Champagne

Question 0

For a nonvintage champagne, what is the minimum aging?

Answer 0

15 months in bottle

Question 1

Which grapes are used to make champagne?

Answer 1

Pinot noir, Pinot meunier, Chardonnay

Question 2

What is a nonvintage champagne? What is the purpose of creating it this way?

Answer 2

A cuvée formed from blends from different vintages. Making it this way keeps house style consistent.

Question 3

Within his many years should you drink nonvintage champagne?

Answer 3

2-3 years

Question 4

How often is vintage champagne made?

Answer 4

Only 2-3 times per decade

Question 5

What is the minimum aging for vintage champagne?

Answer 5

3 years in bottle

Question 6

Within how many years should you drink vintage champagne?

Answer 6

10-15 years

Question 7

What is prestige cuvée and what is another name for it?

Answer 7

A vintage champagne made with the first pressings. Also called tete de cuvée.

Question 8

What grapes go into a blanc de blancs?

Answer 8

Chardonnay

Question 9

What grapes go into a blanc de noirs?

Answer 9

Pinot noir and/or Pinot meunier

Question 10

How are rose champagnes made? Name the two ways.

Answer 10

Blending in red wine or allowing longer skin contact prior to initial fermentation,

Question 11

Single vineyards of Champagne are referred to as what?

Answer 11

Clos

Question 12

What type of soil exists in Champagne and how does it function in terms of grape growing and wine production?

Answer 12

Chalky prehistoric ocean sediment reflects light to assist in grape ripening and adds chalky flavor to grapes, making the resulting wine good for pairing with seafood like oysters.

Question 13

What is the highest quality designation of Champagne?

Answer 13

Grand cry

Question 14

How many levels of sweetness are associated with Champagne and what are they?

Answer 14

7

Brut nature
Extra brut
Brut
Extra dry or extra sec (off-dry)
Sec (semisweet)
Demi-sec (sweet)
Doux (dessert)

Question 15

What is the climate of Champagne and how does it affect the grapes and resulting wine?

Answer 15

Very cool, continental climate makes grapes that don’t achieve full ripeness, resulting in high acidity, low alcohol wines?

Question 16

What kind of fermentation is most common?

Answer 16

Stainless steel

Question 17

Name the 5 subregions of Champagne.

Answer 17

Montage de Reims
Valle de las Marne
Cote de Blancs
Cote de Sezanne
Cote de Bars (Aube)

Question 18

What are 3 cities in Champagne?

Answer 18

Reims
Ay
Epernay

Question 19

Magnum

Answer 19

1.5 L, 2 bottles

Question 20

Jeroboam

Answer 20

3 L, 4 bottles

Question 21

Rehoboam

Answer 21

4.5 L, 6 bottles

Question 22

Methuselah

Answer 22

6 L, 8 bottles

Question 23

Salmanazar

Answer 23

9 L, 12 bottles

Question 24

Balthazar

Answer 24

12 L, 16 bottles

Question 25

Nebuchadnezzar

Answer 25

15 L, 20 bottles

Question 26

Describe the method champenoise.

Answer 26

Harvest in September or October.
2 pressings.
First fermentation results in still wine.
Blending.
Add liqueur de tirage.
Second fermentation results in CO2.
Aging sur lie.
Riddling.
Degorgement.
Add dosage/liqeur d'expedition.
Recork.

Question 27

What is sparkling wine called in Germany?

Answer 27

Sekt

Question 28

What is sparkling wine called in Spain?

Answer 28

Cava

Question 29

What is sparkling wine called in general in Italy?

Answer 29

Spumante

Question 30

What is sparkling wine in general in France called?

Answer 30

Cremant

Question 31

Name a good Champagne vintage year.

Answer 31

2000