Champagne and World Sparkling Wines - CMS Intro Somm Flashcards
Where is the Champagne region located?
About 90 miles northeast of Paris in northern France
What type of climate does the Champagne region have?
Cool continental
At what parallel is the Champagne region located?
49th parallel
Champagne has no natural protection from the Atlantic
What is notable about the weather in the Champagne region?
Often cloudy and unpredictable
Such conditions contribute to it being one of the coolest wine growing regions in the world.
Champagne is one of the coolest wine growing regions in the world. True or False?
True
What type of soil does Champagne have?
Limestone and chalk
These soils provide good drainage while also retaining moisture.
What are the key characteristics of the soils in Champagne?
- Vine roots can dig deep in these soils, which provide good drainage while also retaining moisture
- Maintain a relatively constant temperature throughout the year.
What are the main white and red grape varieties used in Champagne?
- White: Chardonnay
- Red: Pinot Noir, Meunier.
What persistent threats do growers in Champagne face?
Rain, frost, and hail.
This is due to the northern location
What is the primary focus of vinification in Champagne?
Blends.
What are most Champagne wines a blend of?
- Grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier)
- Sub-regions, villages and vineyards
- Vintages
What does méthode champenoise refer to?
A specific way of creating sparkling wine encoded in regional wine laws.
What must all wines labeled as Champagne be?
Sparkling and made using méthode champenoise.
What is méthode classique?
The term used for méthode champenoise when making sparkling wines outside of Champagne.
How is the base still wine made for traditional method sparkling wines?
Grapes are pressed quickly and gently to avoid retaining color and prevent oxidation.
What characteristics does the base wine of a traditional method sparkling wine have?
- Light in color
- Low in alcohol
- High acidity
Fermentation can occur in stainless-steel tanks or oak barrels.
What is the process of assembling the blend of Champagne called?
Assemblage of the “Cuvée”
Champagne can be a blend of grapes, vintages (seen on the label as non-vintage), regions, villages, or vineyards.
What is added to the base wine of traditional method sparkling wine to induce secondary fermentation?
Liqueur de tirage
This is a syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar.
What happens during secondary fermentation?
Yeast metabolizes the sugar, creating a small amount of alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2)
The CO2 is trapped in the bottle, creating bubbles.
What is sur lie aging?
Aging the wine on the lees in the bottle
Imparts aromas and flavors reminiscent of yeast, dough, and fresh-baked-bread.
How long must Champagne age on the lees by law?
At least 12 months
This is part of the minimum 15 months of total aging required.
What is the purpose of riddling (remuage)?
Removal of sediment in order to have a clear wine
Each bottle is gently turned to gradually move the lees into its neck.
What is a pupitre?
A wooden A-frame wine rack that holds 60 bottles; used for riddling by hand
It was first created by Widow Cliquot from her dining room table expressly for this purpose.
How long does riddling take if done by hand?
About 8 weeks
Each bottle is hand-turned.
What is a gyropalette?
A machine that can hold 504 bottles for riddling
It takes approximately 8 days to complete the process.
What is the process of disgorging (dégorgement)?
Removal of sediment from the bottle neck
Each bottle’s neck is frozen in an ice bath to eject the yeast. This can be done by hand or, as is more often the case, by machine.
What is added to the bottle after disgorgement?
Liqueur d’expédition
This is a mixture of wine and sugar.
What determines the sweetness level of Champagne?
The amount of sugar added during dosage
This affects the style of the Champagne.
What are the steps in the traditional method of making sparkling wine
- Making the Base Still Wine
- Assemblage of the “Cuvée” – Assembling the Blend)
- Secondary Fermentation – Creating the Bubbles)
- Sur Lie Aging
- Riddling (Remuage) – Removal of Sediment Part 1
- Disgorging (Dégorgement) – Removal of Sediment Part
- Dosage
All steps happen in the same bottle.
What is the next step after creating the base wine for traditional method sparkling wines?
The base wine is bottled with the liqueur de tirage and sealed with a crown cap for secondary fermentation
What is autolysis?
After the liqueur de tirage has induced secondary fermentation, the yeast cells gradually break down.
What are the Champagne sweetness levels and style categories?
- Brut Nature (Non Dosé) – Bone Dry
- Extra Brut – Very Dry
- Brut – Dry
- Extra Dry – Off Dry
- Sec – Semi Sweet
- Demi Sec – Sweet
- Doux – Very Sweet
Name the three Champagne sub-regions.
- Vallée de la Marne
- Côte des Blancs
- Montagne de Reims
What is the minimum aging period for Non-Vintage (NV) Champagne?
15 months
At least 12 months must be spent on the lees.
What is the minimum aging period for Vintage Champagne?
36 months
Many producers exceed this minimum aging period.
What does ‘on the lees’ refer to in the context of Champagne aging?
The sediment left after fermentation
Aging on the lees can enhance the wine’s flavor and complexity.
What is the Champagne appellation?
Champagne AOP
Sparkling wine made via the méthode Champenoise
What does Blanc de Blancs refer to?
100% Chardonnay Champagne
What is Blanc de Noirs?
Champagne made with only the dark grapes Pinot Noir and Meunier
What is a Single Vineyard Champagne?
A noted single vineyard on the label
Define Clos or Mono Parcel in Champagne production.
A noted single parcel in a vineyard under a single ownership
What is a Cuvée Prestige or Tête de Cuvée in the context of Champagne?
The top-end bottling of a particular Champagne house or producer
Typically represents the best grapes and meticulous production techniques.
What are Négociants in Champagne production?
Champagne producers who buy grapes, juice, or finished wine and bottle the wine under their own name or label
They may not own vineyards but play a significant role in the Champagne market.
What are Growers in Champagne production?
Champagne producers that make wine from grapes grown in vineyards they own
What are the styles of Champagne
- Rosé
- Blanc de Blancs
- Blanc de Noirs
What causes wide vintage variations in wine quality?
Huge weather extremes result in quality variations from season to season and year to year.
Are vintage Champagnes produced every year?
No, there are a limited number of vintage wines in a decade.
Vintage wines are produced in years deemed exceptional for grape growing.
Are most Champagnes vintage or non-vintage wines?
Non-vintage
What are the top recent red vintages of Champagne?
- 2005
- 2008
- 2012
- 2013
- 2015
What are the top recent white vintages of Champagne?
- 2006
- 2007
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2014
What are the advantages of Méthose Champenoise?
- Extended lees contact
- Intense lees flavor
What are 4 examples of sparkling wines made from Méthode Champenoise?
- Champagne
- Crémant
- Cava
- Franciacorta
What are the steps of the transfer method for sparkling wine?
- Base wine is bottled
- Sugar and yeast added
- Second fermentation
- Yeast autolysis
- Bottles emptied into large tanks under pressure
- Filtered
- Dosage
- Rebottled
What are the advantages of the transfer method for sparkling wine?
- Lees contact
- Eliminates the need for riddling
How are transfer method sparkling wines typically sold?
Large- and small- format bottling of Champagne and other sparkling wines
What are the steps of the Tank/Charmat Method for sparkling wine?
- Base wine is sealed in pressurized tank
- Sugar and yeast added
- Second fermentation in tank
- Filtered under pressure
- Dosage under pressure
What are the advantages of the Tank/Charmat Method for sparkling wine?
- Saves time! Fermentation finishes in 4 – 5 days
- No costly riddling or disgorging
- Best process for aromatic varieties
What are 3 examples of sparkling wines made with the Tank/Charmat Method?
- Prosecco
- Moscato d’Asti
- Lambrusco
What is a Crémant?
A term used for all French sparkling wines grown outside Champagne that are produced by the méthode champenoise
The law requires that the method must be identified on labels as méthode classique.
Name three examples of Crémant.
- Crémant de Bourgogne
- Crémant d’Alsace
- Crémant de Loire
Crémant is produced using which method?
Méthode champenoise
This method is also referred to as méthode classique on labels.
Fill in the blank: Crémant is a term used for all French sparkling wines grown outside _______.
Champagne
What sparkling wine comes from Asti DOCG (Piedmont)?
Moscato d’Asti
Which method is used to produce Moscato d’Asti?
Charmat/tank method
What region is Prosecco from?
Veneto
How is Prosecco made?
Charmat/tank method
Which region is known for Lambrusco?
Emilia-Romagna
What method is used to produce Lambrusco?
Charmat/tank method
What is the production method for Franciacorta DOCG?
Méthode classique
Often referred to in Italian as the metodo classico or metodo tradizionale.
Which grape varieties are used in Franciacorta?
Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco
These varieties are also used in traditional Champagne.
What are the main Italian sparkling wines and their regions?
- Asti DOCG (Piedmont)
- Prosecco (Veneto)
- Lambrusco (Emilia-Romagna)
- Franciacorta DOCG (Lombardy)
What is the designation of origin for Cava?
Cava DO (Catalonia)
What method is used to produce Cava?
Classic Method
Which grape varieties are used in Cava production?
- Xarel-lo
- Parellada
- Macabeo
