Champagne Flashcards
Who massively improved the quality of wines from Champagne? Where based? When? How? In what way did he fail?
Dom Pierre Pérignon
Abbey Hautvillers in Vallée de La Marne
17th Century
Severe pruning to reduce yields, Careful harvesting (not to damage grapes), blending wines from several vineyards.
He tried to eliminate the Methode Ancestral pétillance in wines that made bottles explode but failed, instead, making better quality pétilant wines
When did Phylloxera hit Champagne region?
During what period was wine fraud at its worst? Resulted in?
When did Russian market collapse?
What was set up in 1935, why, made up of which groups, and who originally led it?
Phylloxera 1890
Fraud worst 1890~1911 - wines coming in from outside rgn
Resulting in riots in 1911
Russian mkt collapse 1917
1935 - Commission de Chalons - made up of Growers and merchants
1st regulations primarily re-inforce boundaries and ensure quality
Originally led by De Vogue, head of Moët
When did INAO first define the Champagne Rgn?
What did it define?
What group set up when to reinforce boundaries and try to formalise quality?
When did Champagne receive AOC status?
When was the governing body set up and what is it called?
1927 INAO defined the Champagne Rgn
Defined an area of 34,000ha made up of 319 Cru (villages) around Epernay, Reims and Ay
1935 Commission de Châlons set up to reinforce boundaries and formalise quality
1936 Champagne receives AOC status
1941 CIVC set up to rep Growers, Co-ops, Shippers and Houses and protect the name ‘Champagne’
What did INAO start a review of this century?
When?
Why?
Using what criteria?
2003 INAO started a study to add 40 villages to Champagne appellation
Because Champagne sales were increasing sales yr on yr and the region feared running out of capacity
Review of villages excluded 1927 and 1935
Villages and plots must have a history of growing grapes for Champs before 1927 definition of Champagne region, have the right soils, climate and elevations etc.
When did Champ sales peak and how many bottles?
2017 sales qty and € value
Accounting what qty % and value % of world Sparkle sales?
% split between Houses and Growers?
% make up of biggest Champ segment?
4 Biggest exprt markets vol and val
Peak 340m bottles in 2007 2017 307.3m bottles @ €4.9bn 10% world volume / 36% world value 72% Houses / 28% Growers Biggest sector white NV = 67% Volume UK, USA, DE, Jpn (Moet is 50% of North America volume) Value USA, UK, DE, Jpn
Define:
Aire Delimitée
Aire Production
Aire Delimitée - Wide area where Champagne can be made, vilified and produced
Aire Production - Smaller area within Aire Delimitée, only where Champ grapes can be grown - 319 Crus
Eschelles des Cru What and how many? When established and why? When abolished and why? Purpose? How much do grapes sell for in Champs land?
Eschelles des Cru - Ladder of Crus
EST 1919 to set a structure for the price of grapes. Villages (Cru) evaluated and graded and awarded a %. The % decided the percentage that would be paid for the grapes.
Prior there were some growers who were sometimes forced to sell grapes for less than production costs forcing them into starvation or stop tending vines.
100% Grand Cru - 17
90~99% Premier Cru now 42
80~89% Autres Cru
1990 prohibited by EU as anti competitive so the Cru status effectively frozen in time
2017 av €6 kg but for Pinot N from a Grand Cru in Montagne de Reims can fetch €8 kg and from Côte des Bar €5.50
Where is Champagne located? Soils? Benefit of? Disadvantage? Climate? Climate risks? How many sub regions growing grapes for Champagne?
NE France, 150km East of Paris, on the Paris Basin
Mainly chalky Limestone consisting of Belemnite and Micraster.
Sand, Marl Clay to the far west and Kimmeridgean Limestone Marl down south similar to Chablis soil.
Chalky Limestone soils give good drainage and allow roots to dig freely and deep.
Soils very infertile so need regular fertiliser
Climate - Continental with a Maritime influence. Av 11c with long sunshine hours (1,680~2,100 hrs)
Risk - Heavy rain at flowering = Millerandage and Coullure
Risk - Winter freeze and Spring frosts
Risk - Hail
14 sub regions but 5 important
Montagne de Reims How many Grand Cru? Name two How many Prem Cru? Location and soils? Grapes grown inc most renowned, styles?
Most Northerly region located on rolling hills around a large plateau between Epernay and Reims
More Grand and Premier Cru than any other region
9 Grand Cru inc Bouzy and Verzy
Highest proportion of Belemnite chalk limestone
Most renowned for Pinot Noir (40% of plantings) but also grows Chard (26%) and Meunier (34%)
PN from the North - Nuanced
From South - more powerful
North should be too cold for grapes but cold night air flows away replaced by warmer air from the top of the montagne.
Vallee de lar Marne How many Grand Cru? Name two How many Prem Cru? Location and soils? Climate Risk? Grapes grown inc most renowned, styles?
2 Grand Cru - Ay (home to Bollinger) and Tours-sur-Marne
7 Premier Cru incl the Abbey and vineyards of Hautvillers of Pérignon fame
Stretching 100km West from just East of Epernay towards Paris
Most plantings on Right bank face S and SE
Chalky in the East and Sand, Chalk, Marl to the West
Valley is frost prone and best suited to late budding Meunier (60% plantings) also 23% PN and 17% Chardy
Cotes des Blancs How many Grand Cru? Name two How many Prem Cru? Location and soils? Grapes grown inc most renowned, styles?
6 Grand Cru inc Crament, Avize, Oger
9 Premier Cru
Runs NE —> SW from South of Epernay
Plantings on Chalk ridges of Belemnite and Mictraster
Produces some of the most respected Chardonnay in Champagne (87% of plantings); high quality age worth Blanc de Blancs and finesse to blends.
Small plantings Pinot Noir (4%) and Meunier (9%)
Cote de Sezanne How many Grand Cru? Name two How many Prem Cru? Location and soils? Grapes grown inc most renowned, styles?
Nil GC or PC
A continuation of Cote des Blancs running SW
Mostly Clay Marl with Chalky outcrops
Plantings SE facing, grapes get warmer than Cote des Blancs
As CdB mainly Chardonnay (75% plantings) but richer and riper
Also Pinot Noir (19%) and Meunier (6%)
Cote des Bar How many Grand Cru? Name two How many Prem Cru? Location and soils? Grapes grown inc most renowned, styles? Local history?
Nil GC or PC
Located ~ 100kms South of Epernay in Aube region
Plantings mainly in river valleys
Soil - Kimmeridgean Limestone Marl very similar to Chablis
85% Pinot Noir, inferior to Montagne de Reims, more robust, less finesse, largely used in NV blends
Also 3% Meunier and 11% Chardonnay
1908 excluded from Champagne region. Growers rioted
1925 delimitation includes Aube
1927 INAO officially defines Champs region incl Aube
How many Grand Cru and Premier Cru in these regions and which, one, grape are they most famed for? Montagne de Reims Vallee de la Marne Cotes de Blancs Cote de Sezanne Cote des Bar
Montagne de Reims 9 GC, 26 PC Pinot Noir Vallee de la Marne 2 GC, 7 PC Meunier Cotes de Blancs 6 GC, 9 PC Chardonnay Cote de Sezanne No GC/PC Chardonnay Cote des Bar No GC/PC Pinot Noir
Sales
2017 bottles produced and sold?
How many bottles held in reserve and maturing?
Qty sales France and Export?
What split House / Non House by France / Export?
2017 295 million bott produced / 307.3 mill Sold
1.4 bn in Reserve and Maturing
France 57% House / 43% Growers and Co-ops
Export 88% House / 12% Growers and Co-ops
Pinot Noir % of plantings? Type? Best soil? Risk? Where primarily grown? What does it bring to the party?
38% of plantings was dominant
Thin skin, buds early
Risk - Frost damage
Cool Chalky Limestone of Montagne de Reims
Also grown Cote des Bar but considered inferior to MdeR
Gives Sructure, body with Ripe red berry depth of fruit
Meunier % of plantings? Type? Best soil? Risk? Where primarily grown? What does it bring to the party?
31% of plantings
Thick skin, late budding, helps avoid Frost damage. Ripens earlier than PN
Robust and hardier than PN
Very tolerant to weather and damp clayey soils
Primarily Vallee de la Marne
Gives intense Bpuquet, Fruity roundness, Body, Richness and fruitiness to blends
Ages more rapidly than other Champ grapes so usually in NV blends destined for relatively early drinking. That said it is more respected than once was.
Chardonnay % of plantings? Type? Best soil? Risk? Where primarily grown? What does it bring to the party?
30% of plantings
Earliest budding, early ripening, productive
Cote des Blancs orig East face but doing well in increasing locations such as Cotes de Sezanne.
Likes Chalky soils; Limestone or Clay Marl
Amongst most revered grapes gives Citrus, austerity and elegance when young and Biscuit, Brioche and nuttiness with long lees age
How have the vines become so productive?
How many Clones available of the 3 main grapes?
As a generalisation what is the landscape like and where are the best sites located?
Which Rootstocks are popular?
A combination of Clonal and Massana selection have resulted in vines delivering high yields of high quality grapes
Approx 50 clones of the 3 main grapes available
Undulating terrain with gradients up to 60%
Best sites are Mid Slope 90~300m S, E and SE facing
- Good concentrations of Chalk = Good drainage and Sun
Top of slopes tend to be Sandier and more water logged
Rootstocks - 80% Lime tolerant 41B
20% 3309c for soils Sand and Clay Marl with little Limestone
Who set Min / Max yields and what are they?
Who decides this year and on what basis? What was 2018?
When were planting density regs set? What is Av density?
What are dims for planting?
INAO min 10,400 kg/ha and max 15,500 kg/ha
CIVC sets within each year considering how much held in Reserve and Mkt demand and forecasts
2018 10,800 kg/ha + 4,700 kg/ha Reserve
Regs, all grapes must be picked, so once allowance reached balance machine (for speed) or hand and left to rot
Av density - high @ 8,000 vines ha
Planting regs 1978
Max between rows 1.5m / 0.9~1.5m between vines
Tot max dim not >2.5m
When were vine Pruning regs put in place?
What’s the objective of Pruning?
What methods are approved?
When does pruning take place?
Pruning regulated since 1938 Obj - Balance Vigour and Productivity. Direct Plant energy >> Shoots and leaves for optimal fruit. Also give shape, prevent leaves and fruit being too dense there = better exp sunlight and air flow 4 approved methods Taille Chablis Cordon de Royat Vallee de la Marne Guyot Pruning takes place in the months after harvest until mid-December, then re-starts mid-January after winter dormancy.
Taille Chablis
Effectively a slanting Bush vine with up to 5 canes that are Spur pruned
Retains large amount Permanent Wood offering some Frost protect
Canes trained max 60cm above ground to benefit from reflected sun and heat
Best for Chardonnay (90% pruned this way) but can use for PN and Meunier
One of only 2 methods approved for 90~100% GC and PC vineyards
Cordon de Royat
Single permanent Cordon, Spur pruned with VSP shoots 15cm apart
Large amount Permanent wood offers some frost protection
Cordon max 60cm above ground to benefit from reflected sun and warmth
Main system for PN and Meunier, can also be used for Chardy
One of only 2 methods approved for 90~100% GC and PC vineyards
Vallée de la Marne
Cane prune system only approved for Meunier
Adapted to manage well in below Zero Spring frosts
Cane max 50cm above ground to benefit from reflected sun and warmth
Only for Meunier in lesser 80~89% vineyards
