Champagne Flashcards
List three advancements that led to the development of sparkling wine
1) stronger glass bottles
2) uniform bottle neck opening
3) mainstream use of cork to create an airtight seal
Identify the home of the Counts of Champagne, the past capital of the Champagne region
Troyes
Name the 17th century wooden instrument used to eliminate CO2 from sparkling wine
Mosser
Know the terms for French sparkling wines produced outside of Champagne
Cremant, Petillant, Mousseux
Know the point difference between the terms Méthode Champenoise and Méthode Traditionnelle
Methode Champenoise can only be used for wines made in Champagne
Describe Champagne’s climate and the factors that influence it
Most northerly wine region in France (48 - 49.5 parallel) - cool climate
Continental climate with maritime influences
List the climate-related vine threats in Champagne and the factors that mitigate them
Low temps, frost, hail, fog, rain, humidity (disease pressure)
Mesoclimates help to mitigate - provide vine with shelter, warmth, adequate air circulation, hills create suntraps, and rivers/canals help moderate temps and mitigate frost damage
Define “chalk”; explain the difference between Micraster and Belemnite chalk
Chalk is a porous limestone, a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate, chalk subsoils store water
Micraster chalk composed of fossilized sea urchins, Belemnite chalk composed of squid
No quality difference between the two - Belemnite preferred because of where it ended up at the upper-mid level of the slope vs micraster ended up at bottom of slope when the earth fractured 45 mya - mid slope is preferred due to sun exposure, air circulation, and water drainage
Reims soil type
chalk
Epernay soil type
chalk
Ay soil type
chalk
Ambonnay soil type
chalk
Verzenay soil type
chalk
Cote de Blancs soil type
chalk
Montgeux soil type
chalk
Vitry-le-Francois soil type
chalk
Montagne de Reims soil type
limestone rich marl
Cotes de Bar soil type
limestone rich marl (kimmeridgean marl)
Vallee de la Marne soil type
sand and clay
Val de Reims soil type
sand and clay
Coteaux Sud de Epernay soil type
sand and clay
Know the three primary grapes used in Champagne and the attributes they contribute to the finished wine
Pinot Noir: moderate alcohol and lowest amount of acid
Meunier: least alcohol and moderate acid
Chardonnay: high alcohol and acid
What grape is grown in this subregion: Montagne & Val de Reims
Pinot Noir
What grape is grown in this subregion: Valle de la Marne
Pinot Noir & Meunier
What grape is grown in this subregion: Cotes de Blanc
Chardonnay
What grape is grown in this subregion: Cotes de Bar
Pinot Noir
Why is Pinot Meunier now just Meunier?
It is a chimeric mutation (part pinot and part something else) - has 2 different types of DNA - pinot phenotype for internal cells and different phenotype for outer layer and skins - many have opted to just call it “meunier”
What are the sought-after attributes driving clonal selection in Champagne
Want high acid berries that are resistant to gray rot and botrytis.
Large pinot noir berries for more juice.
Meunier clones with late bud break to avoid spring frosts
Explain why so few champagnes are labeled “organic”
Marginal climate. Majority of Champagne is made from purchased grapes from different vineyards, villages, and subregions, hard to ensure all organic.
List the ways in which global warming is impacting the winemaking process in Champagne
All grapes are achieving physiologic ripeness more consistently - chaptalization less routine. Alcohol levels have risen and acid has dropped, not as many using MLF to retain acid. Dosage level has dropped with lower acid levels.
Rose des Riceys AOC wine style & grapes
rose of pinot noir
Coteaux Champenois AOC wine style & grapes
Wine style: dry white, rose, red (still wines only) - usually NV white wine
Champagne AOC
Grapes: Chardonnay, Arbane, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Meunier
Champagne AOC wine style & grapes
Wine style: sparkling white or rose
Grapes: Chardonnay, Arbane, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Meunier
Explain why champagne is typically a blended product
To achieve and maintain consistency within the cuvee each year - minimizes crop loss if incorporate grapes from different growing areas
Summarize the Echelle des Crus and define the three rankings
Scale of Growths
Created to recognize different terroirs within the Champagne AOC - ranks villages
Grand Cru 100% rating (17 villages)
Premier Cru 90-99% rating (42 villages)
Village must have at least 80% to use their grapes in Champagne
Describe Vintage vs Non-Vintage
Vintage: Only made in the best vintages, vintage year appears on label, crafted only from fruit grown during the vintage (exception: liquor de dosage), must spend 12 months on the lees and 3 years in cellar
Non-Vintage: house style, must spend 12 months on lees and 3 months in cellar before release