Champagne Online Flashcards & Quiz
What is disgorgement?
The removal of yeast after the 2nd fermentaion, in sparkling wine production.
What is disgorgement a la volee?
disgorgement by hand, as opposed to by machine.
what is a mosser?
a whisk used to release trapped gas from wine.
What is the climate of the Champagne region?
Continental with maritime influences
In what year did the King of France allow wine to be sold and transported in bottle?
1728
What is the most popular style of Champagne?
Brut Non-Vintage
What city was historically the capital of the Champagne region?
Troyes
What is chalk?
A porous limestone - a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate
Which was the 1st Champagne house?
Ruinart - founded in 1729
T or F: In Champagne, the vineyards are ranked Grand Cru or 1er Cru.
FALSE. It is the village that is ranked and not the individual vineyards.
In Champagne, which is the higher ranking, “Grand Cru” or “Premier Cru” ?
Grand Cru
What are the 2 types of chalk found in Champagne?
Belemnite and Micraster
What is the dominant grape variety grown in the Grande Montagne de Reims?
Pinot Noir
What is the dominant grape variety grown in the Vallee de la Marne?
Meunier
What is the Kimmeridgean Marl?
A limestone-rich clay whose dominant fossil is Exogyra virgula, a small comma-shaped oyster.
What is the dominant fossil found in Belemnite chalk?
Ancient dart-like relatives of the modern-day squid.
What is a Mono-Parcelle?
a single vineyard
What is a Mono-Cru?
a single village
What is gyropalette?
a mechanized riddling machine.
What is a Blanc de Blancs?
A white wine made from white grapes, the term is more commonly used for sparkling wines than still.
What is the dominant grape variety of the Cote des Blancs?
Chardonnay
List the 7 dosage levels from driest to sweetest.
Brut Nature
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Sec (or Extra Dry)
Sec
Demi-Sec
Doux
What is the dominant grape variety of the Cote de Sezanne?
Chardonnay
What is Blanc de Noirs?
A white einw made from black grapes, the term is more commonly used for sparkling wines than still.
What does the abbreviation RM refer to on a Champagne label?
Recoltant-Manipulant; a producer who vinifies only their own estate-grown grapes.
What are the 3 principal grape varities of Champagne?
Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay
What are the 4 authorized (but ancillary) grape varities of Champagne?
Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Arbane
Petit Meslier
What was the contribution of Veuve Cliquot (Ponsardin) to the champagne method?
The development of the riddling proccess.
T or F: A champagne labeled Grand Cru comes from a single vineyrd.
FALSE. The grapes for Grand Cru Champagne re sourced from one, or more, of the 17 Grand Cru villages.
Wht is a Perpetual Reserve?
A vat of reserve wine in which multiple vintages of wine are aged together in the same vessel - similar to a solera.
What is a Tete de Cuvee?
A champagne house’s prestige cuvee
What were the 2 principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th and 16th centuries?
Gouais and Fromenteau
What are the crayeres?
Chalk quarries dug by the Romans and now used as cellars for aging Champagne.
Which grape variety is the most widely planted in Champagne?
Pinot Noir
T or F: There is a set blending formula for the Champagne AOC.
FALSE. Every champagne house has its own blend and house style.
What is the difference between the AOC Coteaux Champenois and AOC Champagne?
AOC Coteaux Champenois wines are still, while AOC Champagne wines are sprakling.