Champagne - History Flashcards
What was the original style of wine produced in champagne?
sweet rosé with a light fizz
How did the fizz first appear in the bottle?
first fermentation would be arrested when the cold temperatures drop in the winter and could begin again with the rise in temperatures after the Spring
Which country liked this lightly fizzy wine?
England
Coal-fired glass from England was significant why?
coal fired glass was tough and allowed bottles to made that could withstand the pressure generated by the carbon dioxide
Dom Pierre Pérignon is a name synonymous with champagne, what did he contribute to champagne making AB2C2 (ABsquaredCsquared)?
- Assemblage (blending different grapes from different areas in the region to make a superior wine)
- Black grape usage to create white wines (a first)
- Bottles (early adopter of toughened English glass in champagne production)
- Coquard Press (still widely used)
- Cork closure reintroduced to France
How did Dom Perignon regard the bubbles?
He regarded them as a fault
When did Dom Perignon die and when was the next big milestone in champagne making
He died in 1715 and the next milestone was in the nineteenth century
What happened in the nineteenth century in champagne?
liqueur de tirage is used containing a known dose of sugar and yeast to engender a known pressure in the final wine
Who created remuage in pupitre?
The widow Cliquot created riddling to move the yeast to the neck of the bottle
What step did remuage allow?
Disgorgement after the dunking of the neck in ice cold bath
How did disgorgement affect the appearance of the wine?
It allowed to its clarity
When was the current boundary of the champagne AOC set?
In 1927
What is the name of the grape pricing hierarchy that was subsequently introduced?
échelle de crus
The échelle de crus rating system brought about which crus?
Premier and Grand Cru
How are grape prices now set?
The market
