Champagne Flashcards
What are the 5 main communes of Champagne?
1) Montagne de Reims
2) Valle de la Marne
3) Cote de Blancs
4) Cote de Sezanne
5) Cote des Bars (Aube)
Champagne sweetness levels:
Brut Nature or Zero Dosage – Dry: 0-3g/L sugar
Extra Brut – Dry: 0-6g/L sugar
Brut – Dry to a hint of sweetness: 0-12g/L sugar
Extra Sec – A hint of sweetness to noticeably sweet, but not quite dessert quality: 12-17g/L sugar
Sec – Noticeably sweet, but not quite dessert quality: 17-32g/sugar
Demi-Sec – Sweet, bring on the cake! 32-50g/L sugar
Doux – Very sweet, dessert in itself! 50+g/L sugar
Champagne Primary Grape Varieties?
1) Pinot Noir
2) Meunier
3) Chardonnay
Champagne Secondary Grape Varieties?
1) Pinot Blanc
2) Pinot Gris
3) Arbane
4) Petit Meslier
Champagne labeling codes?
NM – Négociant-Manipulant – This appears on the label of large Champagne houses who buy their grapes from a wide variety of other growers then make the Champagne under their own brand.
RM – Récoltant-Manipulant – This is a Champagne which is both grown and made by the same producer, known as a Grower Champagne.
CM – Coopérative-Manipulant – This is on the label when a group of small growers blend their grapes collectively and make a sparkling wine under one or more brands. They will usually be involved in the wine-making too.
RC – Récoltant-Coopérateur – This is when a grower provides grapes to a Coopérative- Manipulant and they make the wine on the grower’s behalf, under the grower’s own brand but without their involvement.
SR – Sociéte des Récoltants – When a small number of growers get together and share the same winery but make their own labels. This differs from a Coopérative-Manipulant because the growers keep their grapes separate, make their own brand, and are directly involved in the winemaking process.
ND – Negociant Distributeur – A company selling Champagne it did not make.
MA – Marque d’ Acheteur – A brand name owned by the purchaser, such as a restaurant, supermarket or wine merchant.
What is Montagne de Reims known for?
Mostly Pinot Noir, many tête de cuvée wines from major Champagne houses come from here.
It has 9 Grand Crus Villages: Sillery, Puisieulx, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Mailly, Verzenay, Verzy, Louvois, Bouzy and Ambonnay
What is Vallée de la Marne known for?
Mostly Pinot Meunier, a grape known for its fruity and unctuous flavors.
It has 2 Grand Crus Villages: Ay and Tours-sur-Marne
What is Côte des Blancs known for?
Mostly Chardonnay. Chalk-based soils produce wine with higher acidity. Wines are elegant and racey.
It has 6 Grand Crus Villages: Chouilly, Oiry, Cramant, Avize, Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger
What is Côte des Sézanne known for?
Mostly Chardonnay with soils of both chalk and marl. Wines are aromatic with less acidity than Côte des Blancs.
No Grand Cru Villages.
What is Côte des Bar known for?
Mostly Pinot Noir in marl soils, aromatic wines with less acidity.
No Grand Cru Villages.
