Chapter 6 - Geology Flashcards

1
Q

Name three important geological periods for the Champagne region.

A
  1. Paleogene (Tertiary)
  2. Cretaceous (Upper)
  3. Cretaceous (Lower)
  4. Jurassic (Upper)
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2
Q

What are the Cretaceous periods that are important for champagne?

A
  1. Campanian
  2. Santonian
  3. Turonian
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3
Q

In which period are the Belemnite fossils found?

A

Campanian

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4
Q

In which period are the Micraster fossils found?

A

Santonian

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5
Q

What is Chalk?

A

Limestone: sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate. From algae and marine organisms.

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6
Q

What are some benefits of the Upper Cretaceous chalk?

A
  1. Water management: draining and retaining.
  2. Reflection of light and heat, aiding ripening.
  3. Alkaline soils, producing acidic wines.
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7
Q

What are the important Jurassic periods for the Côtes des Bar?

A
  1. Tithonian - Portlandian Limestone
  2. Kimmeridgian - Kimmeridgian Marl
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8
Q

What type of terroir does Mongueux have?

A

Turonian chalk with Paleogene topsoils.

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9
Q

What benefits do slopes provide for vine growing?

A
  1. Optimal exposure to sunlight
  2. Facilitate good drainage.
  3. Provide a Tertiary soil mix through “geological geometry” (James Wilson)
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10
Q

Where is the Champagne region geologically?

A

In the Paris Basin.

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11
Q

What are the deposits in the Paris Basin in the Triassic period?

A

Gypsum, Rock Salt, Sandstone.

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12
Q

What are the deposits in the Paris Basin in the Jurassic period?

A

Sandstone, Limestone.

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13
Q

What are the deposits in the Paris Basin in the Cretaceous period?

A

Chalk, Clays, Sands

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14
Q

What are the deposits in the Paris Basin in the Tertiary period?

A

Sands, Marls, Lignite Clays.

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15
Q

How big is the Paris Basin?

A

54,000 square miles.
25% of France.

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16
Q

When was the Paris Basin formed?

A

250-270 million years ago

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17
Q

Are the soils of Champagne sedimentary?

A

Yes.

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18
Q

What vineyard areas are contained within the Côte de L’Île-de-France?

A
  1. Côte des Blancs
  2. Montagne de Reims
  3. Sézanne
19
Q

What vineyard areas are contained on the Côte de la Champagne?

A
  1. Vitry-le-François
  2. Montgueux
20
Q

What vineyard areas are found on the Côte des Bar?

A
  1. Barséquanais
  2. Bar-sur-Aube
21
Q

Which is is more intense for sunlight?
A. The plain
B. East, southeast, or south facing slopes

A

B. East, southeast, south facing slopes.

22
Q

When was most of the topsoil deposited in Champagne?

A

At the end of the last Ice Age.

23
Q

What are the two primary sub-soils?

A
  1. Chalk
  2. Limestone-rich marl.
24
Q

How many litres of water can chalk hold per cubic meter?

A

300-400 litres

25
Q

When was the chalk of Champagne formed?

A

During the Cretaceous period, 145-65 million years ago.

26
Q

What is the chalk plain in Champagne called?

A
  1. “Dry Champagne” - James Wilson
27
Q

What subsoil is found in the Aube?

A

Kimmeridgean marl. A limestone-clay base.

28
Q

In which other vineyard areas are the Kimmeridgean soils found?

A
  1. Chablis
  2. Loire Valley (Sancerre etc).
29
Q

What soils are found in the Vallée de la Marne and the Val de Reims?

A

Sands , clays and marls. Some pockets of chalk.

30
Q

What type of wines can clay soils produce?

A

Mineral-rich. More time is needed ageing the wine to express the full flavour/aromas.

31
Q

What type of wine can sandy soil produce?

A

Wines with more overt fruit flavours and aromas. They can be ready to drink sooner.

32
Q

What soils are in the vineyards of the Côte de Sézanne?

A

A mix of chalk and clay.

Paleogene soils intersect Campanian chalk (Belemnite and Micraster).

33
Q

What fossil is found in Belemnite chalk?

A

A dart-like relative of today’s squid.

34
Q

What fossil is found in Micraster chalk?

A

Sea-urchins.

35
Q

Is Belemnite chalk better than Micraster chalk for growing vines?

A

No. One is not “better” than another. There are no significant mineral or physical differences between them.

36
Q

Why has the two types of chalk ended up in different positions in the vineyards?

A

The fracturing of the soil as result of earth upheavals positioned the two types of chalk layers in different parts of the slopes. Belemnite at the upper to mid-slope which is ideal for moisture retention and sun exposure.

37
Q

Where is the Micraster chalk found

A

Where the slope begins to flatten.

38
Q

What fossil is found in Kimmeridgean marl?

A

A type of oyster.

39
Q

How many river valleys are there in the Barséquanais?

A

Five.

L’Arce
L’Ource
La Seine
La Laignes
La Sarce

All creating slopes of different exposures

40
Q

How many river valleys are there in the Bar-sur-Aubois?

A

Two river valleys

L’Aube
Le Landlon

Cooler than the Barséquanais

41
Q

Name the important Paleogene (Tertiary) periods for the Champagne region?

A
  1. Oligocene - Rupelian
  2. Eocene - Bartonian.
    Lutetian.
    Ypresian.
  3. Paleocene - Thanetian
42
Q

Where are Sparnacian soils found?

A

They are widespread across the Montagne de Reims and the Vallee de la Marne. (54.4 to 55.5 million years old)

Sparnacum was the latin name for Epernay.

43
Q

What geological period are Sparnacian soils from?

A

Yprasian.

Clays, sands, limestones and a large amount of lignite.