Champagne

Question 1

Where is Champagne located

Answer 1

90 mi northeast of Paris

Question 2

What is champagnes climate

Answer 2

Continental. No protection from Atlantic. One of the most northerly growing regions in the world 49 parallel. Cloudy, unpredictable weather.

Question 3

Soils of Champagne

Answer 3

Limestone and Chalk

Question 4

Why are these soils good for vines

Answer 4

They can dig deep. Chalk and limestone retain water while at the same time provide adequate drainage. Soils maintain steady temps.

Question 5

White grape of Champagne

Answer 5

Chardonnay

Question 6

Red grapes of Champagne.

Answer 6

Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier

Question 7

Vineyard threats

Answer 7

Rain, frost, hail

Question 8

In terms of vinification are most wine blends

Answer 8

YES absolutely. You will see a NV on label for Non-Vintage. Vintage champagne is rare.

Question 9

What is method champenois

Answer 9

Methhod Classic or traditional method for making sparkling wine in this area. The method is protected by law. All wines made in Champagne use this method.

Question 10

Steps for making champagne

Answer 10

1. Base wine-gentle press and first fermentation of each base wine in stainless steel or oak
2. Assemblage or Cuvee-blending of base wines
3. Second fermentation-Wine is bottled and liquer de tirage (sugar and yeast is added to start the bubbles of second fermentation in the bottle).
4. Sur lie aging- yeast cells break down and smell like baked bread (autolysis). Lees contac is a minimum of 12 months on lees required by law. 15 months total aging.
5. Remuage (Riddling)-Lees are gently moved to neck of bottle to prepare for removal. If done by hand Pupitre wooden racks are used and takes 8 weeks and each rack hold 60 bottles. If done by machine 504 bottles can be used at once.
6. Dosage or Liquer de Expedition

Question 11

Disgoring or degorgemont

Answer 11

Removal in salty, briny, ice bath. The leesare removed from the neck of the bottle by hand or machine

Question 12

Dosage

Answer 12

Liquer of expedition determines sweetness. Tops off champagne bottle once plug is removed prior to corking.

Question 13

Sweetness designations in champagne

Answer 13

Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux

Question 14

The only appellation in Champagne you need to know for this exam

Answer 14

Champagne AOP must be method traditional

Question 15

Sub-Regions of Champagne

Answer 15

Cote de Blanc, Valle de Marme, Montagne de Reims

Question 16

Champagne aging designations

Answer 16

15 months total (12 on lees) for nonvintage. Vintage Champagne 36 months. Many producers exceed minimum requirements.

Question 17

Champagne Styles

Answer 17

Rose, Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de noir

Question 18

Labeling

Answer 18

Single Vineyard, Clos or Monopole-single vineyard OWNERSHIP, Cuvee Prestige or Tete de Cuvee

Question 19

Negotiants vs. grower

Answer 19

Buying product and bottling in your name vs. growing your own and bottling in your name

Question 20

Are most champagnes vintages

Answer 20

No this is rare

Question 21

How does Method Champenois differ from Tank/Charmat/Cuee Clos? Examples of sparkling wines that use charmat/tank method

Answer 21

Method Champenois takes place solely in a bottle for both first and second fermentation. Tank or charmat method eliminates riddling or in other words base wines are bottled initially but second fermentation takes place in tanks not bottle. Charmat/tank method eliminates riddling and disgorging and does all steps in tank. Bottled at end i.e. proseccom, moscato d’Asti and Lambrusco.

Question 22

Wines around the world that use Method Champenois

Answer 22

Champagne, Cremant, Cava (Xarelo, Paralella, Macabeo), Franciacorta

Question 23

What type of sparkling wine uses the Transfer Method

Answer 23

Large and Small bottling formats of Champagne and other sparkling wines, Sparkling wines from New Zealand and Australia.

Question 24

What types of wines are made with the Tank Method

Answer 24

Lambrusco, Prosecco, Moscato d’asti (ALL ITALIAN)

Question 25

Examples of Cremant

Answer 25

Cremant de Alsace, Loire, and Burgone