Champagne Flashcards
Where is Champagne located
90 mi northeast of Paris
What is champagnes climate
Continental. No protection from Atlantic. One of the most northerly growing regions in the world 49 parallel. Cloudy, unpredictable weather.
Soils of Champagne
Limestone and Chalk
Why are these soils good for vines
They can dig deep. Chalk and limestone retain water while at the same time provide adequate drainage. Soils maintain steady temps.
White grape of Champagne
Chardonnay
Red grapes of Champagne.
Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
Vineyard threats
Rain, frost, hail
In terms of vinification are most wine blends
YES absolutely. You will see a NV on label for Non-Vintage. Vintage champagne is rare.
What is method champenois
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.
Steps for making champagne
- Base wine-gentle press and first fermentation of each base wine in stainless steel or oak
- Assemblage or Cuvee-blending of base wines
- Second fermentation-Wine is bottled and liquer de tirage (sugar and yeast is added to start the bubbles of second fermentation in the bottle).
- 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.
- 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.
- Dosage or Liquer de Expedition
Disgoring or degorgemont
Removal in salty, briny, ice bath. The leesare removed from the neck of the bottle by hand or machine
Dosage
Liquer of expedition determines sweetness. Tops off champagne bottle once plug is removed prior to corking.
Sweetness designations in champagne
Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux
The only appellation in Champagne you need to know for this exam
Champagne AOP must be method traditional
Sub-Regions of Champagne
Cote de Blanc, Valle de Marme, Montagne de Reims
Champagne aging designations
15 months total (12 on lees) for nonvintage. Vintage Champagne 36 months. Many producers exceed minimum requirements.
Champagne Styles
Rose, Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de noir
Labeling
Single Vineyard, Clos or Monopole-single vineyard OWNERSHIP, Cuvee Prestige or Tete de Cuvee
Negotiants vs. grower
Buying product and bottling in your name vs. growing your own and bottling in your name
Are most champagnes vintages
No this is rare
How does Method Champenois differ from Tank/Charmat/Cuee Clos? Examples of sparkling wines that use charmat/tank method
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.
Wines around the world that use Method Champenois
Champagne, Cremant, Cava (Xarelo, Paralella, Macabeo), Franciacorta
What type of sparkling wine uses the Transfer Method
Large and Small bottling formats of Champagne and other sparkling wines, Sparkling wines from New Zealand and Australia.
What types of wines are made with the Tank Method
Lambrusco, Prosecco, Moscato d’asti (ALL ITALIAN)
Examples of Cremant
Cremant de Alsace, Loire, and Burgone
