Champagne Flashcards

1
Q
  1. Name 5 Champagne houses that were established before the French Revolution.
A

The French revolution happened in 1789.

Ruinart(1729), Veuve Cliquot(1772), Roederer(1776), Heidsieck(1785), and Moet Chandon(1743)

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2
Q
  1. What is the most recent vintage of Salon Les Mesnil available on market? 1991, 1994, 1999, 1989, or 2002?
A

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.

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3
Q
  1. Who invented the muselet and in what year was it invented?
A

Adolphe Jacquesson 1844

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4
Q
  1. What Champagne houses are official sponsors to the following sporting events?
A

a) Formula 1 – Mumm
b) Wimbledon – Lanson
c) English Rugby Union – Bollinger

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5
Q
  1. On average, at what brix are Champagne grapes harvested and what is the potential level of alcohol at harvest?
A

18-19 degrees, 10% potential alcohol.

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6
Q
  1. What two villages were originally left out of the initial delimitation of the Champagne appellation in 1908?
A

The Marne and the Aube

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7
Q
  1. Who was the first cellarmaster at Veuve Cliquot and what did he invent that revolutionized the way Champagne was made?
A

Antoine Muller. He invented the riddling table.

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8
Q
  1. What is Tours-sur-Marne’s Echelle de Cru rating for white grapes?
A

90%

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9
Q
  1. What is a gluco-oenometre and who invented it?
A

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).

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10
Q
  1. About how many miles of underground cellars are in the Champagne region and what is their constant temperature?
A

150 miles or 250 kilometers, kept at 50-52 degrees F on average.

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11
Q
  1. In a given decade, how many vintages will be deemed good enough to declare?
A

Approx 3-4.

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12
Q
  1. Most negociants are headquartered in what three towns?
A

Reims, Ay & Epernay

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13
Q
  1. 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?
A

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.

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14
Q
  1. 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.
A

E

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15
Q
  1. Approximately how many kilometers is it from Epernay to the Aube and in which direction would you be headed?
A

Southeast, about 110 kilometers.

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16
Q
  1. Historically, what country has enjoyed a sweeter style of Champagne?
A

Russia

17
Q
  1. 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

A Cooperative Manipulant, denoted by the code CM.

18
Q
  1. Name 3 Champagne houses owned by the LVMH group, except Moet Chandon
A

Ruinart, Veuve Cliquot, Krug

19
Q
  1. True or False – The Echelle de Cru rating is a legally binding price on grapes.
A

False, they are suggestive prices.

20
Q
  1. True or False – The CIVC allows the use of pneumatic and hydraulic presses in addition to the traditional Coquard presses.
A

True

21
Q
  1. Historically, there have been well regarded Champagne houses run by female vignerons. Name 3 of such grand dames.
A

Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin Cliquot, Louis Pommery, Lily Bollinger to name a few.

22
Q
  1. 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.

A

D

23
Q
  1. 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

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

24
Q
  1. Please name two excellent Champagne vintages from the following decades.

a) 1990’s
b) 1980’s

A

a) 1990’s – 1990 and 1996

b) 1980’s – 1985 and 1988

25
Q
  1. What is L’ouverture des vendange?
A

It is the official harvest date that is set for each commune by the CIVC.

26
Q
  1. Who is the current president of CIVC?
A

Jean Luc Barbier

27
Q
  1. What is a pressoir?
A

Pressing station placed throughout the vineyard so that the pressing can begin as soon as possible.

28
Q
  1. A coquard press is no more than how many feet deep?
A

3 feet

29
Q
  1. Up to how much time can a gyropalette save, over a pupitre, during the remouage process?
A

Up to 6-8 weeks.

30
Q

A primat bottle of Champagne holds how many liters and bottles?

A

Capacity is 27 liters and it is equivalent to 36 bottles.

31
Q
  1. Please arrange these premier crus of the Montagne de Reims from North to South – Vrigny, Chigny-les-Roses, Ecueil, Jouy Les Reims, Sacy.
A

Vrigny, Jouy-Les-Reims, Sacy, Ecueil, Chigny Les Roses.

32
Q
  1. Currently, how many members are in the Special Club?
A

26

33
Q
  1. What are the two premier cru villages with a rating of 99%?
A

Mareuil-sur-Ay and Tauxieres.