Champagne Flashcards
What contribution did Kinelm Digby contribute to Champagne’s advancement?
Introduced the modern wine bottle from England, coal-fired ovens that produced glass stronger and superior to the French glass of the time.
What contribution did Dom Perignon contribute to Champagne’s advancement?
Introduced the Pressoir Coquard (Coquard Press), was the first to make white wine from red grapes, first to realize that blending across several lots created a more balanced and complex finished wine.
What contribution did Louis XV contribute to Champagne’s advancement?
Removed the restrictions on transporting wine in bottles that had previously held back Champagne sales. This moment marked the beginning of the modern Champagne trade.
What contribution did Antoine Müller contribute to Champagne’s advancement? Where did he work at the time?
Discovered the process of remuage or riddling to remove unwanted yeast deposit in the bottle following secondary alcoholic fermentation. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.
What contribution did Jean-Baptiste François contribute to Champagne’s advancement?
He invented the sucre-oenomètre (wine-sugar meter) allowing Champagne makers to more accurately add the right amount of sugar to the wine to make its sparkle, with less risk of the bottle exploding because of too much pressure.
What contribution did Louis Pasteur contribute to Champagne’s advancement?
His work elucidated the truth behind fermentation and the relationship between sugar and yeast during this process.
What contribution did Madame Pommery contribute to Champagne’s advancement?
Introduced the first widely successful brut style Champagne.
What contribution did Robert-Jean de Vogüé contribute to Champagne’s advancement?
Established the CIVC, a broad consortium of growers, producers, and shippers representing Champagne and protecting the region’s interests in the face of Nazi occupation. (1941)
What parallel does Champagne align with?
48th
What are the 5 departments of Champagne Viticole? What is the major grape of each?
Aube (Pinot Noir) Aisne Marne (Pinot Noir) Haute-Marne Seine-et-Marne
How many communes (villages) produce Champagne?
357
What are the two still wine appellations in Champagne?
Rosé de Riceys
Coteaux Champenois
What district is the more localized, pertaining to one area, still wine appellation in Champagne?
Rosé de Riceys
What is the average temperature in Champagne?
50F
What kind of climate does Champagne have?
Atlantic-influenced and continental.
What are the major viticultural hazards of Champagne? How do they affect the vine?
Frost can affect the vine during bud break and flowering limiting yields
Excessive rain can dilute grapes and/or promote the spread of fungal disease and can also interrupt flowering which can result in a bouvreux, or second crop that rarely ripens
Hail damages the leaves and grapes disrupting photosynthetic cycle of vine and rupturing grape skins leaving the fruit vulnerable to fungal infection and spread of disease
What are the four major soil types of Champagne? What is the most desirable for Chardonnay? Pinot Noir? Meaunier?
Belemnite (chardonnay)
Micraster chalk
Turonian chalk
Clay (Pinot Noir)
What attributes or qualities do each of the major three grapes contribute to the wines of Champagne? Which ages the longest? Which is most available when young?
Pinot Noir contributes structure, richness, depth of fruit, and body
Chardonnay contributes elegance, freshness, fine fruitiness, and longevity. Has the greatest aging potential
Pinot Meunier contributes youthful fruitiness and approachability as it is the most available when young. The most early-maturing of the three.
What four grapes other than the big three are allowed in some parts of Champagne?
Pinot Blanc Vrai (Pinot Blanc)
Arbane
Pinot Gris
Petit Meslier
What does CIVC stand for? Who founded it? Why was it founded and what is its function today?
Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne
Governing body that mediates between the large Champagne houses and the numbers small growers from whom they source grapes.
What does the Échelle es Crus translate to in English and what was its original purpose? Purpose today?
Ladder of Growths
Originally rated Champagne villages and regulated the value of grapes produced in each village which represented the maximum price a grower could be paid for their grapes.
Originally every grower in a village would be paid the same price for their grapes, but today the CIVC supervises the exchange between growers and Champagne houses on an individual basis to promote fairness.
Describe the permitted pruning methods in Champagne and which grape they are most appropriate for.
Cordon de Royat is used for Pinot Noir. Requires the short pruning of spurs on one long cordon with the ambition of helping the vine retain a higher degree of permanent wood which will help it resist frost more effectively
Taille Chablis is used for Chardonnay most of the time though the grape will also be trained in Cordon de Royat in Grand Cru villages. Promotes longer canes with more fruit buds encouraging a good balance of vigor and productivity. Also promotes retention of a higher degree of wood to protect against frost
Vallée de la Marne is used exclusively for Meunier. Similar to Guyot
Guyot is commonly used for all grapes in the most highly frost-prone areas.
What is the maximum planting density allowed in Champagne? Maximum Yield (kg/ha)? Minimum must weight? Maximum press yield?
2.5 square meters per vine for density
10,400kg/ha
102L per 60 kg for press yield.
The following are a list of producer types by their abbreviation. What does each abbreviation stand for and how do they function as a producer?NMRMCMRCSRNDMA
Negociant-Manipulant (NM) - house that purchases grapes and/or base wines from growers and other small houses, but may own some of their own vineyards.
Récoltant-Manipulant (RM) - A grower-producer who makes Champagne from estate-grown fruit. 95% of the grapes must originate in the producer’s vineyards.
Coopérative Manipulant (CM) - A growers’ co-operative that produces the wine under a single brand.
Récoltant Coopérateur (RC) - A grower whose grapes are vinified at a co-operative, but sells the wine under his own label.
Société de Récoltants (SR) - A firm, not a co-operative, set by a union of often related growers, who share resources to make their wines and collectively market several brands.
Négociant Distributeur (ND) - A middleman company that distributes Champagne it did not make.
Marque d’Acheteur (MA) - A buyer’s own brand, often a large supermarket chain or restaurant, that purchases Champagne and sells it under its own label.
What is the traditional press of Champagne and how many L/kg can it hold?
Coquard basket press
2,550L / 4,000kg
Pressing of Champagne grapes occurs in three separate steps. What are the names of the three pressings? How are they different than each other in regards to volume? How are they used in the production process?
Vin de Cuvée represents the first 2,050L and is mostly free run juice. (there are three pressings of this as well with the middle being the most desirable, “cœur de cuvée”)
Vin de Taille represents the following 500L after the Vin de Cuvée. Usually richer in pigment and tannin with less malic and tartaric acid, which form the skeleton of all great white wines. This part of the press is usually either sell this off or include it as a minor proportion in a blend.
Rebêche represents the final pressing which is required by law and must comprise 1-10% of the total. Typically used for distillate only, not for Champagne AOP. Used for Ratafia!
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Champagne base wines? Maximum RS?
9% min alcohol
10g/L
Place the following steps of Method Champenoise in order.Primary fermentationLiqueur de tirageAssemblageClarificationBottling Malolactic FermentationDébourbagePressingRemuageDégorgementAutolysisLiqueur d’ExpeditionSecond Alcoholic Fermentation
Pressing Débourbage (settling) Primary fermentation (base wines) Malolactic fermentation (base wines) Clarification Assemblage Liqueur de Tirage Second Alcoholic Fermentation (in bottle) Autolysis Remuage Disgorgement Liqueur d'Expédition Bottling
What are the different sweetness level classifications in g/L? What did they used to be?
Brut Nature/NonDosé (0-3g/L) Extra Brut (0-6g/L) Brut (0-12g/L) Extra Dry (12-17g/L) Sec (17-32g/L) Demi-Sec (32-50g/L) Doux (50+g/L)
Prior to 2010 Brut Nature (0-3g/L) Extra Brut (0-6g/L) Brut (0-15g/L) Extra Dry (12-20g/L) Sec (17-35g/L) Demi-Sec (33-50g/L) Doux (50+g/L)
What are 6 different styles of Champagne? Describe them in regards to fruit used, aging requirements, etc.
Non-Vintage - Generally brut. House’s signature style
Vintage - Generally brut. 100% blend must come from stated vintage. Only declared in best years. Max 80% of a year’s harvest may be sold as vintage Champagne. Only declared in the best years and good examples can age for a decade or more
Blanc de Blancs - 100% Chardonnay. May be vintage or NV. Represents some of Champagne’s most age-worthy bottlings. Austere in steely in youth that develop intense bouquet with maturity
Blanc de Noirs - White wine from only black grapes. Wine displays richness, intensity, and weight, although it can lack the supreme elegance and finesse of blanc de blancs
Prestige Cuvée - Usually the finest and most expensive bottling that a house offers. Typically, but not always, vintage-dated and can be made in Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, and Rosé in style. Some houses don’t produce any, some produce several.
Rosé - Can be vintage or NV. usually created by blending red reserve wine or by using the saignée method which is less common. Rosé prestige cuvées are usually the rarest and most expensive bottlings a house offers.
Name the prestige cuvée(s) for Henri Billiot and what the dominant grape(s) are. What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée Laetitia NV (mostly Chardonnay)
Cuvée Julie (50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay)
RM (Ambonnay)
Inaugural Vintage: 1999 (Julie)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Delamotte and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Nicolas Louis Delamotte (90% Chardonnay/ 10% Pinot Noir) - No longer produced
NM (Le Mesnil-sur-Oger)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Paul Bara and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Comtesse Marie de France (100% Pinot Noir)
Special Club (2/3 Pinot Noir to 1/3 Chardonnay)
RM (Bouzy)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Joseph Perrier and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée Josephine (Pinot Noir and Chard)
NM (Châlons-en-Champagne)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Drappier and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Grande Sendrée (55/45 Pinot Noir Chardonnay) Single Parcel wine
Charles de Gaulle (80/20 Pinot Noir/Chardonnay)
NM (Aube)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for J.Lassalle and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Special Club (60/40 Chard/Pinot Noir)
RM (Chigny-les-Roses)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Canard Duchêne and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Charles VII NV (made in Brut, Brut Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, and Blanc de Noirs)
NM (Ludes)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Jacques Selosse and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Substance (100% Chardonnay)
RM (Avize)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Bollinger and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
La Grande Année (mostly Pinot Noir with Chardonnay)
R.D. (1952 was inaugural) (mostly pinot noir with Chard)(generally released 8-20 years after vintage)
Vieilles Vignes Françaises (100% Pinot Noir) 1969 was inaugural
NM (Äy)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Ployez-Jacquemart and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Liesse d’Harbonville (70/30 Chard/Pinot Noir)
NM (Ludes)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Chartogne Taillet and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Fiacre (60 Chard/40 Pinot Noir)
RM (Merfy)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Diebold-Valois and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Fleur de Passion (100% Chardonnay) 1995 inaugural
NM (Cramant)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Ayala and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée Perle d’Ayala Brut and Brut Nature (80/20 Chardonnay Pinot Noir)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Charles Heidsieck and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
“Champagne Charlie” (last vintage was 85)
Blanc des Millénaires (100% Chardonnay)
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Duval-Leroy and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Clos des Bouveries (100% Chardonnay and single parcel in Vertus)
Femme de Champagne (89% Chard/11% Pinot Noir)
NM (Vertus)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Pol Roger and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill (Pinot and Chard) 1975 was inaugural
NM (Épernay)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Billecart-Salmon and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Nicolas François Billecart (60/40 Pinot/Chard) 1955 was inaugural
Grande Cuvée (60/40 Pinot/Chard) 1982 was inaugural
Elisabeth Salmon Rosé (58/42 Pinot/Chard) 1988 was inaugural
Clos St-Hilaire (100% Pinot Noir from 1 ha in Mareuil-sur-Äy) 1995 was inaugural year
NM (Mareuil-sur-Äy)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Henriot and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée des Enchanteleurs (Chard and Pinot)
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Gosset and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Celebris made in every style except Blanc de Noirs (Pinot and Chard) 1988 was inaugural year.
NM (formerly Aÿ, now Épernay since 2010)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Deutz and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée William Deutz (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier made in blanc and rosé) 1959 was inaugural year
Amour de Deutz (100% Chardonnay) 1993 was inaugural year
NM (Aÿ)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Lanson and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Noble Cuvée (made in Blanc de Blancs, NV Rosé, and Brut rom Chard and Pinot) 1979 was inaugural year.
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for G.H. Mumm and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée R. Lalou (Chard and Pinot) 1966 was inaugural year, discontinued in 85, revived in 1998)
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Piper-Heidsieck and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
“Rare” (Chard and Pinot) 1976 was inaugural year.
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Alfred Gratien and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée Paradis NV Brut and Brut Rosé (Chard and Pinot) 1985 was inaugural
NM (Epernay)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Guy Larmandier and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cramant Grand Cru Cuvée Prestige (100% Chardonnay)
RM (Vertus)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Pommery and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cuvée Louise (Brut and Brut Rosé made 60/40 Chard/Pinot)
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Jacquesson and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Grand Vin Signature (1981 was inaugural and discontinued after 2002 vintage)
Dizy Corne Bautray (100% Chardonnay from 1ha) 1995 was first
Aÿ Vauzelle Terme (100% Pinot Noir form 0.3ha) 1996 was first
Avize Champ Cain (100% Chardonnay from 1.3ha) 2002 was first
NM (Dizy)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Louis Roederer and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cristal (Brut and Rosé 55/45 Pinot/Chard) 1876 was first but not commercially made available until 1945. Rosé inaugural was 1974
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Agrapart and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Venus Brut Nature (100% Chardonnay from 0.3ha in Avize)
RM (Avize)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Tattinger and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Comtes de Champagne (Blanc de Blancs and Rosé 70/30 Pinot/Chard) 1952 for Blanc de Blancs, 1973 for rosé
Taittinger Collection (50/50 Chard/Pinot) 1978 was first
Les Folies de la Marquetterie NV (single parcel 55/45 Chard Pinot)
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
La Grande Dame Brut and Brut Rosé 60-65 Pinot/30-35 Chard) 1969 for Brut, 1988 for rosé
NM (Reims)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Vilmar & Cie and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Cœur de Cuvée (80/20 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir) 1989 was first
RM (Rilly-la-Montagne)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Juillet-Lallement and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Special Club
RM (Verzy)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for A. Margaine and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Special Club
RM (Villers Marmery)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Möet & Chandon and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Dom Pérignon (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; 1921 was first)
Dom Pérignon Oenothèque (Brut and Brut Rosé) Rosé 1959
NM (Epernay)
What are the prestige cuvée(s) for Perrier-Jouët and what are the dominant grapes? What kind of producer are they? Where?
Belle Époque/Fleur de Champagne (USA) (50/45/5 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Meunier 1964 was first. Last vintage of Fleur de Champagne was 2002
NM (Epernay)
What are the aging requirements for NV Champagne? Vintage Champagne?
NV is 15 moths from date of tirage
Vintage is 36 months from date of tirage
What is the min atm pressure that a bottle of Champagne must achieve?
5.5 atm
Name all the Premier Cru Villages in the Vallée de la Marne. (7)
Bisseuil Champillon Cumières Dizy Hautvillers Mareuil-sur-Aÿ Mutigny
Name all of the Premier Cru Villages in the Côtes des Blancs. (9)
Bergères-Lés-Vertus Cuis Étréchy Grauves Pierry Val-des-Marais (Coligny) Vertus Villeneuve-Renneville-Chevigny Voipreux
Name at least half of the 26 Premier Cru Villages in the Montagne de Reims.
Chigny-les-Roses Jouy-lès-Reims Montbré Pargny-les-Reims Trois-Puits Vaudemange Ludes Rilly-la-Montagne Sacy Trépail Villers-Allerand Villers-aux-Nœuds Vrigny
Name all of the Grands Crus of Montagne de Reims.
Louvois Bouzy Verzy Verzenay Sillery Mailly Champagne Ambonnay Beaumont-sur-Vesle Puisieulx
Name all of the Grands Crus of the Côtes des Blancs.
Chouilly (white grapes only) Oiry Oger Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Cramant Avize
Name all of the Grands Crus of the Vallée de la Marne.
Aÿ
Tours-sur-Marne (red grapes only)
What is the difference between Degorgement à la glace and Degorgement à la volée?
à la glace is the newer method where the sediment is freezed prior to disgorgement.
à la volée is the older method of not freezing the sediment first
What is Ficelage?
Older method of tying cork down to the bottle.
What does poingettage mean?
Shaking a bottle of Champagne to stir up the lees
What is the muselet?
the wire cage that holds the Champagne cork to the bottle.
What is the difference between the liqueur de tirage and the liqueur d’expedition?
tirage is to ignite the secondary fermentation
expedition is the dossage
What is transversage? When is it most commonly used?
The process of transferring from one bottle to another. Used for very small (187ml) bottles and bottles of large format that are larger than 3L
What are Crayères?
Refers to the old underground cellars that were the result of quarrying, but were used as bomb shelters during the war and cellars as well.
What is the Club Trésors and why was it started?
The Club Trésors refers to the “Special Club” which is an organization comprised of RM producers for the purpose of better marketing their product against the larger Champagne houses with deeper pockets for advertising.
What is the prestige cuvée for Ruinart? What are the grapes? Inaugural year? What kind of producer? Where?
Dom Ruinart (Blanc de Blancs and Rosé 85/15 Chardonnay/Pinot) 1959 was inaugural year for BdB; 1966 for rosé.
NM (Reims)
Which Champagne Grands Crus were added after the revision in 1985?
Verzy Chouilly Oiry Oger Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Name 10 producers who are Special Club members.
Paul Bara Gaston Chiquet Henri Goutorbe J. Lassalle A. Margaine Pierre Gimonnet Moussé Fils Juillet-Lallement Roland Champion Larmandier Père et Fils.
Who produces the single parcel wine called Vénus and where is it sourced from?
Agrapart
Avize
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos St-Hilaire and where is it sourced from?
Billecart-Salmon
Mareuil-sur-Ay
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos du Moulin and where is it sourced from?
Cattier
Ludes
Who produces the single parcel wine called Les Barres and where is it sourced from? How is it similar to VVF?
Chartogne-Taillet
Merfy
Ungrafted vine
Who produces the single parcel wine called Les Orizeaux and where is it sourced from?
Chartogne-Taillet
Merfy
Who produces the single parcel wine called Les Alliées and where is it sourced from?
Chartogne-Taillet
Merfy
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos Cazals and where is it sourced from?
Claude Cazals
Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger
Who produces the single parcel wine called Grande Sendrée and where is it sourced from?
Drappier
Urville, Aube
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos des Bouveries and where is it sourced from?
Duval-Leroy
Vertus
Who produces the single parcel wine called Les Crayères and where is it sourced from?
Egly-Ouriet
Ambonnay
Who produces Dizy Corne Bautray and Dizy Terres Rouges Rosé?
Jacquesson
Both from Dizy
Who produces the single parcel wine called Champ Cain and where is it sourced from?
Jacquesson
Avize
Who produces the single parcel wine called Aÿ Vauzelle Terme and where is it sourced from?
Jacquesson
Aÿ
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos du Mesnil and where is it sourced from?
Krug
Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos d’Ambonnay and where is it sourced from?
Krug
Ambonnay
Who produces the single parcel wine called Vieille Vigne de Cramant and where is it sourced from?
Larmandier-Bernier
Cramant
Who produces the single parcel wine called Terre de Vertus and where is it sourced from?
Larmandier-Bernier
Vertus
Who produces the single parcel wine called Terre de Nöel and where is it sourced from?
Jean Milan
Oger
Who produces the single parcel wine called Cuvée Spéciale les Chétillons and where is it sourced from?
Pierre Peters
Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos des Goisses and where is it sourced from?
Philipponnat
Mareuil-sur-Ay
Who produces the single parcel wine called Les Folies de la Marquetterie and where is it sourced from?
Taittinger
Pierry
Who produces the single parcel wines called La Vigne d’Or, La Vigne d’Antan, La Vigne Royale, and Cuvée Louis and where is it sourced from? Which is ungrafted?
Tarlant
Oeuilly
Who produces the single parcel wine called Clos Faubourg Notre Dame and where is it sourced from?
Veuve Fourny
Vertus
List all Champagne Bottle Sizes, the amount of Liters, and the approximate amount of glasses
Piccolo - 187ml - 1/4 bottle - 1 glass (heavy)
Quarter - 200ml - 1.3 glasses
Demi / Half - 375 ml - 1/2 bottle - 2.5 glasses
Bottle - 750ml - 5 glasses
Magnum - 1.5L - 2 bottles - 10 glasses
Jeroboam - 3L - 4 bottles - 20 glasses
Rehoboam - 4.5L - 6 bottles - 30 glasses
Methuselah - 6L - 8 bottles - 40 glasses
Salmanazar - 9L - 12 bottles - 60 glasses
Balthazar - 12L - 16 bottles - 80 glasses
Nebuchadnezzar - 15L - 20 bottles - 101 glasses
Solomn (Melchoir) - 18L - 24 bottles - 121 glasses
Sovereign - 26.25L - 35 bottles - 177 glasses
Primat / Goliath - 27L - 36 bottles - 182 glasses
Melchizedek / Midas - 30L - 40 bottles - 202 glasses
