FR_Champagne (not ready) Flashcards
The major and minor grapes of Champagne
MAJOR: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier
MINOR: Pinot Blanc Vrai, Pinot Gris, Arbane
(arban), Petite Meslier (meal-yay)
3 geological facts about the
Location of Champagne
- Between the 48th and 49th parallels
- 90 miles directly east of Paris
- 172 miles from the English Channel
5 Districts of Champagne
and their dominant varieties
- Montagne de Reims (romz): Pinto Noir
- Côte des Blanc: Chardonnay
- Vallée de la Marne: Pinot Meunier
- Côte de Sézanne (say-zan): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
- Côte des Bar, located in the County of Aube (oh buh): Pinot Noir
When and where was the first sparkling wine house founded
1729: Ruinart (roo-uh-naart) was founded in the city of Reims (romz)
Landmarks/Bodies of water that influence Champagne
- Atlantic Ocean/English Channel
- Marne River
- The River Seine (sen)
Champagne
2 Geological facts
- A large outcropping (visible exposure of bedrock) of chalk dominates the area and continues under the English Channel into England (the white cliffs of Dover.)
- Montagne de Reims, an actual mountain, provides important microclimates.
5 fun facts about the climate of Champagne
- Maritime with a lot of continental influences.
- Wet and cold winters, cool summers (little temperature shift throughout the year)
- Some of the lowest levels of annual sunshine in France
- Rainfall is steady year-round
- Frosts are an issue in Spring and Fall
3 facts about the Terroir of Champagne
- Lots of hills
- The River Seine (sen)
- limestone (chalk) subsoil
- Champagne Soil
- Younger Soil
- Topsoil
- Belemnite (belem-nite) chalk = fossilized cephalopods, which are marine animals with tentacles.
- Micraster clay (fossilized sea urchin)
characterizes the younger soils. - Topsoil is sand and clay with more
clay to the south. Clay is the
preffered soil for Pinot Noir
Assemblage
* Define
* Creatore
* What else did he “discover”
- A method of combining different grape
varieties to create a harmonious wine - Dom Perignon (a benedictine monk)
- The Champenoise method
What does MA stand for in Champagne
What does it mean
- MA: Marque d’Acheteur (mark dash-tour): A buyer’s own brand, often a large
supermarket, chain or Restaurant that buys Champagne and sells it under their own label. - Translation: buyer’s mark
Champagne
* First Press
* Second Press
* Last Press
- Vin de Cuvée is usually clear and used for champagne
- Vin de Taille is more tannic
- Rebéche (ruh-besh) is the must which may not be used for Champagne, only for distillation