Champagne Flashcards
Established in 1729, what producer is the oldest sparkling wine maker in Champagne?
Ruinart
What is the oldest champagne house still in operation today?
Gosset, founded in 1584 as a still wine producer.
What is remuage and who is famed for pioneering the process?
Also known as riddling, it’s a procedure that allows sediment to be easily removed from a bottle during disgorgement. It manipulates the sediment into the neck through sharp twists and inversion of the bottle.
Madame Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (Veuve Clicquot)
What is the only AOC/AOP that does not need to include AOC/AOP on the label to still be qualified under the stated guidelines?
Champagne
What was the first tete de cuvee that started the trend for releasing prestige cuvee champagnes?
Moet et Chandon’s “Dom Perignon” 1921 vintage
Where is Champagne located and what does that mean for ripening?
Along the 48th parallel, the average temperature is only 50F, making ripening very difficult and variable. This is why blending to create consistent wines each year is so popular.
What type of soil is found in Champagne and what does it do for the vines?
Belemnite Chalk: fossilized remains of cephalopods, with a high limestone content, allows the vines to dig deeply, leading to higher acidity.
Also, it absorbs heat well and protects the vines at night.
What region of Champagne has a high percentage of clay as its soil makeup?
Aube (in the south)
What other grapes are allowed in Champagne AOP but rarely seen in actuality?
Pinot Blanc Vrai
Arbane
Pinot Gris
Petit Meslier
What are the 5 regions of Champagne and what are the primary grapes associated with each?
Montagne de Reims--Pinot Noir Vallee de La Marne--Pinot Meunier Cote des Blancs--Chardonnay Cote de Sezanne--Chardonnay Cote des Bars (the Aube)--Pinot Noir
How is cru status awarded in Champagne and how many grand crus are there?
Status is awarded to entire villages, rather than individual vineyards or properties.
17 grand crus in Champagne
What does NM stand for?
Negociant Manipulant: a house that purchases grapes and or base wines from growers and other small houses.
What does RM stand for?
Recoltant Manipulant: a grower-producer who makes Champagne from estate-grown fruit, a minimum of 95%.
What does CM stand for?
Cooperative Manipulant: a growers’ co-operative that produces the wine under a single brand.
What does RC stand for?
Recoltant Cooperateur: a grower whose grapes are vinified at a co-operative, but sells under his own label.
What does SR stand for?
Societe de Recoltants: a firm, not a co-operative, set up by a union of often related growers, who share resources to make their wines and collectively market several brands.
What does ND stand for?
Negociant Distributeur: a middleman company that distributes Champagne it did not make.
What does MA stand for?
Marque d’Acheteur: a buyer’s own brand, that purchases Champagne and sells it under its own label.