Champagne

Question 1

Who first created French sparking wine and where?

Answer 1

The monks of saint Hilaire located near the Languedoc town of Limoux

Question 2

In which century did the first Champagne houses appear?

Answer 2

18th century

Question 3

Why Champagne is associated with wealth ,royalty,celebration and privilege

Answer 3

For 600 years 27 French kings were crowned in the Cathedral of Reims- Champagne is the wine of kings and the king of wines

Question 4

Climate of Champagne

Answer 4

Dual:strong continental and Atlantic (maritime )influences.

Question 5

Which parallels Champagne region lies ?

Answer 5

49 and 49,5 parallel northern

Question 6

Traditional grapevines (9th-16th century) of the region

Answer 6

Gouais Noir (black berries)
Gouais Blanc( white berries)
Fromenteau(grey-pink berries) aka Pinot Gris

Question 7

Cornerstone of Champagne (grapes)

Answer 7

Pinot noir-38%
Pinot Meunier-34%
Chardonnay-28%

Question 8

4 principal sub-regions of Champagne

Answer 8

• The Montagne & Val de Reims
• Vallée de la Marne
• Côte des Blanc and surroundings
• Côte des Bar

Question 9

Montagne & Val de Reims : 4 terroirs

Answer 9

Massif de Saint-Thierry: Pinot Meunier ; clay ,sand , marl.

Vesle and Ardre Valleys ( Val de Reims ) : Pinot meunier;sand ,clay ,marl

Monts de Berru: Chardonnay;chalk

Grande Montagne de Reims : Pinot Noir ; some limestone-rich marl and others chalk.

Question 10

Vallée de la Marne : 6 terroirs

Answer 10

• Grand Vallée de la Marne : Pinot Noir ;sands,chalk ,clay,marls.
• Coteaux Sud D’Epernay: Chardonnay/Pinot Meunier;chalk ,sand ,clay,marl
• Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche: Pinot Meunier;sands,marls,clays .
• Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite :Pinot Meunier;sands,marls, clays.
• Condé : Pinot Meunier;limestone
• Vallée de la Marne Ouest: Pinot Meunier;sands ,marls, clay

Question 11

Côtes des Blanc and Surroundings :5 terroirs

Answer 11

• The Côte des Blanc : Chardonnay ;chalk
• Val du Petit Morin: Pinot Meunier,Chardonnay ;chalk and sand/ marl/ clay
• Sézannais:Chardonnay;chalk and pockets of clay.
• Vitryat (Vitry-le-François ): Chardonnay ;chalk .
• Montgeux : Chardonnay; chalk

Question 12

The Côte des Bar : 2 terroirs

Answer 12

• Bar sir Aubois:Pinot Noir ,kimmeridgean marl.

* Barséquanais:Pinot Noir; kimmeridgean marl.

Question 13

Belemnite chalk

Answer 13

Located at the upper to mid-slope levels ,refers to the ancient arrow or dart-like relative of today’s squid .Ideal for optional sun-exposure and moisture retention.

Question 14

Micraster chalk

Answer 14

It’s composed of fossilized sea-urchins.Located at the bottom of the slope .

Question 15

Kimmeridgean marl

Answer 15

Located at Côte des Bar.Aka Virgulien marl.It’s limestone-rich marl,composed of a small comma-shaped oyster known as Exogyra virgule.

Question 16

Quarries -another name?

Answer 16

Crayères

Question 17

3 AOCs in Champagne

Answer 17

1) AOC Rosé des Riceys-100% rosé
2) AOC Coteaux Champenois - 100% still
3) AOC Champagne -100% sparkling.

Question 18

Rural/ Ancestral method

Answer 18

One alcoholic fermentation,