Champagne & Sparkling Wine Flashcards
3 grapes of Champagne
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Additional grapes of Champagne
Pinot Gris (locally Fromenteau), Pinot Blanc, Petite Meslier, and Arbanne
Soils of Champagne
Chalk
What does Chardonnay bring to the wine
Brings elegance, freshness, and acidity in the blends
What does Pinot Noir bring to the wine
Brings structure, red fruit aromas, power, and body
What does Pinot Meunier bring to the wine
Brings suppleness, Fruitiness, and roundness
What are the primary grapes used in Champagne? Name any other grapes that are also permittable.
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Pinot Blanc, Arbonne, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meslier
What are the 5 growing regions of Champagne, and what is the primary grape of that region?
Montagne de Reims - Pinot Noir Cote du Blanc - Chardonnay Aube - Pinot Noir Cote Sezanne - Chardonnay Valley Marne - Pinot Meunier
What is the most common soil found in Champagne? What are the 2 specific types of that soil found in Champagne?
Chalk
Belemnite - top layer
Mircaster - 2nd layer
What is tete de cuvee?
Premier or top label released by a house; Prestige cuvee
What does NM mean on a champagne label, and describe it?
Negociant Manipulant - purchased grapes; majority or all
What does RM mean on a Champagne label and describe it?
Recoltant Manipulant (aka Grower) - Grower involved in all steps
What does CM Mean on a Champagne label and describe it?
Co-operative Manipulant - Growers purchase equipment and collaborate
What does RC mean on a Champagne label and describe it?
Recoltant Coopateur - Grower outsources facility – still grower’s wine
What does SR mean on a Champagne label and describe it?
Society de Recoltante - all use facilities but seperate wines
What does MA mean on a Champagne label and describe it?
Marquis d’Achteur - labelling for a store/restaurant – wine brand made specifically for them
What is the term for the 2050 liters of juice produced from the grape pressing when making Champagne?
vin de cuvee
What is the term for the following 500 liters of juice produced from the grape pressing when making Champagne?
vin de taille
What is the term for the final (3rd extraction) produced from the grape pressing when making Champagne?
rebeche (none is used in Champagne)
What is liquer de tirage?
Yeast & sugar added prior to final fermentation
What is the Champagne term for the blending of base wines from different grape varietals before 2nd fermentation?
assemblage
What is Degorgement a la glace?
Removal of cap with cold
What is dosage?
sugar added to sparkling
also known as liquer de expedition
What is the minimum lees aging required for the making of Champagne?
12 months
What is riddling? What is another term for it?
turning of the bottles; remauge
What is the term for the machine that has allowed a large amount of bottles to be riddled at the same time? How many bottles will it hold?
gyro pallet
504
What is the term for the large board with slots for Champagne bottles, where riddling occurs?
poupetrie
What are the sweetness levels for Champagne? How many grams of dosage are allowed in each?
Zero dosage/Brut Nature - 0-3g Extra Brut 0-6g Brut 0-12 g Extra Dry (Extra Sec) 12-17g Dry (Sec) 17-32g Demi Sec 32-50g Doux >50g
What is the minimum aging requirements for both NV and Vintage Champagne?
15 months; 3 years
What is Coteaux Champenois?
Still wine made in Champagne
Who is Andre Francois?
French pharmacist that calculated how much liquer di tirage to add
Who was responsible for pioneering the process of riddling?
Madame Cliquot
Who was responsible for pioneering the process of assemblage?
Dom Perignan
List the bottle sizes of Champagne and how many bottles they hold
Piccolo - Quarter bottle (187mL) Demi - Half bottle (375mL) Bottle - 750mL Magnum -2 bottles (1.5L) Jeroboam - 4 bottles (3L) Rehoboam (discontinued in 1989) - 6 bottles (4.5L) Methuselah - 8 bottles (6L) Salmanazar - 12 bottles (9L) Balthazar - 16 bottles (12L) Nebuchadnezzer - 20 bottles (15L) Solomon - 24 bottles (18L)
What is the most planted grape variety of Champagne?
Pinot Noir
What is the difference between Blanc de Noir and Rose?
Blanc de Noir- white made from a red grape; no skin contact
Rose - includes brief skin contact
What is a unique difference between Rose Champagne and most of the other roses around the world?
No bleeding of juice; Rose Champagne is always blended red and white
How many Grand Cru villages are there in Champagne? How many Premier Cru?
17; 42
What is the term for the base wine of Champagne
vin clares
What is the term for the committee that works to establish and maintain good relationships between the farmers and the negociants, and helps set the market for the price of grapes?
CIVC
Define what the term “Special Club” means for certain Champagnes? What year was it started?
top produced wine from RM – their tete de cuvee
What is the term for the the special capsule that encloses the wine during 2nd fermentation and helps to trap sediment during riddling?
the jewel
Name of the cage on a bottle of Champagne
Mousseleaux
How many Grand Cru for Champagne
17
How many Premier Cru for Champagne
43
List 5 Grand Cru of Champagne
Ambonnay Avize Ay Beaumont-sur-vesle Bouzy Chouilly Cramant Louvois Mailly-Champagne Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Oger Oiry Puisieulx Sillery Tours-sur marne Verzenay Verzy
