Champagne AOC

Question 1

What are the AOCs for still wine?

Answer 1

AOC Rose Des Riceys: 100% Rose

AOC Coteaux Champenois: 100% Still

Question 2

What are the 3 Villages that produce Rose Des Riceys?

Answer 2

Ricey- Haut
Ricey Bas
Ricey- Haute- Rive

Question 3

The 3 villages of Les Riceys sit on what river?

Answer 3

Laignes River. Ricey- Bas on the Left Bank, Ricey- Haut and Ricey- Haut- Rive on the Right bank.

Question 4

What are the Varieties allowed for Coteaux Champenois?

Answer 4

Arbanne, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir

Question 5

When was the AOC Of Coteaux Champenois granted?

Answer 5

In 1994. What were the still wines known as before? Vin Orginaire De la champagne Viticole and Vin Nature De la Champagne

Question 6

What is Coteaux Champenois usually marked with?

Answer 6

The name of the village, but also sometimes the single vineyard

Question 7

What are the 3 spirits that earned IGP in 2015?

Answer 7

• Ratafia De Champagne (also called Ratafia Champenois)
• Marc De Champagne (also called Eau- De- Vie de Marc de Champagne and Marc Champagne)
• Eau De Vie De Vin De La Marne (also labelled as Fine Champagne)

Question 8

Ratafia?

Answer 8

• First 116 litres of juice extracted from rebeche
• Fortified with 90% grape spirit (which is a byproduct of AOC Champ)
• Its fortified must
• Final alcohol is 16.22% with R/S Of 11% or 110 g/L
• After fortification it is aged in barrel for 10 months (producing oxy or reductive version. Caramel may be added to adjust colour)
• Vieux: Aged in oak, 264 US gallons/ 10 hl capacity, for 3 years or “tres Vieux”, if aged in oak with same size for 8 years

Question 9

Marc de Champagne?

Answer 9

• Distilled, eau de vie, from pomace (marc) of AOC champagne
• Must be 40% when finished
• Most is clear (blanc), aged in vat to avoid pigmentation
• 3 months minimum ageing
• Huge in chocolate and confectionary
• Must spend 24 months in oak vats that are 264 gallons/ 10 hls (or smaller in size)
• Caramel can be added to adjust colour

Question 10

Fine Champagne?

Answer 10

• Eau de Vie crafted by distilling wine made from grapes authorised for AOC champagne
• 40% final alc
• Fine Champagne Blanc aged in neutral vessels, 3 months to avoid colour
• Fine Champagne Viellie: 24 months in oak, 264 US gallons/ 10 hL (or smaller), Caramel can be used for adjustment

Question 11

What is regulated about the Press Centres/ Presses under ACO law?

Answer 11

• Size of the workplace within each press centres
• The nature of the equipment for processing the incoming grapes
• The press capacity of each press
• Performance records and maintenance history
• Number and volume of the clarification tanks on site

Question 12

Under AOC law the cuvee is defined as?

Answer 12

First 2050 litres to emerge from the press. The premier taille is the next 500 litres to emerge from the press. Even though there are more press fractions, only these two may be incorporated into AOC champagne.

Question 13

What are the aging requirements for NV and Vintage Champagne?

Answer 13

• Champagne must spend a minimum of 12 months on lees
• NV must spend a minimum of 15 months in the cellar from triage (Jan 1 following harvest) to release
• Vintage champagne must spend a minimum of 3 years in the cellar from triage (Jan 1 following harvest) to release

Question 14

What are the production regulations for NV and Vintage Champagne?

Answer 14

Vintage

• 100% of the grapes harvested during declared vintage
• Above does not apply to liqueur de triage and liqueur de expedition
• No reserve wines can be added
• A producer can not use 100% of their crop for vintage . Only 80% can be used (20% corresponds to the amount of taille extracted during pressing)