Champagne Flashcards
What are the parents of Chardonnay
Pinot x Guais Blanc
Which was the first Champagne house founded?
Ruinart 1729
Where does the name Champagne come from?
Latin: campagna
Unforested land / open country
Under what names were Champagne wines known in the 9th century, what was the wine style?
Vins de la montagne, vins de la rivière
Still wines, mostly red
Climate Champagne
Continental with maritime / atlantic influence
What were the traditional grapes in Champagne (9th - 16th century)?
Gouais (blanc & noir)
Fromenteau (Pinot Gris)
What are the main grape varieties in Champagne today?
Pinot Noir (38%) Pinot Meunier (34%) Chardonnay (28%)
Which grape variety contributes the most acidity and alcohol in the Champagne blend?
Chardonnay
4 principal sub regions of Champagne
The Montagne & Val de Reims
Vallé de la Marne
Côte de Blancs
Côte de Bar
4 Terroirs of Montagne / Val de Reims and dominating varieties
Massif de Saint-Thierry: Pinot Meunier
Val de Reims (Vesle & Ardre Valleys): Pinot Meunier
Monts de Berru: Chardonnay
Grande Montagne de Reims: Pinot Noir
2 Valleys in Val de Reims
Vesle Valley
Ardre Valley
6 Terroirs of Vallé de la Marne and dominating varieties
Grand Vallée de Marne: Pinot Noir
Coteaux Sud d’Epernay: Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche: Pinot Meunier
Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite: Pinot Meunier
Condé: Pinot Meunier
Vallée de la Marne Ouest: Pinot Meunier
Côte de Blancs 5 Terroirs and dominating varieties
Côte de Blancs: Chardonnay Val du Petit Morin: Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay Côte de Sézanne: Chardonnay Vitryat: Chardonnay Montgeux: Chardonnay
2 Terroirs of Côte de Bar and dominant varieties
Bar sur Aubois: Pinot Noir
Barséquanais: Pinot Noir
Name the 2 primary types of chalk found in Champagne. Which is preferred and why?
Belemnite
Micraster
Belemnite is preferred, as found in upper and mid slopes, optimal sun exposure and moisture retainance.
What is chalk?
Type of porous limestone
Characteristics of wine grown on Chalk
High acidity, lean with reserved aromatics
Crayère
Underground quarries dug out by romans, serve as wine cellars today
‘Wet Champagne’
Limestone rich marl, subsoil is not pulling moisture from topsoil as chalk
Soil of Côte des Bar
Limestone rich marl (Kimmeridgean Marl) = Virgulien Marl
Preferred soils of Pinot Noir, aromatic, earthy
Echelle de Crus, what is ranked and rating scale
Rates villages and surrounding
80% to 100%
100% Grand Cru
90-99% Premier Cru
80-89% Champagne AOC eligible
What is the rating scale of Echelle de Cru?
100% Grand Cru -
90-99% Premier Cru
80-89% Champagne AOC
Echelle de Crus, how many Grand Cru and how many Premier Cru?
Grand Cru - 17
Premier Cru - 42
Historical impact of Echelle de Crus
Used to establish prices for grapes, since 2003 per individual contract
Tête de Cuvée
Prestige bottling of Champagne house
Recently Disgorged (R.D.) / Late Disgorged
Prolonged aging sur lee
Aged Champagne without oxidative effect or loss ogf effervescence
Dosage Levels Champagne
Brut Nature 0-0.3% RS Extra Brut 0-0.6% Brut 0-1.2% Extra-Sec 1.2 - 1.7% Sec 1.7 - 3.2% Demi-Sec 3.2 - 5% Doux > 5%
3 Champagne AOC’s
AOC Champagne (Sparkling)
AOC Coteaux Champenois (still)
AOC Rosé de Riceys
NM
Négociant-Manipulant
Icorporate purchased grapes, all big Champagne houses
RM
Récoltant-Manipulant
Producer that only vinifies own grapes
Remuage
Riddling
Juponé
Mushroom shaped, young cork
Chevillé
Peg-shaped older cork
Which city in Champagne hosted the coronation of 27 french kings
Reims
Tirage
Bottling
Disgorgement
Removing the yeast
AOC Rosé de Riceys
Pinot Noir Rosé
Produced in 3 villages of Les Riceys, Aube