Champagne

Question 1

What is “disgorgement”?

Answer 1

The removal of yeast after the second fermentation, in sparkling wine production.

Question 2

What is “disgorgement à la volée”?

Answer 2

Disgorgement by hand, as opposed to by machine.

Question 3

What is a “mosser”?

Answer 3

A whisk used to release trapped gas from wine.

Question 4

What is the climate of the Champagne region?

Answer 4

Continental with maritime influences

Question 5

In what year did the King of France allow wine to be sold and transported in bottle?

Answer 5

1728

Question 6

What is the most popular style of Champagne?

Answer 6

Brut Non-Vintage

Question 7

Which city was historically the capital of the Champagne region?

Answer 7

Troyes

Question 8

What is chalk?

Answer 8

A porous limestone – a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate.

Question 9

Which was the first Champagne house?

Answer 9

Ruinart –
founded in 1729.

Question 10

In Champagne, the vineyards are ranked Grand Cru or 1er Cru.
True or False?

Answer 10

FALSE.
It is the village that is ranked and not the individual vineyards.

Question 11

In Champagne, which is the higher ranking, “Grand Cru” or “Premier Cru”?

Answer 11

Grand Cru

Question 12

What are the two types of chalk found in Champagne?

Answer 12

Belemnite and Micraster

Question 13

What is the dominant grape variety grown in the Grande Montagne de Reims?

Answer 13

Pinot Noir

Question 14

What is the dominant grape variety grown in the Vallée de la Marne?

Answer 14

Meunier

Question 15

What is Kimmeridgean Marl?

Answer 15

A limestone-rich clay whose dominant fossil is Exogyra virgula, a small comma-shaped oyster.

Question 16

What is the dominant fossil found in Belemnite chalk?

Answer 16

Ancient dart-like relatives of the modern-day squid.

Question 17

What is a “Mono-Parcelle”

Answer 17

A single vineyard

Question 18

What is a “Mono-Cru”

Answer 18

A single village

Question 19

What is a gyropalette?

Answer 19

A mechanized riddling machine.

Question 20

What is a “Blanc de Blancs”?

Answer 20

A white wine made from white grapes, the term is more commonly used for sparkling wines than still.

Question 21

What is the dominant grape variety of the Côte des Blancs?

Answer 21

Chardonnay

Question 22

List the seven dosage levels from driest to sweetest.

Answer 22

Brut Nature
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Sec (or Extra Dry)
Sec (Dry)
Demi-Sec
Doux

Question 23

What is the dominant grape variety of the Côte de Sézanne?

Answer 23

Chardonnay

Question 24

What is a “Blanc de Noirs”?

Answer 24

A white wine made from black grapes, the term is more commonly used for sparkling wines than still.

Question 25

What does the abbreviation “RM” refer to on a Champagne label?

Answer 25

Récoltant-Manipulant;
a producer who
vinifies only their own estate-grown grapes.

Question 26

What are the three principal grape varieties of Champagne?

Answer 26

Pinot Noir
Meunier
Chardonnay

Question 27

What are the four authorized (but ancillary) grape varieties of Champagne?

Answer 27

Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Arbane
Petit Meslier

Question 28

What was the contribution of Veuve Cliquot (Ponsardin) to the champagne method?

Answer 28

The development of the riddling process.

Question 29

A champagne labeled “Grand Cru” comes from a single vineyard.
True or False?

Answer 29

FALSE.
The grapes for “Grand Cru” Champagne are sourced from one, or more, of the 17 Grand Cru villages.

Question 30

What is a “Perpetual Reserve”?

Answer 30

A vat of reserve wine in which multiple vintages of wine are aged together in the same vessel – similar to a solera.

Question 31

What is a “Tête de Cuvée”?

Answer 31

A champagne house’s prestige cuvée.

Question 32

What were the two principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th to 16th centuries?

Answer 32

Gouais and Fromenteau

Question 33

What are the “crayères”?

Answer 33

Chalk quarries dug by the Romans and now used as cellars for aging Champagne.

Question 34

Which grape variety is the most widely planted in Champagne?

Answer 34

Pinot Noir

Question 35

There is a set blending formula for the Champagne AOC.
True or False?

Answer 35

FALSE.
Every champagne house has its own blend and house style.

Question 36

What is the difference between AOC Coteaux Champenois and AOC Champagne?

Answer 36

AOC Coteaux Champenois wines are still, while AOC Champagne wines are sparkling.

Question 37

What is “remuage”?

Answer 37

Riddling; the turning and tilting of champagne bottles from horizontal to vertical to collect the lees in the neck.

Question 38

What does the abbreviation “NM” refer to on a Champagne label?

Answer 38

Négociant-Manipulant;
a champagne producer that includes grapes purchased from other growers in their wines.

Question 39

What is another term for “liqueur d’expédition”?

Answer 39

Dosage

Question 40

What is the dominant grape variety of the Côte des Bar?

Answer 40

Pinot Noir

Question 41

What is the “liqueur d’expédition”?

Answer 41

The mix of sugar and still reserve wine added to champagne after dégorgement and before the cork is inserted.

Question 42

What is the “prise de mousse”?

Answer 42

“Seizing of the foam”; in champagne production this is the second alcoholic fermentation, which creates the bubbles.

Question 43

What is “transversage”?

Answer 43

The process of using 750 ml bottles to fill larger or smaller bottles.

Question 44

What is the primary grape variety of Rosé des Riceys?

Answer 44

Pinot Noir

Question 45

What are the three AOCs in the Champagne region?

Answer 45

Rosé des Riceys AOC
Coteaux Champenois AOC
Champagne AOC