Champagne Flashcards
Where is Champagne?
49th parallel, one of the most northerly wine growing regions.
What climate does Champagne have?
Cool continental
Physical feature(s) to mention?
No protection from Atlantic influence; therefore, unpredictable weather, rain, frost, and hail threats.
Grande Montagne
Marne River
What’s the soil type/name in Champagne?
Limestone, chalk
How are the grapes grown there?
Grapes are picked earlier to preserve natural acidity.
How is wine made in Champagne?
Champagne Method Steps:
Still wine is made Assemblage of cuvée
Bubbles are created using liqueur de tirage
Sur lie aging - Autolysis
Riddling (rémuage) using pupitre or gyropalette
Disgorging (dégorgement)
Dosage added using liqueur d’expédition
In the Champagne method, what’s the contents of liqueur de tirage?
In the Champagne method, what are the contents of and liqueur d’expédition and how it affects the style of the wine?
What’s the white grape variety names?
30% Chardonnay for plantings
What’s are the AOPs of Champagne?
Region: Champagne AOP
Subregions: Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims
Côte des Bar, Côte de Sézanne
What’s the red grape variety names?
38% Pinot Noir, 32% Meunier for plantings
What’s the difference between vintage and non-vintage?
Non-Vintage: 12 month on lees, min 15 months total aging.
Vintage: min 36 months total aging.
Échelle des Crus: Grand Cru Villages and Premier Cru Villages exist and may be put on labels.
Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne
What are the label terms in Champagne and what do they mean?
Blanc de Blancs
Blanc de Noirs
Brut
Special Club
Récoltant Manipulant
Négociant Manipulant
Vieilles Vignes
Explain the following: cuvée de Prestige/Tête de Cuvée, Négociant, Grower
Explain Grandes Marques
What are some producers/proprietary brands of Champagne?
Moët & Chandon, Roederer, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Charles Heidsieck, Krug
What styles of Champagne exist?
Brut, Non-Vintage, Vintage, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Rosé
Single vineyard
Clos
Sweetness levels: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux
Match Grandes Marques to their prestige cuvées.
What are three non-Grandes Marques producers and three grower producers?
What are the best vintages of the past 15 years?
Explain the invention of riddling rack (Madame Clicquot) and gyropalette.
What never to do when opening champagne?
Never point the cork at someone while opening the bottle and never take your hand off the top (the cage and cork) top while removing the cork.
What are the CMS-A published sparkling wine opening standards?
Pairings with Champagne?
Champagne is an incredibly versatile beverage that goes with many types of foods.
Eggs, caviar.
