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Intro Sommelier 2020 > Champagne (France) > Flashcards

Champagne (France) Flashcards

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

Where is Champagne located?

A

Northern France, 90 miles northeast of Paris.

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2
Q

What kind of climate does Champagne have?

A

Cool continental.

Hovers at the northern-most limit of vine growing (49th).

Often cloudy, unpredictable weather, and is one of the coolest wine regions in the world.

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3
Q

What kind of soil is found in Champagne?

A

Limestone and chalk.

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4
Q

Why is the limestone/chalk soil important for Champagnes vineyards?

A

The vine roots can dig deep which provides good drainage, moisture retention, and the soil remains a constant temperature.

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5
Q

What are the main grape varietals of Champagne?

A

Chardonnay (white)

Pinot Noir, Meunier (red)

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6
Q

What are the threats do the vineyards often face in Champagne?

A

Rain, frost, and hail.

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7
Q

A majority of champagnes made are _____ ?

A

Blends of grapes
Blends of regions/villages/vineyards
Blends of vintages

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8
Q

What method is Champagne made in?

A

Méthode Champenoise

Traditional Method

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9
Q

What is the name of the method of sparkling wines made outside of Champagne?

A

Méthode Classique

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10
Q

What are the steps of ‘The Traditional Method’ of making sparkling wine?

A
  1. Make the Base Still Wine
  2. Assemble the ‘Cuvee’/blend
  3. Secondary Fermentation/Bubbles
  4. Sur Lie Aging
  5. Riddling (Removal of Sediment, Part 1)
  6. Disgorgement (Removal of Sediment, Part 2)
  7. Dosage
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11
Q

Why are grapes pressed gently when making the still base wine for Champagne?

A

To avoid retaining color from the skins and prevent oxidation.

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12
Q

Where does primary fermentation happen for Champagne wines?

A

In either stainless steel tanks or oak barrels.

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13
Q

What is the ‘liqueur de tirage’?

A

A syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar added to the wine in order to prompt secondary fermentation (bubbles).

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14
Q

What is ‘autolysis’?

A

The gradual breaking down of yeast cells.

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15
Q

By law, how long must Champagne spend on the lees?

A

12 months on lees, 15 months total aging.

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16
Q

What flavors/aromas are a result of Sur Lie aging?

A

Yeast, dough, fresh baked bread.

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17
Q

What does the word ‘remuage’ refer to?

A

Riddling

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18
Q

What is a ‘pupitre’?

A

A wooden A-frame wine rack created by famed widow Clicquot used to riddle champagne bottles.

Each rack holds 60 bottles and the process takes 8 weeks (by hand).

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19
Q

What is a ‘gyrapalette’?

A

A large machine that can hold 504 bottles and takes 8 days to completely riddling.

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20
Q

What is the ‘liqueur d’expédition’?

A

A mixture of wine and sugar added to the bottle - a dosage - to determine the sweetness level of the Champagne.

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21
Q

What are the Champagne sweetness levels?

A 
Brut Nature (Bone Dry)
Extra Brut (Very Dry)
Brut (Dry)
Extra Dry (Off Dry)
Sec ( Sweet)
Demi Sec (Sweet)
Doux (Very Sweet)
22
Q

Brut Nature (Non dose)

A

Bone Dry

23
Q

Extra Brut

A

Very Dry

24
Q

Brut

A

Dry

25
Q

Extra Dry

A

Off Dry

26
Q

Sec

A

Semi Sweet

27
Q

Demi Sec

A

Sweet

28
Q

Doux

A

Very Sweet

29
Q

What are the important sub-regions of Champagne?

A

Montagne de Reims (north)

Vallée de la Marne (center)

Côte des Blancs (south)

30
Q

What are the Champagne age designations?

A

Non-vintage (NV)

Vintage Champagne

31
Q

Age designation for non-Vintage (NV) Champagne?

A

Aged a minimum of 15 months, with at least 12 months on the lees.

Many producers exceed the minimums.

32
Q

Age designation for Vintage Champagne?

A

Aged for a minimum of 36 months.

Many producers exceed the minimums.

33
Q

What are a few different styles of Champagne?

A

Rose
Blanc de Blancs
Blanc de Noirs

34
Q

Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made from what types of grapes?

A

100% Chardonnay

35
Q

Blanc de Noirs Champagne is made from what types of grapes?

A

Only dark grapes, Pinot Noir/Meunier

36
Q

What are examples of Champagne Special Cuvees/bottlings?

A

Single Vineyard
Clos or Mono Parcel
Cuvée Prestige or Tête de Cuvée

37
Q

What is a Cuvée Prestige or Tête de Cuvée?

A

The top-end bottling of a particular Champagne house or producer.

38
Q

What is a Clos or Mono Parcel?

A

A noted single parcel in a vineyard under a single

ownership.

39
Q

What causes quality variation from season to season/year to year in Champagne?

A

Weather extremes.

40
Q

What are the top recent vintages for Champagne?

A

Blanc de Blancs:
2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014

Blanc de Noirs:
2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015

41
Q

What are the advantages of the Méthode Champenoise?

A

Extended lees contact

Intense lees flavor

42
Q

What are some examples of wines made in the style of Méthode Champenoise?

A

Champagne
Crémant
Cava
Franciacorta

43
Q

What are the basic steps of Méthode Champenoise?

A 
Base wine is bottled
Sugar and yeast added
Second fermentation
Yeast autolysis
Disgorgement
Dosage

(All steps happen in the same bottle)

44
Q

What are the steps of the Transfer Method?

A 
Base wine is bottled
Sugar and yeast added
Second fermentation
Yeast autolysis
Bottles emptied into large
tanks under pressure
Filtered
Dosage
Rebottled
45
Q

What are the advantages of the Transfer Method?

A

Lees contact

Eliminates the need for riddling

46
Q

What are some examples of wines made with the Transfer Method?

A

Large- and small format bottling of Champagne and other sparkling wines.

47
Q

What are the steps of the Tank/Charmat Method?

A 
Base wine is sealed in pressurized tank
Sugar and yeast added
Second fermentation in tank
Filtered under pressure
Dosage under pressure
48
Q

What are some advantages of the Tank/Charmat method?

A

Saves time!
Fermentation finishes in 4-5 days
No costly riddling or disgorging
Best process for aromatic varieties

49
Q

What are some examples of wines made with the Tank/Charmat method?

A

Prosecco
Moscato d’Asti
Lambrusco

50
Q

What are three types of Crémant wines?

A

Crémant de Bourgogne (Burgundy)
Crémant d’Alsace (Alsace)
Crémant de Loire (Loire Valley)

Intro Sommelier 2020 (27 decks)

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