Champagne and Sparkling Wine Flashcards
What direction do the vineyards of Montagne de Reims face?
North and south
What is the prominent grape of the Aube?
Pinot Noir
What districts of Champagne do not have any Grand Crus?
Cote de Sezanne and Cote de Bars (Aube)
What villages were upgraded in 1985 from Premier to Grand Cru?
- Verzy (Montagne de Reims)
- Chouilly (Côte de Blancs)
- Oiry (Côte de Blancs
- Oger (Côte de Blancs)
- Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (Côte de Blancs)
What lasting contribution did Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin make under the widow’s leadership?
The pupitre and thus remuage
What did André François discover?
The precise amount of sugar required to induce 2nd fermentation w/o breaking the bottle
Approximately how many growers are in Champagne?
20,000
Is malo a universal practice in Champagne?
No
What is the dominant soil of the Aube?
Clay
When did “mousseux” first appear in connotation w/the wines of Champagne?
1724
Although Champenoise may have enjoyed intentionally sparkling wines as early as 1700
Name 7 AOPs for traditional method Crémant in France.
- Crémant de Bordeaux
- Crémant de Bourgogne
- Crémant de Loire
- Crémant de Limoux
- Crémant de Die
- Crémant du Jura
- Crémant d’Alsace
What moderates the amount of land a firm may farm, owned or rented, in Champagne? What is the max hectares?
- Contrôle Structures
- 15 hectares
What subsoil is pushed to the surface on Champagne’s slopes?
Belemnite Chalk
Champagne now accounts for 1 in ___ bottles of sparkling wine produced worldwide?
12
Who released the first Tête de Cuvée?
Moët et Chandon’s 1921 “Dom Pérignon” was released in 1936
What is vin clairs?
High-acid base wines with an approximate ABV of 11%
What is bouvreux?
- A second crop
- When rain interrupts flowering, a bouvreux results, that rarely ripens and is left on the vine
What does Pinot Meunier lend to a Champagne blend?
Youthful fruitiness and approachability
In 2012, what did Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier plantings account for in Champagne?
- Pinot Noir - 38%
- Chardonnay - 30%
- Pinot Meunier - 32%
What are the standard bottle sizes larger than a magnum for Champagne?
- Jeroboam (3L)
- Rehoboam (4.5L)
- Methusaleh (6L)
- Salmanazar (9L)
- Balthazar (12L)
- Nebuchadnezzar (15L)
- Solomon (18L)
Describe the continuous method steps.
- Base wine is pumped through a series of interconnected (continuous) tanks
- While undergoing 2nd ferment
- Lees accumulate in the first several tanks
- Offering a high degree of autolyzed flavors than the standard (tank) method
What percent of grapes must originate from a grower’s own vineyards for RM?
95%
How much does the ABV rise during the second fermentation?
~1.2-1.3%
Name 6 countries major Champagne houses have established outposts in.
- USA
- Australia
- Argentina
- Brazil
- New Zealand
- Ukraine
What are the steps of Méthode Champenoise?
- Pressing
- Débourbage
- Chaptalization
- Prim. Fermentation
- Clarification
- Assemblage
- Cold Stabilization
- Racking
- Bottling (liqueur de tirage)
- Prise de Mousse (2nd Ferment)
- Autolysis
- Pointage
- Remuage
- Dégorgement
- Dosage
- Corked w/muselet
What is the oldest sparkling Champagne house?
Ruinart- est. in 1729
What size bottles is transvasage permitted for?
Smaller than the half bottle and larger than the Jeroboam
What is Méthode Rurale?
Another name for Méthode Ancestrale
What is liqueur de tirage?
A mixture of still wine, yeasts, sugar and a fining agent that will serve to ignite the 2nd fermentation
What is the prominent grape of Vallée de la Marne?
Pinot Meunier (Frost prone region)
What is the first 2,550 L pressed from 4,000kg divided into?
- vin de cuvée (2,050L)
- vin de taille (500L)
How long does remuage take?
- Traditional ~ 8 weeks
- Modern ~ 1 week
What does RC mean?
- Recoltant Coopérateur
- A grower whose grapes are vinifed at a cooperative, but sell under his own label
Name 2 other names for the Charmat Method.
- Cuve Close
- Tank Method
In 1992, what did the CIVC set the limit for grape pressing to?
102L for 160kg (2,550L for 4,000kg)
What is another name for the Continuous Method?
Russian Continuous Method
Developed in the USSR
What are the responsibilities for the CIVC?
- Mediating relationships between growers & producers
- Oversee production methods and promotion
- Regulates the size of the harvest
- Authorizes the blocage (reserve) and deblocage (release) of wine/harvest
- Safeguards the protected designation of Champagne
- Until 1990, they regulated the pricing of the grapes
What are the 4 vineyards concerns of Champagne?
- Frost
- Rain
- Fungal Disease
- Hail
What is a bidule?
A plastic capsule that will serve to capture the sediment during remuage
Is a cork used during the second fermentation bottling?
Usually a crown cap, a cork sometimes (i.e. for prestige cuvées)
What is Pinot Blanc Vrai?
“True” Pinot Blanc, a white form of Pinot Noir
What is a muselet?
A wire cage used to secure the cork on a Champagne bottle
How many liters is a Methusaleh?
6 L (8 bottles)
Who’s 1801 seminal work identified the relationship between sugar and fermentation?
Who’s 1801 seminal work identified the relationship between sugar and fermentation?
How is the majority of German Sekt produced?
Tank or Continuous Method
What is “les bleus de ville”?
Remnants of the blue rags used to ship Parisian compost trash, formerly used for fertilizer
What are the two types of dégorgment?
Dégorgement à la glace - modern
- Dégorgement à la volée - older method
- Same, just no freezing, wine is lost
What is the liqueur d’expedition?
Dosage - mixture of wine and sugar syrup
What is a Solomon bottle size called in Bordeaux?
Melchior
What is a Tête de Cuvée?
A prestige cuvée, usually the pinnacle of quality for a producer
What was the first single vineyard Champagne?
1935 Philiponnt “Clos de Goisses”
Describe Belemnite Chalk.
- Porous
- Derived from the fossilized remains of millions of cephalopods
- Absorbing heat to protect the vines at night
- Providing excellent drainage
What is the pressing limit for Crémant?
100L from 150kg = 2,666L from 4,000kg
What is the dominant grape of Côte de Sezanne?
Chardonnay
What did the winemaking treatise of 1718 highlight?
Division of quality between vin de cuvée and vin de taille, when pressing red grapes for white juice
What did the Champenoise use to color their wines to compete w/the deeper hues of red Burgundy?
Elderberry
What is a pupitre?
- Two large wooden planks fastened together in an upright “A” shape
- Each plank has 60 angled holes cut into it
What is Rosé de Riceys?
- 100% Pinot Noir Rosé
- Produced in Les Riceys (Aube)
What is remuage?
Riddling
In 1985, what change was made to the Échelle de Crus?
A revision set the minimum percentage at 80
When did the growers of Champagne revolt?
1911 - rioting in the streets and ransacking houses
What is done in Méthode Ancestrale prior to sale?
The wine is disgorged, filtered and rebottled in clean glass
What is an autoclave?
A pressurized enamel-lined tank for the 2nd fermentation for the Charmat Method
What is “sur latte” and “sur point”?
- “sur latte” - during the 2nd ferment, the bottles are typically horizontal (sur latte)
- “sur point” - the bottles are vertical (sur point) at the end of remuage and rested
How many liters is a Balthazar?
12 L (16 bottles)
How many liters is a Nebuchadnezzar?
15 L (20 bottles)
What are the Grand Crus of Vallée de la Marne?
- Aÿ
- Tours-sur-Marne (Red grapes only)
What is a “marc” of grapes?
4,000kg - the amount held in a traditional basket press (coquard)
What are the 5 districts of Champagne?
- Montage de Reims
- Vallée de la Marne
- Cote de Blancs (the Aube)
- Cote de Sézanne
- Cote de Blancs
What is assemblage?
Blending
What bottle size was discontinued in 1989? Why?
- Rehoboam - 4.5L (6 bottles)
- Regulations state bottles must be in liter increments
What pruning methods are permitted in Champagne?
- Cordon de Royat
- Chablis
- Vallée de la Marne
- Double or Simple Guyot
What percentage of the blend must come from the stated vintage?
100%
What major change in the late 17th century allowed the English to probably have enjoyed the first true sparkling Champagne?
The English transferred Champagne from cask to stronger, coal fired glass that could contain the pressure. Previously, wood-fired glass was used
What region outside of France is considered a natural continuation of the chalk in Champagne?
White Cliffs of Dover (England)
Why was the CIVC founded?
- Built on the framework of the Commissions de Châlons
- A broader consortium of growers, producers and shippers
- To represent the Champagne industry and protect its interests in the face of Nazi occupation
What is transvasage?
Transfer Method
- Remuage is unnecessary, the wine is disgorged into a pressurized tank and filtered
- Dosage is added and the wine is transferred to a clean bottle under pressure
What was Dom Pérignon’s lasting contribution to Champagne? Where was he the cellar master?
- Blending
- Abbey of Hautvillers (1668-1715)
How many bottles did the Champenoise ship worldwide?
338.7 million
What is Coteaux Champenois?
Still red, white & rosé for the entire appellation of Champagne
What is the topsoil of most of Champagne?
Sandy and clay
When did the INAO decide to meet the burden of demand and broaden the appellation’s area? From what to what?
- 2009
- 319 to 357
What portion of the Champagne sold is produced by growers?
Under a quarter
Name 6 appellations in France that may be mousseux or pétillant and are produced by the traditional method.
- Vouvray
- Montlouis-sur-Loire
- Saumur
- Vin de Savoie
- Seyssel (Savoie)
- Blanquette de Limoux
What are the requirements for Special Club members?
- Viticulture must occur on the estate (only RM producers may join)
- Vinification and bottling must occur on the estate
- The “Special Club” is the top-of-the-range, prestige cuvée for all members
- Must have identical labels and bottle shape
What is débourbage?
Settling of the must
What direction do the vineyards of the Côte de Blancs face?
Southeast and east
What portion of the Champagne market is NV?
3/4th
Is all Cava traditional method?
Yes
What does the Charmat Method emphasize in a sparkling wine?
Fruit and varietal aromatics
What does CM mean?
- Coopérative Manipulant
- A growers’ co-operative that produces wine under a single brand
How many g/L of RS are permitted for Demi-Sec?
- Pre-2010 - 33-50g/l
- Current - 32-50g/l
How many g/L RS are permitted for Doux?
- Pre-2010 - 50+g/L
- Current - 50+g/L
How many g/L of RS is permitted for Extra Brut?
- Pre-2010 - 0-6g/l
- Current - 0-6g/l
What is the second layer soil that characterizes Champagne’s valley vineyards?
Micraster Chalk - name for the extinct sea urchin
Which Grand Cru is red only? White only?
- Red - Tours-sur-Marne (Vallée de la Marne)
- White - Chouilly (Côte de Blancs)
What percentage of the year’s harvest for a single house may be sold as vintage Champagne?
max 80%
When was Champagne delimited? What region was left out? When was it added?
- 1908
- Aube
- 1927
What parallel is Champagne located on?
48th
What is the mean annual temperature of Champagne?
50ºF (10ºC)
What does MA mean?
- Marque d’Acheteur
- A “buyer’s own brand”, often a large supermarket chain or restaurant, that purchases Champagne and sells it under its own label
What vintage during WWI (1914-1918) was considered one of the finest vintages of the century?
1914
What was the Commissions de Châlons?
- Predecessor to the CIVC
- Est. in 1935
- A consortium of growers and merchants
- Formed to develop quality standards and regulate pricing
When was compost fertilizer outlawed in Champagne?
1998
What is a matriculation number?
A series of digits that is a unique ID assigned to each producer by the CIVC
How many half twists are used to secure the muselet?
6
What is the Prise de Mousse?
Second Fermentation
How many liters is a Solomon?
18L (24 bottles)
The early unpredictability of sparkling wines created a need for terminology, what were those terms?
- Pétillant
- Demi-Mousseux (Crémant)
- Grand Mousseux
A
What is the “Club Trésors”? When was it organized?
- Special Club
- 1971
What is the Special Club?
- A dozen grower-producers
- Lacking marketing budgets of larger houses, they banded together to promote their prestige cuvées through identical packaging
How long must NV wines spend on their lees?
12 months
How many atmospheres of pressure are in a Champagne bottle?
5-6
What are bourbes?
Solids, generally removed by racking prior to fermentation
What does ND mean?
- Négociant Distributeur
- A middle man company that distributes Champagne it did not make
How long must NV wines remain in the cellar? Vintage?
- 15 months
- 36 months
How many g/l of RS are permitted for Extra Dry?
- Pre-2010 - 12-20g/l
- Current - 12-17g/l
What is a remuer?
A riddler
What are the sweetness levels for Champagne?
- Extra Brut
- Brut
- Extra Dry
- Sec
- Demi-Sec
- Doux
What percentage of vineyards do merchant houses own in Champagne?
Just over 10%
What is the oldest Champagne house still in operation today?
- Gosset
- Est. in 1584 as a still wine producer
Who developed the Charmat Method in the late 20th century?
Eugene Charmat
What is a Piccolo?
A quarter bottle - 187ml
What does NM mean?
- Négociant Manipulant
- A house that purchases base wines and grapes from growers and smaller houses
What are the obscure authorized varieties of Champagne?
- Pinot Blanc Vrai
- Arbane
- Pinot Gris
- Petit Meslier
Must a prestige cuvée be vintage?
Usually (but not always)
In 2006, what were the yields in Champagne?
They surpassed 82hl/ha
What is the average vine age in Champagne?
20 years - as lowered productivity is undesirable to most houses in Champagne
Name 5 important Special Club members.
- Marc Hébrat
- Paul Bara
- J. Lassalle
- Gaston Chiquet
- Pierre Gimonnet
What are the still wine appellations of Champagne?
- Coteaux Champenois
- Rosé de Ricey
What coloring methods are permitted for pink Champagne?
- Saignée
- Blending (more common)
How many liters is a Salmanazar?
9L (12 bottles)
What does SR mean?
- Société de Récoltants
- A firm, not a co-operative, set up by a union of often related growers who share resources to make their wines and collectively market several brands
What does Pinot Noir lend to a Champagne blend?
Supports the wine’s structure, richness and body
How many bottles does a gyropalette hold?
504
From 2010 forward, producers are allowed what margin for g/l RS for styles?
+/- 3 g/l of RS
What is the wire cage used to secure the cork called?
Muselet
How many g/l of RS are permitted for Sec?
- Pre-2010 - 17-35g/l
- Current - 17-32g/l
At what pressure is the Charmat 2nd fermentation stopped? How?
- Usually 5 atmospheres
- Chilling the wine to arrest the fermentation
Where did Otto Klaebisch, the weinführer, take residence during WWII?
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Estate
What does CIVC stand for? When was it founded?
- Comité Interprofessional du Vin de Champagne
- 1941, by Count Robert-Jean Vogüé of Moët et Chandon
What are the 3 extractions in the pressing process called?
- Vin de cuvée
- Vin de taille
- Rebêche
What are the Grand Crus of Montagne de Reims (north to south)?
- Sillery
- Puisieulx
- Beaumont-sur-Vesle
- Verzenay
- Mailly
- Verzy (added in 1985)
- Louvois
- Bouzy
- Ambonnay
How many g/l of RS is permitted for Brut?
- Pre-2010 - 0-15g/l
- Current - 0-12g/l
How many liters is the extraordinarily rare Primat? What is it also known as?
- AKA Goliath
- 27L (36 bottles)
How long is Asti DOCG required to remain in tank?
1 month
What two premier crus have a 99% ranking échelle?
- Mareuil-sur-Aÿ (Vallée de la Marne)
- Tauxières (Montagne de Reims)
Is a dosage allowed for méthode ancestrale wines?
No, RS of the finished wines vary by appellation
What is rebêche?
- The third extraction
- Required by law and must comprise 1-10% of the total pressing
- Used for distillate
What is the Échelle de Crus?
- A percentile system by which the villages, or crus, of Champagne are rated
- Grand Cru = 100%
- Premier Cru = 99-90%
What does RM mean?
- Récoltant Manipulant
- A grower-producer who makes Champagne from estate-grown fruit
Who released the first brut Champagne? When?
- Pommery “Nature”
- 1874
When is the additional acreage added to Champagne forecasted to affect sales?
2021
What grape is prominent in the Montagne de Reims?
Pinot Noir
How many liters is a Jeroboam?
3L (4 bottles)
Name 3 examples of Méthode Ancestrale.
- Bugey de Cerdon
- Clairette de Die Méthode Dioise Ancestrale
- Gaillac Mousseux Méthode Gaillaçoise
Who were the major suppliers to domestic markets in France in the 2nd half the 20th century?
Co-ops
When did Champagne receive AOC status? What is unique about Champagne’s AOC status?
- 1936
- It is the only AOC/AOP that does not need to be included on the label
What are the Grand Crus of the Côte de Blancs (North to South)?
- Chouilly (White grapes, added in 1985)
- Oiry (1985)
- Cramant
- Avize
- Oger (1985)
- Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (1985)
What does Pinot Meunier mean?
“Miller’s” Pinot - in reference to the dusty leaves
What is “pointage”?
A brisk shake to prevent the sediment from sticking to the sides of the bottle during remuage
-Newer strains generally preclude the need
What important houses were founded in the 18th century?
- Ruinart
- Taittinger
- Moët et Chandon
- Delamotte
- Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
What is the name of the Veuve Clicquot?
Madame Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin
Name 2 wineries leading the way in England sparkling wine.
Located in Sussex
- Ridgeview Estate
- Nyetimber
How long does the 2nd fermentation last?
Up to 8 weeks
Name 4 Champagne producers that disgorge late.
- Bollinger “RD” (Récemment Dégorge)
- Jacquesson “DT” (Dégorgement Tardif)
- Dom Pérignon “Oenotheque”
- Bruno Paillard
What is a half bottle called?
Demi
How many liters is the extraordinarily rare Sovereign?
25 L (33.33 bottles)
Tete de cuvée of Canad Duchene
Charles VII brut
Tete de cuvée of Charles Heidsieck
Charlie, Blanc des Millenaires
Tete de cuvée of De Castellane
Cuvee Commador (No longer produced)
Tete de cuvée of Delamotte
Nicolas Louis Delamotte
Tete de cuvée of Deutz (3)
Cuvée William Deutz Rose, Cuvée William Deutz, Amour de Deutz
Tete de cuvée of Devaux
Cuvée distinction
Tete de cuvée of Drappier
Monoparcel wine of Drappier
Charles de Gaulle; Grande Sendree
Tete de cuvée of Duval-Leroy
Femme de Champagne
Monoparcel wine of Egly Ouriet
Les Crayeres
Tete de cuvée of G. H. Mumm
Rene lalou
Tete de cuvée of Gosset (2)
Celebris
Tete de cuvée of Heidsick Monopole
Diamant Bleu
Tete de cuvée of Henri Abele (2)
Soirees Parisiennes, La souriere de Reims
Tete de cuvée of Herriot
Cuvée des enchanteleurs
Tete de cuvée of Jacquart (2)
Cuvee Alpha, Brut de Nominee (discontinued)
Tete de cuvée of Jacques Selosse
Substance NV
Tete de cuvée of Joseph Perrier
Cuvée Josephine
Monoparcel wines of Krug (2)
Clos du Mesnil, Clos d’ambonnay
Tete de cuvée of Lanson
Noble cuvée
Monoparcel wines of Larmandier Bernier (2)
VV de Cramant, Terre de Vertus
Tete de cuvée of Laurent Perrier (2)
Grand siecle, grand siecle Alexandra rose
Tete de cuvée of Louis Roederer
Cristal
Tete de cuvée of Mercier
Cuvée Eugene
Tete de cuvée of Moët & Chandon (2)
Dom perignon, Dom perignon rose
Tete de cuvée of Nicolas Feuillate
Palm d’or rose
Tete de cuvée of pannier
Egerie
Tete de cuvée of Perrier jouet (3)
Belle Époque brut, Belle Époque rose, Fleur de Champange
Monoparcel wine of Philliponnat
Clos des goisses
Tete de cuvée of Pierre Gimonnet
Gastronome
Tete de cuvée of Piper Heidsieck
Rare
Tete de cuvée of pol roger
Cuvée sir Winston Churchill
Tete de cuvée of Pommery (2)
Cuvée Louise, cuvée Louise rose
Tete de cuvée of Rene Geoffrey
Premier cru a Cumieres
Tete de cuvée of Ruinart Pere et Fils
Dom Ruinart BdB
Tete de cuvée of Salon
Le mesnil
Tete de cuvée of taittinger (2)
Comtes de champagne BdB, comtes de champagne rose
Tete de cuvée of union champagne
(Aka de saint gall) cuvée orpale BdB
Tete de cuvée of Veuve Clicquot (2)
La Grande Dame, la grande dame rose
Extra brut
Pre-2010: 0-6 g/L Now: 0-6 g/L
Brut
Pre-2010: 0-15 g/L. Now: 0-12 g/L
Extra dry
Pre-2010: 12-20 g/L. Now: 12-17 g/L
Sec
Pre-2010: 17-35 g/L. Now: 17-32 g/L
Demi sec
Pre-2010: 33-50 g/L. Now: 32-50 g/L
Doux
Pre-2010: 50+ g/L. Now: 50+ g/L
Piccolo
187 ml
Demi
375 ml
Bottle
750 ml
Magnum
1.5 L (2 bottles)
Jeroboam
3 L (4 bottles)
Methuselah
6L (8 bottles)
Salmanazar
9L (12 bottles)
Balthazar
12L (16 bottles)
Nebuchadnezzar
15L (20 bottles)
Solomon
18L (24 bottles)
Non vintage NV
Generally brut in style, represents a house’s signature style, makes up 3/4 of the market
Vintage
100% from stated vintage but max 80% of a years harvest may be sold as vintage.
Blanc de Blancs
100% Chardonnay. Very age worthy
Blanc de noirs
White wine from black grapes. Usually display richness, intensity, and weight although can lack finesse
Prestige cuvée
Aka tete de cuvée. Finest and most expensive bottling that a house offers. Typically vintage dated and aged for a number of years before release. Many undergo more traditional vinification techniques
Single vineyard
Not required to carry a vintage, although many do. The style represents a stark departure from the blending philosophy of the region.
Special club
Originated in 1971 with a dozen grower-producers. They are now 24 RM which offer estate bottled, vintage dated wines that represent the pinnacle of each individual growers style. All special club bottles and labels share an identical designs.
Rose
The traditional saignee method is less common than blending. Champagne is the only AOP in France that allows a rosé wine to be made by blending red and white wine.
Saignee method
Wine gains its hue through extended skin contact.
Remuage
Aka riddling, developed by Madame Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, of veuve clicquot. Allows sediment to easily be removed from a bottle during disgorgement.
CIVC
Comite Interprofessional de Vin de Champagne. Established in 1941 by Count Robert-Jean de Vogue of Moët & Chandon. Helps with the complex mediation between large houses and smaller growers.
Climate
Atlantic influenced. Cold continental. Coldest/ wettest wine region in the world.
Soil(s)
Porous belemnite chalk is at the surface of the slopes. Micraster chalk characterizes the valley vineyards. A thin layer of clay and sand cover much of the chalk. But in the Aube clay is the dominate soil type.
Belemnite chalk
Derived from fossilized remains of millions of extinct Cephalopods and has a high limestone content
Micraster chalk
Named for a extinct sea urchin
Grapes permitted
Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot meunière, Pinot blanc, Pinot Gris, arbane, petit meslier
Elevage
Nv wines must age a min of 15 months from date of tirage. Vintage wines require a minimum of 36 months
Maximum yields
10,400 kg/ha
Aoc established in…
1936
Where is the village of Ambonnay?
Montagne de Reims
Vin de cuvee
The first 2,050 liters to be extracted from 4,000 kg of grapes.
What region in France does not produce an AOP cramant?
Provence
When was the CIVC formally established?
1941
Mauzac is the dominant grape of which sparkling wine AOP?
Blanquette de limoux
Dosage
An addition of sugar and wine that determines the wines final sweetness level
What is the most southerly region?
The Aube
What does RM indicate
The wine was produced by a grower-producer q
Method ancestrale
Single fermentation begins in the tank but concludes in the bottle q
Geographic elements
Most northerly wine region in France. Hilly. Ardennes hills to the east. Marne and vesle rivers to the north. Aube and seine rivers to the south.
Vini/viti
High density (6-10k vines/ ha). High yields (12,500). Base ABV 9.5%. Final 12.5%
Aging
NV- min 15-36 months on lees. Vintage- 36-60 months on lees. Prestige cuvée- 7-10 years on lees
Grand crus of Cote des Blancs (N to S)
(East facing) chouilly, oiry, cramant, Avize, oger, le mesnil sur oger
Grand crus of Montagne de Reims (9) (N to S)
Sillery, Puisieulx, Beaumont sir Vesle, Verzenay, Mailly- champagne, Verzy, Louvois, Bouzy, Ambonnay.
Types of presses allowed
Pneumatic, pressoir de champagne
3 houses known for barrel fermentation
Krug, Bollinger, Alfred Gratien
Pinot noir adds:
Body, structure, texture, aroma, length
Chardonnay adds:
Acid, elegance, toasty nutty/ vanilla flavors with age
Pinot meunier adds:
Fruitiness, body, mushroom tones. It is not allowed in grand crus.
Vallee de la Marne grand crus
Ay-champagne, tours sur Marne
What does ‘echelle des crus’ mean?
Price and % of price the growers get for their grapes. Grand cru=100%. Premier cru=90-99%. Deuxieme cru=80-89%
What is aspersion?
A viti technique. A system automatically sprays water on the vines when vineyard temperatures drop below freezing. The frost expands its energy in freezing the water, leaving the delicate shoots and buds safely cocooned in ice.
What is a reserve wine?
Wine kept in reserve from previous years. Used as dosage to make younger wines richer, fuller, and more complex
11 1er crus of Montagne de riems (94%+)
Billy-le-grand (95%), chigny-les-roses (94%), ludes (94%). Montbre (94%), Rilly-la-Montagne (94%), taissy (94%), tauxieres-mutry (99%), trepail (95%), trois-puits (94%), vaudemange (95%), villers-marmery (95%)
3 1er crus of Vallee de la Marne (94%+)
Bisseuil (95%), dizy (95%), mareuil-sur-ay (99%),
6 1er crus of Cote de Blancs (94%+)
Bergeres-les-vertus (95%), chouilly (r95%, w100%), cuis (w95%), grauves (w95%), vertus (95%), villeneunve- renneville- chevigny (95%)
Two 1er crus rated 99%
Tauxieres-Mutry (Montagne de Reims). Mareuil-sur-Ay (Vallee de la Marne)
Mousseux
Fully sparkling wines from a non AOP region, such as vouvray, montlouis-sur-Loire, saumur, vin de savoie, seyssel.
Petillant
Lightly sparkling wines from a non AOP region, such as vouvray, montlouis-sur-Loire, saumur, vin de savoie, seyssel.
Deblocage
The release of older vintages of base wines for use in assemblage
Pointage
In the past during lees aging, bottles would be shaken to keep sediment from sticking to the glass
Sur latte
Bottles are kept in a horizontal position prior to remuage
Blocage
The reserve of base wines for the use in future vintages.
Debourbage
After the pressing the juice the juice is allowed to settle at a cool temperature and the must drops out prior to remuage
Name 5 NM producers
Billecart Salmon Bollinger Alfred Gratien Bruno Paillard Pol Roger
Name 5 RM producers
Henri Billiot Guy Larmandier Jacques Selosse Vilmart Agrapart
Name 2 CM producers
Nicolas Feuillatte
Jacquart
Name 5 special club members
Paul Bara Gaston Chiquet Pierre Gimonnet Henri Goutorbe Marc Hebrart Juillet-Lallement Larmandier J. Lassalle A. Margaine Mousse Fils
Who makes Grand Cuvee?
Billecart-Salmon (‘82) (NM)
Who makes Elisabeth Salmon Rose?
Billecart Salmon (‘88) (NM)
Who makes La Grande Annee?
Bollinger (NM)
Who makes ‘RD’?
Bollinger (NM)
Who makes VV Francaises?
Bollinger (100% PN) (‘69) (NM)
Who makes Celebris?
Gosset (NM)
Who makes Cuvee Paradis?
Alfred Gratien (NM) (NV)
Who makes Grand Siecle?
Laurent-Perriere (NM) (Usually NV)
Who makes Nec-Plus-Ultra?
Bruno Paillard (‘90) (NM)
Who makes La Grande Dame?
Veuve Cliquot (Brut & Rose)(‘69; ‘88) (NM)
Who makes Cuvee Laetitia?
Henri Billiot (RM)
Who makes Cuvee Julie?
Henri Billot (‘99) (RM)
Who makes Cramant Grand Cru Cuvee Prestige?
Guy Larmandier (100% Chard) (RM)
Who makes Substance?
Jacques Selosse (NV) (RM)
Who makes Coeur de Cuvee?
Vilmart (‘89) (RM)
Who makes Palmes d’or?
Nicolas Feuillatte (Brut & Rose) (‘89; ‘96) (CM)
Who makes Brut de Nominee?
Jacquart (NV) (Vintages declared ‘85-‘90)(CM)
Who makes Venus Brut Nature?
Agrapart (100% Chard) (RM)
Who makes Clos st. Hilaire?
Billecart- Salmon (100% PN) (‘95) (NM)
Who makes Cuvee Speciale les Chentillons?
Pierre Peters (100% Chard) (‘83) (RM)
Name 3 other sparkling wines using traditional method.
Franciacorta
Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico
Cava
Where does Roederer have a sparkling wine house in the USA?
Anderson Valley
Where does Taittinger have a sparkling wine house in the USA?
Carneros
Where does Moet et Chandon have a sparkling wine house in the USA?
Yountville
Name a producer of Cap Classique.
Graham Beck
Where is the Charmant or tank method commonly used?
Asti
Prosecco
German Sekt
What are the still wines from Franciacorta DOCG zone released as?
Either Curtefranca DOC or Sebino IGT
What is Ca’ del Bosco’s prestige cuvee?
Annamaria Clementi
Franciacorta is made with wtih method?
Metodo classico
When did Franciacorta receive DOCG status?
1995
What are the grapes of Franciacorta?
Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and a minimum of 50% Pinot Bianco
What are the aging requirements for Franciacorta NV?
18 months on lees and cannot be released until 25 months from harvest
What is Saten?
A Franciacorta from only white grapes bottled at less than 5 atmospheres of pressure and brut in style
What are the requirements for Franciacorta Rose?
Minimum 25% Pinot Nero and must be made by blending
What are the requirements for Franciacorta released as Vintage?
(Millesimato) 37 month minimum aging before release and 85% of the grapes must come from the stated year
What are the requirements for Franciacorta Reserva?
Must be vintage dated with 5 years on lees and not released until 67 months from harvest
What are the grape requirements for Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG?
Must be a minimum 70% Pinot Nero and may be labeled varietally if at least 85% Pinot Nero.
What are the aging requirements for Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG?
NV= 15 months on less Vintage= 2 years on lees
What are still wines from Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG released as?
Oltrepo Pavese DOC
What are the two DOCG zones for Prosecco as of 2009?
Conefliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and Asolo Prosecco DOCG
What are still wines from Prosecco DOCG released as?
Prosecco DOCG
What are the two styles of Prosecco?
Frizzante and Spumante
What is spumante superior in Prosecco?
Fully sparkling iwnes that may be brut-> demi sec in style
What is the best cru of Prosecco? What is it released as?
Cartizze
Released as Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze
What are the requirements for Prosecco DOCG?
85% minimum of stated year if released as vintage. 85% Prosecco (glera)
German Sekt
Typically at Deutschner Wein level but can be QbA if from traditional grapes grown in on of the 13 anbaugebiete of Germany
Cap Classique
Traditional method sparkling wine from South Africa increasingly using Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
When was the term “methode champenoise” banned from all wines sold in the EU that were not from Champagne?
1985
What are the 5 major districts of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims Cote des Blancs Valle de la Marne The Aube (Cote de Bars) Cote de Sezanne
What is the primary grape variety of Montagne de Reims?
Pinot Noir
What are the best villages of Montagne de Reims?
Ambonnay Ay-Champagne Bouzy Verzenay Verzy
What is the primary grape variety of Cote des Blancs?
Chardonnay
What are the best villages of the Cote des Blancs?
Cramant
Avize
le Mesnil sur Oger
What is the primary grape variety of the Valle de la Marne?
Pinot Meunier
What are the best villages of the Valle de la Marne?
Mareuil sur Ay (PN) Dizy (PN/PM) Hautvillers (PN/PM) Cumieres (PM) Leuvrigny (PM) Ste-Gemme (PM)
What is the primary grape of the Aube?
Pinot Noir
What is the best village of the Aube?
les Riceys
What is the primary grape variety of the Cote de Sezanne?
Chardonnay
What are the best villages of the Cote de Sezanne?
Bethon
Villenauxe-la-Grande
Where is Champagne?
It is the most northerly wine producing region in France, about 90 miles northeast of Paris.
What is the climate of Champagne?
Cold and wet northern climate that is greatly influenced by the Atlantic, which has a cooling effect on the summer and makes seasons more variable. Frost is a major problem during spring and fall.