Champagne history Flashcards
The first champagne was created……..
By accident
Which monks were the first to make a sparkling wine in France?
The monks of Saint Hilaire, near Limoux created Blanquette de Limoux in the 1500s.
When were the first vineyards in Champagne planted?
In the 4th and 5th Century whilst ruled by Roman culture
Under Roman rule what champagne known for?
It was an important quarrying site for chalk and a crossroad for trade
What happened to champagne in the 200s?
The Romans were in decline and the area was open to attack from the Vandals, the Teutons, the Franks and the Huns
France was known as Gaul and Clovis, King of the Franks tried to unite all the tribes of Gaul
What did Bishop Remi do to convince Clovis to Christianity?
He blessed a cask of local wine. As long as there was wine in the barrel he would be victorious. When Clovis wine he (after The was never dry) he paraded through Reims in victory, United a new country under the name of France. The next sip of wine was sacramental. Bishop Remi became Saint Remi.
What took place in Reims for 600 years?
27 French kings were crowned in the Catherdral of Reims
Louis the 8th to Charles the 10th
Champagne is the wine of kings…….
And the king Of wines
Why has champagne become a centre for conflict bluring any war?
Because it was a political and social beacon
What are some of the wars champagne has been at the centre of?
Battles between Frankish and Germanic kingdoms, the Hundred Years War (England going for the French throne), Napoleon’s battles against Austria, Prussa and Russia and both World Wars
What do Champagne vignerons still find in their vineyards?
Bullet casings from the World Wars
What were the two names of Champagne in the 9th Century?
- Vins De la Montagne (mountain wines)
- Vin De la Riviere (River wines)
What were the wines of Ay referred to as?
“The ordinary drink of kings and princes”
Middle Ages in Champagne?
- Crossroads for the merchants of Europe
- Large fairs held, these featured drinking
- Fesitvals went for 49 days, twice a year
- Spices, dyes, wool and leather
What helped with the predictability Of Champagne Production during the 1600s?
- Stronger glass bottles
- Airtight cork
These made it easier for effervescence to occur
In the 1600s what were merchants more known for?
Textiles. They would eventually give sparkling wine as gifts. More interest was eventually gained with the sparkling wines
What decree in 1728 helped the champagne trade?
That champagne could be shipped in bottle, prior to this it had to be shipped in cask. This helped sparkling production to increase.
When was Ruinart founded?
1729
When was Chanoine Feres founded?
1730
Moet and Chandon started when?
1743
When was Henri Abele established?
1757
When was Besserat De Bellefon?
1760
When was Dellamonte established?
1760
When was Lanson established?
1760
When was Verve Cliquot Ponsandin established?
1772
When was Louis Roederer established?
1776
When was Heidseck and Co monopole?
1785
When was Piper Heidseck established?
1785
When was Jacqueson & Fils established?
1798
When were the wines Of champagne known as in the 17th Century?
Vins De Champagne- This meant the region had an identity
What does the Latin word campagna mean?
Unforrested land or open country
At the end of the 17th Century/ Start of 18th Century, what took place?
More scientific discoveries regarding sparkling wine production
In 1887 what happened regarding the word champagne?
The Court Of Appeal In Angers found that “champagne”, the word, could only be used in conjunction with champagne
What arrived in 1890 and devastated the champagne v/yards?
Phylloxera
Pre- Phylloxera Champagne: 150,000 acres/ 60,000 ha
Post Phylloxera Champagne: 30,000 acres/ 12,000 ha
What was the density of planting prior to Phylloxera?
20,000 vines per acre/ 50,000 vines per hectare
After: 3,200 vines per acre/ 8,000 vines per ha
When, the deliniated area of champagne was formed in 1908 which area wasn’t included which caused civil unrest?
The Auge, south of Troyes
What do the residents of champagne call Troyes?
The Heart Of Champagne
What happened after the Auge was included in champagne?
The Marne rioted, they didn’t want the Aube included. This was resolved when the Aube was called a “second zone” until 1927 when it was finally included in champagne.
When did champagne hit its prime?
In the Golden Age- “Belle Epoque”
What must sparkling wine from outside of champagne be called?
Cremant, petillant, mousseaux
The Romans?
- Formal Viticulture was initiated
- Quarrying for chalk
- Crossroads for trade
Roman Decline
- After the decline of the Roman Empire….Champagne is overrun by the Vandals, the Teutons, the Francs and the Huns in turn
- Attila the Hun was routed at Chalon-en- Champagne
Reims
- City became extraordinary important politically
- For 600 years, 27 French kings were crowned here, in its cathedral
What were the early wines of Champagne like?
Still and red
Who was the first textile baron to open a champagne house?
Ruinart In 1729
What took place in 1911?
The Eschelle Des Crus- ranking of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards
What was the style of Chamoagne popular during the 19th Century?
Doux champagne. Especially in Russia.
When the Tsar was over thrown, that market collapsed and the champenois started to produce less sweet versions
Who made dry styles of champagne famous?
Madame Pomery
What must sparkling wine from outside of champagne be called?
Cremant, petillant, mousseaux
How many Roman queries were dug?
250 Crayeres were dug during Roman rule. They were mostly 100 ft/ 30m into the subsoil.
What happened in 451?
The combined armies of the Romans defeated Attila the Hun near Chalons- Sur- Marne. The battle claimed 200,000 lives.
St Alpin?
Was a resident of Chalons- Sur- Marne. He twarted his attack. Legend says god added his spit to St Alpin’s, when St Alpin spat on the warrior. This caused a deluge of rain, causing Attila’s retreat. St Alpin was cannonised for this.
What happened to Champagne after the fall of the Roman Empire?
The region was prone to attack. The residents took shelter in crayeres. Vines went to ruin. The clergy took over Viticulture and provided security to the region.
Who was the monk that is credited with inventing the daily routine of monks?
Benedict (480- 547)
Were the Benedictines the only monastic order in Europe for 500 years?
Yes
Some historians believe that…..
The Celts started viticulture, but Romans really made it organised- much like the rest of France
The Celts were…..
Many labourers from Modern day Burgundy, Switzerland and Austria. They ruled all the way into Turkey, Eastern Europe and Iberian Coast, the low countries and Britan. They had no organised communication.
When did Rome rule champagne?
From 50 AD to around 461 AD
What tribe was protected by the Romans?
The Celtish named Remi. The Romans protected them from The Franks, Goths, Burgondes, Teutons, Vandals and Huns
Where were the Celts tribe of Remi from?
Belgie origin but their capital was Reims, known as Durocortium during Roman times.
Chalk……
Is a carbonate mineral used for building and construction. Underground (without exposure to air), it is soft and malleable can be scratched with a fingernail. But when exposed to air, it hardens into stone.
How did Benedictine organise their abbeys?
Free men and surfs aided monks in getting the work done. Free men were share croppers. They gave their crops to the church in return for shelter and protection in times of war.
What was the role of the cellar master in abbey in champagne?
Responsible for creating revenue, by increasing quality in wines
How were wines made by monks in the dark days?
They were usually just blends of grapes given by partrioners. They were chucked together and pressed.
What were the grape Varieities used to craft Vins De la Montagne and Vins De la rivere?
Vin De la montage- Gouais (black berried)- Red wines
Vins De la riviere- Fromenteau (gray/ pink berried)- Pale wines
When did Gouais disappear?
In the 19th Century
What is Fromenteau known as?
Pinot Gris
Who was king of France and united Europe after Pepin the Short?
Charlemagne (Charles the Great, Charles I) in 768. When he died he gave it to Louis the Pious, who split to his 3 sons
Which three brothers quarrelled that much that they caused conflict in champagne?
Lothair the Elder
Louis the German
Charles the Bald
This stopped with the Strasbourg Oath in 842, it was written in both German (Louis) and French (Lothair and Charles)
Peace between the 3 brothers happened…….
843 with the Treaty if Verdun. This meant Europe came under 3 way rule. Charles ruled what would become France. Louis ruled what was to become Germany. Lothair got the Netherlands.
How were wines made by monks in the dark ages?
They were usually just blends of grapes given by partitioners. They were chucked together and pressed
What are the grape varieties used to craft vins de la montagne and vins de la riviere?
Vins de la montagne- Gouais (black berried)- red wines
Vins de la riviere- Fromenteau (gray/ pink berried)- pale wines
When did Gouais disappear?
In the 19th Century
What is Fromenteau known as?
Pinot Gris
Who was king of France and united Europe after Pepin the Short?
Charlemagne (Charles the Great, Charles I) in 768. When he died he gave it to Louis the Pious, who split it to his three sons
Which three brothers quarrelled that much that they caused conflict in Champagne?
Lothair the Elder
Louis the German
Charles the Bald
This stopped with the Strasbourg Oath in 842, it was written in both German (Louis) and French (Lothair and Charles)
Peace between the three brother took place in…………
843 with the Treaty of Verdun. This meant Europe came under 3 way rule. Charles ruled what would become France, Louis ruled what was to become Germany. Lothair got the middle lands.
Out of the three brothers who ruled champagne?
Charles, he ruled the vineyards of Reims, the marne and the Aube
Who decided that troyes become the capital of champagne province?
The Counts of Troyes, who became the Counts of Champagne
What war between the English and French took place in Champagne?
The Hundred Year War. It finished in 1453. Many residents suffered from feminine. Also saw the end of fiefdom. Merchants and free men bought more land. Church became more wealthy as people donated land and merchants gave money to the church.
What was wine like in the Middle Ages?
Ranged from pale white to onion to red. Winter cold stopped fermentation and then started again.
Abbey Saint- Pierre of Hautvillers
- Near Epernay
- 650 founded by Saint Nivard, Archbishop of Reims
- 1668/ 1670- 1715 Dom Perignon was Cellarmaster
- Became a pillgramage sites when a relic of Helena (Constantine the Great’s wife) was stolen from Rome and buried there
- 1636- Huge owner of v/yards and wine titles
Abbey Saint- Thierry
- 500 AD by Thierry, disciple of Saint Remi
- 10th Century be came an order of Saint Benedict
- Destroyed in 1777
Abbey of Reims- Saint- Remi
- 6th Century AD in Reims
- Since 1099 housed the relics of Saint Remi
- 9th Century- Controlled over 700 domaines (one of the richest in the world)
- 1991 became a UNESCO world site
Abbey of Saint- Nicaire
- 1231 to the 17th Century under construction
- Burial Site Of bishops during the Gallo- Roman era
- Beacame Benedictine in 1060
Other Notable Abbeys
- Saint Pierre in Reims
- Saint Pierre in Chalons
- Saint Sauveur In Vertus
- Saint Basle In Verzy
- Saint Marie In Avenay
- Saint Pierre- Saint Paul In Orbais
- Abbey Of Montieramay
- Saint Martin In Epernay
- Notre Dame in Sezanne
- Saint Denis in Reims
En Foule
- Popular in Medieval Times
- ‘in a crowd’
- Burying a shoot in the ground, burying its tip. Tip grows roots.
- This means vine is close to the parent vine
- No orderly rows
Why did Ay come to prominence in the middle ages?
Synonymous with vin de la Rivierre. Its claim to fame was Fromenteau/ Pinot Gris
How many communes in champagne were making wine in the 12th Century?
- Epicentres were Reims, Epernay, Chalons- Sur- Marne, Saint- Menehould, Vitry- le- Francois and Sezanne. Extensive plantings in Seine and Aube Valleys. By the 1400s it was 400 communes.
What were the two main wine commerce towns in the Middle Ages?
Chalons and Reims
What was a ‘tenure a vintage’?
A stipulation that a free man would work the land for 5 years. The property would then be divided between the land owner and the free man- most of the time.
What took place in the 1500s that put neighbour vs neighbour?
The Catholic War between Catholics and Protestants. The area was ravaged by famine and plague (1598)
When and where did Pinot Noir make its first appearance?
In the 1500s in Ay
What happened in 1649 which meant the cellars of Champagne were pillaged?
After the Thirty Year War (1618- 1648), which involved nations and religious freedom. Netherlands had to send mercenaries to bolster local armies.
What took place between 1648- 1653?
A conflict between the monarchy and the parliament. It was known as the ‘Fronde’. Troops were stationed in champagne and destroyed the area.
When was Dom Perginon born?
Either 1638 or 1639
What was a popular type of wine in the 1600s?
Vin Gris (‘grey wine’)- more onion skin or partridge eye than white or red
What was Dom Perignon’s first advance in the late 1600’s?
He produced white wine using black skinned grapes. The first Blanc de Noir.
Vin de Goute/ Vin de l’Abaissement?
- Found in the 1600s
- First juice from pressings
- Second press called the tailles (cuts)
- The first and second press were aimed to be done within an hour of one another
- A third and fourth press occurred
- The last press was called the Vin de Pressoir. It was the most tannic and hard to take- it was given to servants
- 1-3 presses were mixed, but other tailles were to harsh to blend