Chapter 1 - History Flashcards
What three things did the Romans bring to the area under their rule?
Viticulture
Chalk quarries
Protection for the Remi tribe.
Name two ancient grape varieties.
- Gouais Blanc
- Fromenteau (Pinot Gris)
What happened to viticulture after the fall of Rome?
It fell into the hands of the clergy who filled the power void.
Who baptised King Clovis and where?
Bishop Remi in Reims in the 5th century.
What and who had a major role in the development of viticulture in the 5th and 6th centuries?
The church and monasteries (Benedictines). Wine was needed for mass and a source of income.
Who was the first coronation ceremony held for in France?
King Pepin the Short in Soissons in 752
For how many years did coronations take place in Reims?
600 years. 27 French kings.
What were the wines of Champagne known as in the 9th century?
- Vins de la montagne
- Vins de la revière
Which dynasty had armed conflict in the Champagne region in the 9th century?
The Carolingian Dynasty. Descendants of Charlemagne.
What is the name of the city that became the capital of Champagne.
Troyes. In the Aube.
What was the reason for Troyes becoming the capital of Champagne?
The Counts of Troyes becoming the Counts of Champagne and clashing with the Bishop of Reims.
What was happening in Champagne in the Middle Ages?
Trade fairs twice a year (Foires de Champagne). Hosted in Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube etc.
When were the first wine brokers appointed in Reims?
1323
What war took place between 1337 and 1453?
The Hundred Years War.
What colour were the wines of Champagne in the Middle Ages?
Almost clear to onion skin, and from pale to pale red.
What happened to the wine during the Middle Ages.
The winter cold interrupted the fermentation process and then the spring warmth restarted it. The wine had a slight effervescent quality.
What was the climate like between the 1300’s and 1800’s ?
The mini ice age.
When did viticulture become established in the Champagne region?
The end of the 4th or beginning of the 5th century.
What is the name of the next conflict (after The Hundred Years War) to hit the Champagne region?
The Thirty Years War - 1618-1648
When was Gosset established?
- As a wine House not a champagne House.
Who was making effervescent wine in the 16th century?
The monks at the Abbye Saint Hilaire in Limoux. 1531.
What is Dom Pérignon credited with?
- White wine from black skinned grapes.
- Focusing on the blend.
- Shallow champagne basket press.
- Experimenting with verre anglais and cork stoppers.
What is the name of a wooden plug wrapped in oil soaked hemp?
Broquelet
What was the name of the sparkling wine from the village of Aÿ called?
Tocane
What three developments occurred by the end of the 17th century?
- Uniform bottle neck openings
- Cork reintroduced as a seal.
- Strong glass bottle production method from the English.
Who was the Royal Navy Admiral who convinced King James I to prohibit the use of wood in glassblowers furnaces?
Sir Robert Mansell
What is a pontil?
A wooden device for holding newly formed glass bottles
What were the wines of Champagne called at the end of the 17th century?
Vins de Champagne
Name some of the grapes in use at the end of the 17th century.
Gouais
Meslier
Arbanne
Gouais Noir
Morillon Noir (Pinot Noir)
Morillon Taconné (Meunier)
Fromenteau (Pinot Gris)
Who wrote a paper for the Royal Society documenting a “sparkling method” and when did he submit it?
Christopher Merret
1662
Where was Dom Pérignon a cellar master?
Abbey Saint-Pierre in Hautvillers
What does “demi-mousseux” mean?
Lightly effervescent
What does mousseux/pétillant mean?
Effervescent or “sparkle”
What does “grand mousseux” mean
More effervescent- 3atms of pressure
What does “sablant” mean?
Flat
What is “ullage”?
The unfilled space in the bottle
When did it become legal to transport champagne in bottle?
- By royal decree.
When did the official champagne bottle first appear?
March 8th, 1735. By royal decree.
It held a pint by Paris measure.
Who is the oldest champagne house?
Ruinart. Established in 1729
What prompted the establishment of Ruinart as a Champagne House.
The royal decree allowing champagne to be transported in bottle in 1728.