Champagne

Question 1

How many AOCs are in Champagne?

Answer 1

There are just 3 AOCs in Champagne, AOC Rosé des Riceys (100% Rosé), AOC Coteaux Champenois (100% still), and AOC Champagne (100% sparkling).

Question 2

What type of climate does Champagne have?

Answer 2

Champagne experiences a dual climate, there are strong continental and Atlantic (maritime) influences.

Question 3

What are the main grapes of Champagne?

Answer 3

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.

Question 4

What is the most planted grape variety in Champagne?

Answer 4

Pinot Noir, although not by too much. Pinot Noir accounts for 38%, Pinot Meunier 34%, and Chardonnay 28%.

Question 5

Name the 4 principal sub-regions of Champagne

Answer 5

The Montagne & Val de Reims 
Vallée de la Marne
Côte de Blancs & surroundings
and 
Côte de Bar

Question 6

What is the northernmost section of Champagne?

Answer 6

The northernmost section of Champagne is the Massif de Saint-Thierry

Question 7

Describe the soil makeup of the Massif de Saint-Thierry and name the primary grape grown.
Also name which sub-region it resides in.

Answer 7

The soils of the Massif de Saint-Thierry are a mix of sand, clay, and marl.
The dominant grape variety is Pinot Meunier.
The Massif de Saint-Thierry is in The Montage & Val de Reims sub-region.

Question 8

Describe the soil makeup of the Vesle and Ardre Valleys and name the primary grape grown.
Also name which sub-region it resides in.

Answer 8

The soils of the Vesle and Ardre Valleys are comprised of sand, clay, and marl.
The dominant grape grown is Pinot Meunier.
The Vesle and Ardre Valleys are in The Montage & Val de Reims sub-region.

Question 9

Describe the soil makeup of the Monts de Berru and name the primary grape grown.
Also name which sub-region it resides in.

Answer 9

The soil of the Monts de Berru is chalk.
The dominant grape grown is Chardonnay.
The Monts de Berru resides in The Montage & Val de Reims sub-region.

Question 10

Describe the soil makeup of the Grand Montage de Reims and name the primary grape grown.
Also name which sub-region it resides in.

Answer 10

The soils vary by village; some are limestone rich marl while others are chalk.
The dominant grape grown is Pinot Noir.
Grand Montage de Reims resides in The Montage & Val de Reims sub-region.

Question 11

Describe the soil makeup of Grand Vallée de la Marne and name the primary grape grown.
Also name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 11

There are chalk sub-soils but the rest of the valley is sand, clay, and marls.
The dominant grape grown is Pinot Noir.
Grand Vallée de la Marne resides in Vallée de la Marne.

Question 12

Describe the soil makeup of Coteaux Sud d’Epernay and name the dominant grape grown there.
Also name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 12

Soils are chalk, sand, clay, and marl.
Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier are widely planted.
Coteaux Sud d’Epernay resides in Vallée de la Marne.

Question 13

Describe the soil makeup of Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche and name the dominant grape grown there.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 13

The left bank of the Marne River, the soils are sands, marls, and clays.
Most vineyards face north.
Pinot Meunier is the dominant grape grown.
Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche is located in Vallée de la Marne.

Question 14

Describe the soil makeup of Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite and name the dominant grape grown there.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 14

The right bank of the Marne River, which is bisected by the Chatillon River.
Soils are sands, clays, and marls.
Most vineyards face south.
Pinot Meunier is the dominant grape variety.
Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite is located in Vallée de la Marne.

Question 15

Describe the soil makeup of Condé and name the dominant grape grown there.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 15

Vineyards have varying aspects on a limestone uplift.
Pinot Meunier is the dominant grape.
Condé is located in Vallée de la Marne sub-region.

Question 16

Describe the soil makeup of Vallée de la Marne Ouest and name the dominant grape grown there.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 16

Vineyards face south and south-west on soils of Sands, marls, and clay.
Pinot Meunier is the dominant grape.
Vallée de la Marne Ouest is located in the Vallée de la Marne sub-region.

Question 17

Which terroir is the furthest west in the Champagne viticole?

Answer 17

Vallée de la Marne Ouest is the western-most section of the Champagne viticole.

Question 18

Describe the soil makeup of Côte des Blancs and name the dominant grape grown.

Answer 18

Vineyards face east on chalk sub-soils.

Chardonnay is the dominant grape of the Côte des Blancs

Question 19

Describe the soil makeup of Val du Petit Morin and name the dominant grape grown.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 19

Vineyards face south on a mix of chalk and sand/marl/clay.
The dominant grape is Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
Val du Petit Morin is located in Côte des Blancs.

Question 20

Describe the soil makeup of Côte de Sézanne and name the dominant grape grown.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 20

Vineyards face south-east on chalk with clay pockets.
The dominant grape is Chardonnay.
Côte de Sézanne is located in Côte des Blancs.

Question 21

Describe the soil makeup of Vitryat and name the dominant grape.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 21

Vineyards face east on chalk slopes.
The dominant grape is Chardonnay.
Vitryat is located in Côte des Blancs.

Question 22

Describe the soil makeup of Montgeux and name the dominant grape.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 22

Vineyards face south on chalk outcrops.
The dominant grape is Chardonnay.
Montgeux is located in Côte des Blancs.

Question 23

Describe the soil makeup of Bar sur Aubois and name the dominant grape.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 23

Vineyards face varying aspects on Kimmeridgean marl.
The dominant grape is Pinot Noir.
Bar sur Aubois os located in The Côte des Bar.

Question 24

Describe the soil makeup of Barséquanais and name the dominant grape.
Also, name the sub-region it resides in.

Answer 24

Vineyards face varying aspects on Kimmeridgean marl.
The dominant grape is Pinot Noir.
Barséquanais is located in The Côte des Bar.

Question 25

Name the two primary types of chalk found in the soils of Champagne.

Answer 25

Belemnite and Micraster are the primary types of chalk found in Champagne.

Question 26

What does author James Wilson mean when he refers to a portion of the Champagne region as “dry Champagne”?

Answer 26

“Dry Champagne” refers to an area with this topsoil that rested upon chalk. Chalk provides drainage for topsoil so trees and other plants find this area too dry to thrive.

This area includes the towns of Reims, Epernay, Aÿ, Ambonnay, and Verzenay; and the sub-region of Côte des Blancs.