Champange Flashcards
What is “disgorgement”?
The removal of yeast after the second fermentation, in sparkling wine production.
What is “disgorgement à la volée”?
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
Which 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 first Champagne house?
Ruiart 1729
In Champagne, the vineyards are ranked Grand Cru or 1er Cru.
True or False?
False, Villages are ranked and the individual vinyards
In Champagne, which is the higher ranking, “Grand Cru” or “Premier Cru”?
grand cru
What are the two types of chalk found in Champagne?
belemnite and micraster
What is the dominant grape variety grown in the Grande Montagne de Reims?
pinot nior
What is the dominant grape variety grown in the Vallée de la Marne?
meunier
What is 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 to the modern day squid
What is a “Mono-Parcelle”
a single vineyard
What is a “Mono-Cru”
a single village
What is a gyropalette?
a mechanized riddling machine
What is a “Blanc de Blancs”?
a white wine made from white grapes, mainly used for sparkling wines
List the seven dosage levels from driest to sweetest.
brut nature 0-3, extra brut 0-6, brut 0-12, extra sec 12-17, sec 17 - 32, demi-sec 32-50, doux 50+
What is the dominant grape variety of the Côte des Blancs?
chardonnat
What is the dominant grape variety of the Côte de Sézanne?
chardonnay
What is a “Blanc de Noirs”?
a white wine made from black grapes
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 three principal grape varieties of Champagne?
pinot nior, meuneir, chardonnay
What are the four authorized (but ancillary) grape varieties of Champagne?
pinot gris, pinot blanc, arbane, petite meslier
What was the contribution of Veuve Cliquot (Ponsardin) to the champagne method?
development of the riddling process
A champagne labeled “Grand Cru” comes from a single vineyard.
True or False?
False, it will be sourced from one of the 17 grand cru villages
What 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 “Tête de Cuvée”?
a champagne houses prestige cuvee
What were the two principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th to 16th centuries?
Gouais and Fromenteau
What are the “crayères”?
chalk quarries dug by the romans and now used as cellars for aging champange
Which grape variety is the most widely planted in Champagne?
pinot nior
There is a set blending formula for the Champagne AOC.
True or False?
False, every champange house has its own blend and house style
What is the difference between AOC Coteaux Champenois and AOC Champagne?
Coteaux is still
What is “remuage”?
riddling, turning the bottles at an angle to collect the lees to the neck of the bottle
What does the abbreviation “NM” refer to on a Champagne label?
Negociant-Minipulant, a producer that includes grapes purchased from other growers in their wines
What is another term for “liqueur d’expédition”?
dosage
What is the dominant grape variety of the Côte des Bar?
Pinot Nior
What is the “liqueur d’expédition”?
A Mix of sugar and reserve wine added to the chapange that is added to the champange after degorgement and before the cork is inserted
What is the “prise de mousse”?
seizing of the foam, second fermentation that creates the bubbles
What is “transversage”?
the process of using 750ml bottles to fill larger or smaller bottles
What is the primary grape variety of Rosé des Riceys?
pinot nior
What are the three AOCs in the Champagne region?
Rose des Riceys, Coteaux Champenois, Champange
AOCs of Champagne
Rose des Riceys AOC
Coteaux Champenois AOC
Champange AOC
Rose des Riceys AOC
1947
Rose
Pinot Noir
Coteaux champenois AOC
1974
Dry white, Rose, Red
Whites: P:Chardonnay, S:Arbane, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier
Rose:: Pinot Gris
Red: Pinot Noir, Meunier
Champagne AOC
1936
Sparkling wine, sparkling Rose
Whites: P:Chardonnay, S:Arbane, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier
Rose:: Pinot Gris
Red: Pinot Noir, Meunier
