Chapter 6 - Geology

Question 1

Name three important geological periods for the Champagne region.

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What are the Cretaceous periods that are important for champagne?

Answer 2

1. Campanian
2. Santonian
3. Turonian

Question 3

In which period are the Belemnite fossils found?

Answer 3

Campanian

Question 4

In which period are the Micraster fossils found?

Answer 4

Santonian

Question 5

What is Chalk?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What are some benefits of the Upper Cretaceous chalk?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

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

Answer 7

1. Tithonian - Portlandian Limestone
2. Kimmeridgian - Kimmeridgian Marl

Question 8

What type of terroir does Mongueux have?

Answer 8

Turonian chalk with Paleogene topsoils.

Question 9

What benefits do slopes provide for vine growing?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Where is the Champagne region geologically?

Answer 10

In the Paris Basin.

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Gypsum, Rock Salt, Sandstone.

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Sandstone, Limestone.

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Chalk, Clays, Sands

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Sands, Marls, Lignite Clays.

Question 15

How big is the Paris Basin?

Answer 15

54,000 square miles.
25% of France.

Question 16

When was the Paris Basin formed?

Answer 16

250-270 million years ago

Question 17

Are the soils of Champagne sedimentary?

Answer 17

Yes.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

1. Côte des Blancs
2. Montagne de Reims
3. Sézanne

Question 19

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

Answer 19

1. Vitry-le-François
2. Montgueux

Question 20

What vineyard areas are found on the Côte des Bar?

Answer 20

1. Barséquanais
2. Bar-sur-Aube

Question 21

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

Answer 21

B. East, southeast, south facing slopes.

Question 22

When was most of the topsoil deposited in Champagne?

Answer 22

At the end of the last Ice Age.

Question 23

What are the two primary sub-soils?

Answer 23

1. Chalk
2. Limestone-rich marl.

Question 24

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

Answer 24

300-400 litres

Question 25

When was the chalk of Champagne formed?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What is the chalk plain in Champagne called?

Answer 26

1. “Dry Champagne” - James Wilson

Question 27

What subsoil is found in the Aube?

Answer 27

Kimmeridgean marl. A limestone-clay base.

Question 28

In which other vineyard areas are the Kimmeridgean soils found?

Answer 28

1. Chablis
2. Loire Valley (Sancerre etc).

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Sands , clays and marls. Some pockets of chalk.

Question 30

What type of wines can clay soils produce?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What type of wine can sandy soil produce?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

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

Answer 32

A mix of chalk and clay.

Paleogene soils intersect Campanian chalk (Belemnite and Micraster).

Question 33

What fossil is found in Belemnite chalk?

Answer 33

A dart-like relative of today’s squid.

Question 34

What fossil is found in Micraster chalk?

Answer 34

Sea-urchins.

Question 35

Is Belemnite chalk better than Micraster chalk for growing vines?

Answer 35

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

Question 36

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

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Where is the Micraster chalk found

Answer 37

Where the slope begins to flatten.

Question 38

What fossil is found in Kimmeridgean marl?

Answer 38

A type of oyster.

Question 39

How many river valleys are there in the Barséquanais?

Answer 39

Five.

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

All creating slopes of different exposures

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Two river valleys

L’Aube
Le Landlon

Cooler than the Barséquanais

Question 41

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

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Where are Sparnacian soils found?

Answer 42

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.

Question 43

What geological period are Sparnacian soils from?

Answer 43

Yprasian.

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