Champagne Deep Dive

Question 1

Why is Champagne considered the northernmost major wine region in France?

Answer 1

It lies around 49°N latitude, making it one of the coldest French wine regions suitable for commercial vineyards, focused on sparkling production.

Question 2

Name the five main subregions of Champagne.

Answer 2

Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Aube (Côte des Bar).

Question 3

Which three grape varieties dominate Champagne production?

Answer 3

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier (with Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris permitted in smaller amounts).

Question 4

Describe the stylistic contributions of each major variety in Champagne.

Answer 4

Chardonnay: Elegance, citrus, minerality. Pinot Noir: Structure, body, red-fruit notes. Meunier: Fruity roundness, softer acidity.

Question 5

List the primary Champagne styles.

Answer 5

Non-Vintage (NV), Vintage (millésimé), Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Rosé (by blending or saignée), Prestige Cuvée (e.g., Dom Pérignon, Cristal), Grower Champagne (RM).

Question 6

How long must Vintage Champagne age on lees?

Answer 6

At least 3 years total, although many producers age even longer for complexity.

Question 7

Define Blanc de Blancs vs. Blanc de Noirs.

Answer 7

Blanc de Blancs = 100% Chardonnay. Blanc de Noirs = 100% black grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Meunier).

Question 8

What is Rosé Champagne, and how is it produced?

Answer 8

Rosé can be made by blending white base wine with a small portion of red still wine (common in Champagne) or by saignée (short maceration of black grapes).

Question 9

Name two common methods of Rosé production in Champagne.

Answer 9

1) Blending white and red base wines. 2) Saignée method (brief skin contact for color).

Question 10

Give examples of Prestige Cuvées from major houses.

Answer 10

Moët & Chandon: Dom Pérignon, Louis Roederer: Cristal, Veuve Clicquot: La Grande Dame, Krug: Krug Grande Cuvée & Clos du Mesnil, etc.

Question 11

What is Grower Champagne (RM)?

Answer 11

A Champagne produced and bottled by the same estate that grows the grapes, labeled “RM” (Récoltant-Manipulant).

Question 12

Explain why the latitude of Champagne influences its style.

Answer 12

The cool, marginal climate leads to high acidity and lower sugar in grapes, ideal for sparkling wine production.

Question 13

How do Reims and Épernay factor into Champagne’s trade?

Answer 13

They are major commercial and historical centers for Champagne houses, cellars, and exports, serving as key hubs for the region.

Question 14

What is the forest of Reims’s role in Champagne’s climate?

Answer 14

It offers protection from extreme weather and wind, helping moderate vineyard conditions on the Montagne de Reims.

Question 15

Describe Champagne’s chalk soils and their benefits.

Answer 15

Chalk retains moisture while also providing good drainage. Its porous nature allows vine roots to dig deep, ensuring sufficient water yet preventing waterlogging.

Question 16

Name each subregion’s typical soil characteristics.

Answer 16

Montagne de Reims: Belemnite chalk, some clay for bold Pinot Noir. Vallée de la Marne: Marl, sand, clay-limestone for fruity Meunier. Côte des Blancs: Pure chalk for mineral Chardonnay. Côte de Sézanne: More clay, rounder Chardonnay. Aube: Kimmeridgian marl for riper Pinot Noir.

Question 17

Which subregion is known for top-quality Chardonnay in Champagne?

Answer 17

The Côte des Blancs, featuring villages like Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for mineral, high-acid Blanc de Blancs.

Question 18

How does the Aube (Côte des Bar) differ from the other subregions?

Answer 18

Its Kimmeridgian marl soils (similar to Chablis) and warmer climate favor riper Pinot Noir with softer acidity.

Question 19

Briefly outline Champagne’s historical milestones.

Answer 19

496 CE: Baptism of Clovis in Reims; 17th c.: Dom Pérignon fosters sparkling production; 19th c.: Veuve Clicquot & Moët develop methods and marketing; 1927: Champagne AOC regulations established.

Question 20

What is the Méthode Champenoise (traditional method)?

Answer 20

Primary fermentation (dry base wine), blending, secondary fermentation in bottle (tirage), lees aging, riddling, disgorgement, dosage (final sweetness).

Question 21

How long must Non-Vintage Champagne age before release?

Answer 21

At least 15 months total, including a minimum of 12 months on lees.

Question 22

What is disgorgement in Champagne production?

Answer 22

Removal of the lees sediment from the neck of the bottle after riddling. The bottle is topped up with dosage (liquer d’expédition).

Question 23

Define dosage and its impact on sweetness.

Answer 23

Dosage is the sugar solution added after disgorgement; it determines final sweetness level from Brut Nature (no sugar) up to Demi-Sec or Doux (very sweet).

Question 24

Which producers are known for oak fermentation in Champagne?

Answer 24

Krug (extensive oak aging) and Selosse (oxidative style in barrels) are key examples.

Question 25

How are sweetness levels labeled in Champagne?

Answer 25

Brut Nature (0g sugar), Extra Brut (0–6g/L), Brut (≤12g/L), Extra Dry (12–17g/L), Sec (17–32g/L), Demi-Sec (32–50g/L), Doux (50+ g/L).

Question 26

Explain the difference between NM and RM on a Champagne label.

Answer 26

NM (Négociant-Manipulant) indicates a large house buying grapes/wine. RM (Récoltant-Manipulant) indicates a grower producing Champagne from their own vineyards.

Question 27

Name at least four Grand Cru villages in the Montagne de Reims.

Answer 27

Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzy, and Verzenay are all Grand Cru villages known for Pinot Noir.

Question 28

Which Grand Cru village in the Vallée de la Marne is historically important?

Answer 28

Aÿ is renowned for powerful, high-quality Pinot Noir and has historical significance in Champagne.

Question 29

List three top Grand Cru villages in the Côte des Blancs for Chardonnay.

Answer 29

Avize, Cramant, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger produce some of the region’s finest Blanc de Blancs.

Question 30

Does the Aube (Côte des Bar) have any Grand Cru vineyards?

Answer 30

No, the Aube has no Grand Cru villages. It’s more distant from Reims/Epernay, with different soils and climate, focusing on Pinot Noir.

Question 31

Give examples of major Prestige Cuvées from famous houses.

Answer 31

Dom Pérignon (Moët), Cristal (Roederer), La Grande Dame (Veuve Clicquot), Krug Grande Cuvée, Comtes de Champagne (Taittinger), La Grande Année (Bollinger).

Question 32

Name at least two renowned Grower Champagne producers.

Answer 32

Jacques Selosse (noted for biodynamic and oxidative style), Egly-Ouriet (barrel-aged Pinot Noir), Pierre Péters (Blanc de Blancs), Chartogne-Taillet, etc.

Question 33

Which house produces “Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill” as a Prestige Cuvée?

Answer 33

Pol Roger produces “Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill,” a tribute to the British Prime Minister’s love of Champagne.

Question 34

Which Prestige Cuvée is 100% Chardonnay from a single Grand Cru vineyard under Krug?

Answer 34

Krug Clos du Mesnil is their single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs Prestige Champagne.

Question 35

Which winery’s top cuvée is “Substance,” known for oxidative, solera-like aging?

Answer 35

Jacques Selosse in Avize produces “Substance,” a radical, perpetual reserve style Blanc de Blancs.

Question 36

Explain the difference between “La Grande Année” and “Vieilles Vignes Françaises” by Bollinger.

Answer 36

La Grande Année is Bollinger’s vintage Champagne. Vieilles Vignes Françaises is an ultra-rare cuvée from ungrafted Pinot Noir vines, often extremely limited.

Question 37

What does “Rosé des Riceys” refer to?

Answer 37

A still rosé wine produced in Les Riceys (Aube), separate from sparkling Champagne, recognized as Rosé des Riceys AOP.

Question 38

Which cuvée made by Taittinger is a Blanc de Blancs Prestige Cuvée?

Answer 38

Comtes de Champagne is Taittinger’s all-Chardonnay Prestige Cuvée.

Question 39

What style is “Rare” from Piper-Heidsieck?

Answer 39

A high-end, limited-release vintage Champagne with extended lees aging, focusing on luxury packaging and a rich palate.

Question 40

Why is Salon considered unique among Champagnes?

Answer 40

Salon produces exclusively Blanc de Blancs from the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, only in exceptional vintages (around 37 vintage releases in 100+ years).