Champagne/Spark, Rhone, Burgundy Flashcards
Who are the oldest champagne house, starting with still wines, in what year. What house in what year were the first for sparkling wine?
Gosset - 1584
Ruinart - 1729
What winemaking aspect was carried forward from historic still wines in Champagne into the modern Traditional method?
Pressing red grapes for white wine
What organisation was set up in 1935 to regulate pricing and quality standards? what organisation took over those responsibilities, with greater reach
Commission de Chalons.
Followed by CIVC
When were the two major increases to the champagne growing area
1927 - included the Aube, after it being excluded in 1908
2009 - INAO sanctioned extending the boundaries to meet demand
What is the CIVCs set of rules
Controle de Structures
How many villages are covered by Champagne (AOP)
357
All permitted Champagne grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Arbane, Petit Meslier
Up to 5% Voltis for adaptation
Aging for Champagne
12 months on lees.
For NV 15 months from tirage total
For vintage 36 months from tirage total
How much of a wine must be from the declared vintage? how much of a harvest may be sold as vintage?
100% from the delclared vintage (exluding liqueur d’expedition)
80% of a harvest may be sold as vintage
Permitted training methods in Champagne
Chablis/Cordon Du Royat/Vallee de la Marne/Guyot (Simple and Double)
What is the press yield of champagne
102l from 160kg of grapes or 2550l from 4000kg
What is Rebeche
A juice extraction over the press yield, may be up to 10% of total, that is used for distillation
What are the post dosage sugar levels of
Brut Nature
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Dry
BN - 0-3g/l
EB - 0-6g/l
B - 0-12g/l
ED - 12-20g/l
What are the post dosage sugar levels of
Sec
Demi Sec
Doux
S - 17-35g/l
DS - 33-50g/l
D - 50+ g/l
what is the mean annual temp of champagne
10 degrees
What Climatic challenges do vignerons in Champagne face, why is the Northerly location suited to sparkling wine production?
Frost, rain, fungal disease and hail
The Northerly location gives grapes with pronounced acidity that suit sparkling wine production
What can rain at flowering cause
interrupted flowering, causing a second crop (bouvreaux)
What are the soils of Champagne and its properties
Two types of Chalk subsoil, both covered in sand -
Belemnite chalk-Porus, great drainage and high limestone gives fresh acid
Mircraster chalk - a second layer chalk found in valley, allows for deep roots
The Aube has clay
What do the three main Champagne grapes contribute to the blend
Chardonnay - Elegance and longevity
Pinot Noir - Structure, richness and body
Meunier - youthfully fruit and approachability
Why is Meunier planted in Vallee de la marne
Buds late and avoids spring frosts
What are the GC villages of Montagne de Reims
Sillery
Puisieulx
Beaumont-sur-vesle
Verzenay
Mally-Champagne
Verzy
Louvois
Bouzy
Ambonnay
Tours sur Marne
What are the GC Villages of Vallee de la Marne and Cote de Blancs
VdlM - Ay
CdB - Chouilly, Oiry, Cramant, Avize, Oger, Les Mesnil-sur-Oger
Assign these 1er Cru Villages
I) Ecuil
ii)Hautvillers
iii)Cuis
E - Montagne de Reims
H - Vallee de la Marne
C - Cote de Blancs
What two villages scored 99 on echelle de Cru, where are they
Mareiul sur Ay - Vallee de la Marne
Tauxieres-Mutry - Montagne de Reims