Champagne (R) Flashcards
Champagne - location?
Northern France; 90 miles northeast of Paris
Champagne - climate?
- Cool continental
- Northern-most limit of vine growing
- No natural protection from Atlantic
- Cloudy, unpredicatble weather
Champagne is one of the __________, most __________ wine growing regions in the world.
Coolest, northernly
Champagne - soil?
Limestone and chalk
What characterizes the soil in champagne?
- Good drainage while retaining moisture (roots can dig deep in these soils)
- Soils maintain a relatively constant temperature
Champagne - grape varieties?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Meunier
Champagne - primary viticultural considerations?
Persistent threats of rain, frost, hail
Champagne - primary vinification aspects?
- Blends!
- Of grapes
- Of sub-regions/villages/vineyards
- Of vintages
What method is used to make wine in Champagne?
Methode champenoise
What is the method used to make wine in Champagne called outside of Champagne?
Methode Classique
How many steps are in the Methode Champenoise?
7
Name the seven steps of the Methode Champenoise.
- Making the base still wine
- Assemblage of the “Cuvee” (assembling the blend)
- Secondary Fermentation (creating bubbles)
- Sur Lie Aging
- Riddling (removal of sediment part 1)
- Degorgement (removal of sediment part 2)
- Dosage
Define step 1 of the methode champenoise.
- Grapes pressed quickly and gently to avoid color and oxidation
- Light in color
- Low alcohol
- High acidity
- Fermentation in stainless or oak
Define step 2 of the methode champenoise.
- Assembling (assemblage) the blend of grapes from various vintages, regions, villages, or vineyards
Define step 3 of the methode champenoise.
- Secondary fermentation; Bottled with liquear de tirage (a syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar)
- Bottled is sealed
- Yeast metabolizes the sugar creatiing small amount of alcohol and CO2
Define step 4 of the methode champenoise.
- Autolysis (yeast cells gradually break down)
- Wine rests on the lees
- Law requires at least 12 months on lees during minimum 15 months total aging
Define step 5 of the methode champenoise.
- Lees must be removed to create clear wine
- Bottles must be turned (riddling) by hand or machine
- Lees gradually moves into the neck
Define step 6 of the methode champenoise.
- Disgorging
- Neck of bottle frozen in ice bath so yeast can be ejected
- By hand or machine
Define step 7 of the methode champenoise.
- Dosage
- Liquer d’expedition is added
- Amount of sugar determines sweetness and style
List the style categories and corresponding sweetness levels for Champage.
- Brut Nature (bone dry)
- Extra Brut (very dry)
- Brut (dry)
- Extra Dry (off dry)
- Sec (semi sweet)
- Demi Sec (sweet)
- Doux (very sweet)
What is a pupitre?
Wooden A-frame rack used for riddling by hand
Who created the pupitre?
The widow Clicquot
How many bottles does a pupitre hold?
60
How long does it take to riddle a pupitre by hand?
8 weeks
What is the name of the machine used for riddling?
Gyropalette
How many bottles does a gyropalette hold?
504
How long does it take to riddle Champagne via machine?
8 days
What is the AOP in Champagne?
Champagne AOP
List the sub-regions in Champagne.
- Valee de la Marne
- Cote des Blanc
- Montagne de Reims