Champagne / Sparkling / Dessert Wines

Question 1

Asti DOCG is sparkling wine made from which method?

Answer 1

Charmat (Cuve Close, Tank)

Question 2

Bugey Cerdon, Clairette de Die Methode Dioise Ancestrale, and Gaillac Mousseaux Methode Gaillocoise make sparkling wine from which style?

Answer 2

Methode Ancestrale (aka methode rurale)

Question 3

Name two English sparkling wines using the traditional method?

Answer 3

Nyetimber
Ridgeview Estate

(both are located in Sussex)

Question 4

Which two DOCG’s in Lombardy produce traditional method sparkling?

Answer 4

Franciacorta

Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico

Question 5

Sparkling wine is made in Blanquette de Limoux using the traditional method, with a 90% minimum blend of which three grapes?

Answer 5

Mauzac
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc

Question 6

What are the seven cremant AOPs produced by the traditional method

Answer 6

Cremant de Bordeaux
Cremant de Bourgogne
Cremant de Loire
Cremant de Limoux
Cremant de Die
Cremant de Jura
Cremant d'Alsace

Question 7

What are other areas in France (aside from Champagne and the 7 cremant AOPs) that produce sparkling wine using the traditional method?

Answer 7

Vouvray
Montlouis-sur-Loire
Saumur
Vin de Savoie
Seyssel
Blanquette de Limoux AOP

Question 8

What are the AOP still wines of Champagne?

Answer 8

Coteaux Champenois - red / white / rosé
-made in the entire appellation

Rosé de Riceys - rosé
-made in the cru village of Les Riceys (in the Aube)

Question 9

Champagne is the only AOP in France that allows a rosé to be produced by blending red and white wine.

True or False?

Answer 9

True

Question 10

When did the Special Club (Club Tresors) Prestige Cuvee originate and what is it?

Answer 10

1971

The Special Club bottlings are estate-bottled, vintage-dated wines with identical packaging that represent the pinnacle of individual’s style and production.

The Special Club is a collection of grower-producers, and include producers such as Paul Bara, Marc Hébrart, Pierre Gimmonet, J. Lasalle and G. Chiquet

Question 11

Clos de Goisses is a single-vineyard bottling from which Champagne house?

Answer 11

Philipponnat

Question 12

For which champagne formats is Transvage (Transfer) method permitted?

Answer 12

It is permitted for bottles larger than a Jeroboam and smaller than a half-bottle.

Question 13

What are the sweetness levels of Champagne?

Answer 13

Brut Nature / Non-Dosé 0-3 g/l
Extra Brut 0-6 g/l
Brut 0-12 g/l
Extra Dry 12 - 17 g/l
Sec 17 - 32 g/l
Demi Sec 32 - 50 g/l
Doux 50+ g/l

Question 14

How many bottles does a pupitre hold?

Answer 14

120 (60 on each side)

Question 15

How many bottles does a gyropalette hold?

Answer 15

504

Question 16

Who was the Nazi-appointed agent during WWII that lived at the VCP estate and was known as the “Weinfuhrer”?

Answer 16

Otto Klaebisch

Question 17

The CIVC was started by Count Robert-Jean de Vogue of Moët in 1941 - what does it stand for and what does it do?

Answer 17

Comité Interprofessional du Vin de Champagne

An organization that works in the mediation between large Champagne houses and the growers from whom they source grapes.

Question 18

What is the mean annual temperature of the Champagne region?

Answer 18

50 degrees F (10 Celsius)

Question 19

What is the subsoil in Champagne?

Answer 19

Belemnite Chalk - a porous chalk derived from the fossilized remains of millions of extinct cephalopods, has a high limestone content which allow vine roots to dig deeply and is linked to acidity.

Question 20

What are the other four varietals authorized for Champagne AOP production?

Answer 20

Arbane
Petit Meslier
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris

Question 21

What are the only four pruning methods permitted in the vineyards of Champagne?

Answer 21

Cordon de Royat
Chablis
Vallée de la Marne
Guyot (double and simple)

Question 22

What are the names and sized of Champagne bottle formats?

Answer 22

Quarter Bottle (piccolo) - 187 mL
Half Bottle (demi) - 375 mL
Bottle - 750 mL
Magnum - 1.5 L
Jeroboam - 3 L (4 bottles)
Methusaleh - 6 L (8 bottles)
Salamanzar - 9 L (12 bottles)
Balthazar - 12 L (16 bottles)
Nebuchadnezzar - 15 L (20 bottles)

*Note: The Rehoboam contained 4.5 L and held 6 bottles, but was discontinued in 1989.

Question 23

What are the five districts authorized to grow grapes for Champagne?

Answer 23

Montagne de Reims
Vallée de la Marne
Cote des Blancs
Cote de Sezanne
Cote des Bars (the Aube)

Question 24

The CIVC authorizes blocage and deblocage. What do those terms mean?

Answer 24

Blocage and deblocage are the reserve and release, respectively, of winestocks for use in future vintages.

Question 25

What are the two villages in Champagne that are premier curs with a 99% ranking through the Echelle de Crus?

Answer 25

Mareuil-sur-Ay (Vallée de la Marne)

Tauxieres (Montagne de Reims)

Question 26

Every bottles of Champagne bears a series of digits - a code assigned to each producer by the CIVC. What is this called?

Answer 26

The Matriculation Number

Question 27

What do the following initials stand for?

NM
RM
CM
RC
SR
ND
MA

Answer 27

NM - Negociant Manipulant
CM - Cooperative Manipulant
RM - Recoltant Manipulant
RC - Recoltant Cooperateur
SR - Societe de Recoltants
ND - Negociant Distributeur
MA - Marque d'Acheter