Flashcards
- Name 5 Champagne houses that were established before the French Revolution.
The French revolution happened in 1789.
Ruinart(1729), Veuve Cliquot(1772), Roederer(1776), Heidsieck(1785), and Moet Chandon(1743)
- What is the most recent vintage of Salon Les Mesnil available on market? 1991, 1994, 1999, 1989, or 2002?
1999 is the most recent. Salon did not make Champagnes in ’89, ’91, or ’94. They DID make Champagne in ’02 but it is not yet released to the market.
- Who invented the muselet and in what year was it invented?
Adolphe Jacquesson 1844
- What Champagne houses are official sponsors to the following sporting events?
a) Formula 1 – Mumm
b) Wimbledon – Lanson
c) English Rugby Union – Bollinger
- On average, at what brix are Champagne grapes harvested and what is the potential level of alcohol at harvest?
18-19 degrees, 10% potential alcohol.
- What two villages were originally left out of the initial delimitation of the Champagne appellation in 1908?
The Marne and the Aube
- Who was the first cellarmaster at Veuve Cliquot and what did he invent that revolutionized the way Champagne was made?
Antoine Muller. He invented the riddling table.
- What is Tours-sur-Marne’s Echelle de Cru rating for white grapes?
90%
- What is a gluco-oenometre and who invented it?
It was invented by Andre Francois. A gluco-oenometre determines the amount of the liqueur de tirage that is needed for the appropriate increase in the amount of alcohol as well as carbonation (ensuring 5-6 atms).
- About how many miles of underground cellars are in the Champagne region and what is their constant temperature?
150 miles or 250 kilometers, kept at 50-52 degrees F on average.
- In a given decade, how many vintages will be deemed good enough to declare?
Approx 3-4.
- Most negociants are headquartered in what three towns?
Reims, Ay & Epernay
- Which one would I have a better chance of seeing, being sold at a retail outlet in the United States? Coteaux Champenois or Rose des Riceys? Why?
While Coteaux Champenois production is only .1% of the region, Rose des Riceys is even rarer. Therefore, you’re more likely to see Coteaux Champenois on retail shelves here in the U.S. as opposed to Rose des Riceys.
- Which of the following is a true statement?
a) Coteaux Champenois produces red wines only
b) Coteaux Champenois produces white wine only
c) Coteaux Champenois produces reds and whites only
d) Coteaux Champenois is a rose only appellation.
e) Coteaux Champenois produces all three colors.
E
- Approximately how many kilometers is it from Epernay to the Aube and in which direction would you be headed?
Southeast, about 110 kilometers.
- Historically, what country has enjoyed a sweeter style of Champagne?
Russia
- This type of firm takes grapes from a collective/union of growers, makes the Champagne, and returns it to the members for sale under their own label. What kind of producer did I describe?
A Cooperative Manipulant, denoted by the code CM.
- Name 3 Champagne houses owned by the LVMH group, except Moet Chandon
Ruinart, Veuve Cliquot, Krug
- True or False – The Echelle de Cru rating is a legally binding price on grapes.
False, they are suggestive prices.
- True or False – The CIVC allows the use of pneumatic and hydraulic presses in addition to the traditional Coquard presses.
True
- Historically, there have been well regarded Champagne houses run by female vignerons. Name 3 of such grand dames.
Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin Cliquot, Louis Pommery, Lily Bollinger to name a few.
- Which one of these statements is true about Krug’s Grande Cuvee?
a) It is a NV blend from 100% grand cru vineyards.
b) It is a NV blend from grand cru as well as premier cru vineyards.
c) It is a NV blend from premier cru vineyards only
d) It is a NV blend and does not contain 100% grand or even premier cru sites.
e) It does carry a vintage date, and does not contain 100% grand or even premier cru sites.
D
- What was the first vintage of the following tete de cuvees?
a) La Grande Dame
b) Sir Winston Churchill
c) Vielles Vignes Francaises
d) Comtes de Champagne
e) Cuvee S de Salon
a) La Grande Dame – 1969
b) Sir Winston Churchill – 1975 (only released as a magnum)
c) Vielles Vignes Francaises- 1969
d) Comtes de Champagne – 1952
e) Cuvee S de Salon – 1921
- Please name two excellent Champagne vintages from the following decades.
a) 1990’s
b) 1980’s
a) 1990’s – 1990 and 1996
b) 1980’s – 1985 and 1988
- What is L’ouverture des vendange?
It is the official harvest date that is set for each commune by the CIVC.
- Who is the current president of CIVC?
Jean Luc Barbier
- What is a pressoir?
Pressing station placed throughout the vineyard so that the pressing can begin as soon as possible.
- A coquard press is no more than how many feet deep?
3 feet
- Up to how much time can a gyropalette save, over a pupitre, during the remouage process?
Up to 6-8 weeks.
A primat bottle of Champagne holds how many liters and bottles?
Capacity is 27 liters and it is equivalent to 36 bottles.
- Please arrange these premier crus of the Montagne de Reims from North to South – Vrigny, Chigny-les-Roses, Ecueil, Jouy Les Reims, Sacy.
Vrigny, Jouy-Les-Reims, Sacy, Ecueil, Chigny Les Roses.
- Currently, how many members are in the Special Club?
26
- What are the two premier cru villages with a rating of 99%?
Mareuil-sur-Ay and Tauxieres.
