Champagne Flashcards
“Remember gentlemen it is not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne!”
Sir Winston Churchill
Where is champagne
90 miles northeast of Paris
Average temp. in Champagne
50 degrees
Where is the name Champagne derived from
The countryside or “campagnia” surrounding the city of Reims
White grape of Champagne
Chardonnay-chalky minerality light
Red grape of Champagne
Pinot Noir-more body, complexity and structure, and Pinot Munier-supple and fruity not usually used in vintage or cuvee prestige
How is champagne ranked
Grand Cru, or Premier Cru
What are the famous soils in champagne made of
75 % limestone, and in some cases a specific pou
Pinot Munier is a clone of what grape
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay tends to be grown on what soil
the chalkiest soils. They are easy to penetrate and have good drainage. Provides grapes with distinct minerality.
Are chalk and limestone the same
Challk is limestone but limestone is not chalk
Crayers
Chalky quarries/caves
Crayers under Veuve Cliquot and Ruinart doubled as
Hospitals when bombed by Germans
How many appellations are there in Champage
1 Champagne
5 vineyard regions of champagne
Montagne de Reims, Cote des Blancs, Vallee de la Marne, Cote de Sezanne, Cote des Bar
Where was Clovis crowned King
Cathedral de Reims
Sweetness designations
Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux
Are grapes hand harvested yes
Yes
Are base wines fermented together
No the number of separate base wines can be astounding. Moet and Chandon has over 800 base wines
Assemblage
Cuvee blend. Blending of base wines
is Vintage champagne a blend
Yes but only from cuvees from that particular vintage. Must be an exceptional vintage.
Prestige Cuvee
Best wines from the best vineyards
Aging requirements
Nonvintage 15 months surlie, Vintage 3 years sur lie, Pretige no requirement often sits on lees 4-10 years.
Most regulare nonvintage champagnes contain
Pinot Munier. This grape is rarely found in prestige champagne.
Liquer de Tirage
Yeast
Pupitre
A shaped wooden frame to hand riddle/remuage
Gyropallete
Mechanized riddling
Liqeur de expedition
Dosage
Blanc de Blanc
Most come from chalky slopes of Cote des Blanc
Two of the most famous Blanc de Blanc champagnes in the world.
Salon’s Le Mesnil and Krug’s Clos du Mesnil
Blanc de Noirs
White wine from red grapes, more common in CA
Rose Champagne
Richer and fuller bodied than goldens. More expensive than golden champagnes. Only 6 % of exports. Saignee or cuvee blend with white and red grapes.
Serve champagne with a whisper
Not a bang
Pressure in champagne
6 atm
What kind of glass do you serve champagne in
flute, tulip shape slightly wide in the middle so aromas can express. Cupee shaped like breast
Dom Perignon and Krug consider all of their wines
Prestige Cuvees
Dom Perignon produces and golden and rose
Oenotheque. Aged 15-30 yrs. on the lees.
How are the bubbles in champagne produced.
Co2 as a byproduct of fermentation and pushes gas down into the sealed bottle during secondary fermentation.
How is the champagne method label
Method Champenois
What can wines be called that are made in this method outside of champagne
Traditional Method or Classic Method
Primary flavors in Champagne are
Citrus, white peach and cherry, almond and toast, cheese rind, brioche.
Champagne pairs well with
Shellfish, fried appetizers, pickled vegetables and raw bar items.
