Champagne Flashcards
Methode Champenoise
Process involving secondary fermentation in the bottle. Name is protected by the EU and may only be applied to this method in the Champagne AOP.
Traditional Method/ Classic Method
Wines made elsewhere but in the fashion of Champagne
What were Dom Perignon’s contributions to modern Champagne?
Assemblage (blending) and viticulture
What position did Dom Perignon hold while he struggled with the problem of natural refermentation?
Cellar master at Abbey of Hautvillers from 1668 to 1715
When did the English transfer Champagne from cask to stronger, coal fired glass?
Late 17th century. Likely the first to enjoy true sparkling Champagne
Mousseux
Effervescence. The word first appeared next to the wines of Champagne in 1724.
Petillant, Demi-mousseux, Grand Mousseux
Increasing levels of effervescence
How long have there been vineyards in the Champagne region?
Since the 5th century
Gosset
Oldest Champagne house still in operation today, founded in 1584 as a still wine producer
What is the oldest Sparkling Champagne House
Ruinart, established 1729
What process was Madame Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin famous for pioneering?
Remuage, ridddling. This procedure allows sediment to be removed easily from a bottle during degorgement (disgorgement)
Jean Antoine Chaptal
French chemist who identified the relationship between sugar and fermentation in 1801
Andre Francois
Pharmacist whose measurement of the precise amount of sugar required to induce secondary fermentation without breaking the bottle
Who put the first Brut Champagne on the market and in what year?
Pommery in 174
What year was the Champagne region delimited
1908, further defined production and viticulture means in 1927
The Commission de Chalons
Consortium of growers and merchants formed in 1935 to develop quality standards and regulate pricing
1911 riots
Aube vignerons after they were excluded from region in 1908 delimitation
What year did Champagne become an AOC
- Remains only AOC/AOP that does not need to include AOC or AOP on the label
CIVC
Comite Interprofesional du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), formed in 1941 to protect industry against Nazis
What is the purpose of the CIVC
Mediate between the large Champagne houses (are 10% of the vineyards due to prohibtion by firm of owning or farming more than 15 hectares) and smaller growers (20,000)
What was the first tete de cuvee
1921 Moet de Chandon “Dom Perignon”
What portion of sparkling wines of the world are Champagne
1 in 12
How many villages can grow grapes for Champagne
357, up from 319 with 2009 INAO decision to increase appellation area
Name the two main types of soil found in Champagne
Belemnite chalk and micraster
Belemnite Chalk
absorbs heat to protect vines at night and provides excellent drainage in the wet climate, has high limestone content, roots dig deep and increase grape acidity
Aube main soil type
Clay
Les bleus de ville
Blue plastic bags left over from history of recycled Parision garbage used to fertilize vineyards
Name the three main grapes authorized for Champagne production
Pinot Noir, (38%) Pinot Meunier, (32%) Chardonnay (30%)
What supporting grapes are authorized for Champagne AOP production
Pinot Blanc “Vrai”, Pinot Gris, Arbane, Petit Meslier
What are the regulated yields allowed in Champagne
82 hl/ha
What four pruning methods are permitted in Champagne
Cordon de Royat, Chablis, Vallee de la Marne, Guyot (double and single)
What is the limit on grape pressing yields in Champagne
102 liters of must for every 160 kg of grapes, or 2,550 liters per 4000 kg
Marc of grapes is what?
4,000 kg, the amount held in a traditional Coquard basket press
The main towns of Champagne
Reims, Epernay and Ay
How many villages are authorized to grow grapes in Champagne
357
What are the five authorized districts of Champagne
Montagne de Reims, Vallee de la Marne, Cote des Blancs, Cote de Sezanne, Aube (Cote de Bar)
Main grapes of Montagne de Reims
Pinot Noir
Main grape of Aube
Pinot Noir
Main grape of Cote de Sezanne
Chardonnay (almost exclusively on the SE and East facing slopes of Cote de Blancs)
Main grape of Vallee de la Marne
Pinot Meunier, its tendency to bud late and ripen early is prized in this frost prone area
What direction do vineyards face in Montagne de Reims
Surprisingly, both North and South. Higher slopes of norh have a pocket of warm air that allows for ripening
How is cru status awarded in Champagne
To entire villages, areas for cultivation in each are strictly defined. 17 grand cru villages, 42 premier cru
Blocage and deblocage
Reserve and release of wine stocks for use in future vintages
Echelle de Crus
percentile system by which villages (cru) of appellation are rated (100 grand cru, 90-99 premier cru, 90 and below cru)
What are the only premier cru villages with a 99% ranking
Mareuil-sur-Ay in Vallee de la Marne and Tauxieres in Montagne de Reims
Negociant Manipulant (NM)
Large houses that purchase grapes or base wine from grower (eg Moet, Roederer, Veuve, Taittinger)
Recoltant Manipulant (RM)
Grower-producer who makes champagne from estate-grown vineyards (95% fruit must be from their vineyard)
Cooperative Manipulant (CM)
Growers co-operative that produces wine under single brand
Recoltant Cooperateur (RC)
Grower whose grapes are vinified at a coop, but sell wine under his own label
Societe de Recoltants (SR)
Firm, not a co-op, set up by growers union, to make wines and market several brands
Negociant Distributeur (ND)
Middleman distributes others’ Champagne
Marque d’ Acheteur (MA)
Buyer’s own brand,, often large chain, buys Champagne and then markets under its own label
Grape extraction limitations
102 liter from 160 kg of grapes; 2,550 liters from 4000 kg
Vin de cuvee
First 2,050 liters of extracted juice
Vin de taille
Second 500 liters of extracted juice after vin de cuvee
Rebeche
Third extraction of juice from press, required by law. Must comprise 1-10% of the total. Used for distillate, not Champagne.
Debourbage
Settling of juice after being pressed, at cool temperature for 8 to 15 hours
Bourbes
Solids remaining in must after pressing that will be removed by racking prior to fermentation
Where does primary fermentation occur in Champagne wine making
Stainless steel or oak used barrels
Liqueur de tirage
Mixture of still wine, yeasts, sugar and fining agents
Prise de mousse
Secondary fermentation in the bottle, heart of the Champagne method
Bidule
Plastic capsule that captures sediment during remuage
Sur latte
How the bottles are stored (horizontally) during second fermentation
Autolysis
Breakdown of dead yeast cells; form sediment in the bottle as second fermentation occurs