France - Champagne Flashcards
Describe the climate in Champagne
Atlantic influenced climate.
Very unstable, with frosts, rains, hail and fungal disease, which is why the majority of the wines are a vintage blend.
Between 48th and 49th parallel.
Annual temperature of 10C
Which is the predominant subsoil?
Belemnite and Micraster chalk, with limestone, sandstone and marl.
Chalk more present in ‘Montagne de Reims’ and ‘Cote des Blancs’.
Marl and sandstone more present in ‘Vallee de la Marne’ and ‘Cote de Sezanne’
Which are the 5 main region in Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
Vallee de la Marne
Cote des Blancs
Cote de Sezanne
Cote des Bars (Aube)
Describe Montagne de Reims area
South-West of Reims, until East of Epernay.
Vineyards face South and South-East on limestone and marl soil.
Pinot Noir most planted grape
9 (+1) Grand Crus Villages
Which are all the Grand Crus of Montagne de Reims?
Sillery
Puisueilx
Beaumont-sur-Vesle
Verzenay
Mailly-Champagne
Verzy
Louvois
Bouzy
Ambonnay
Tour-sur-Marne (For reds only)
Describe Vallee de la Marne
Follows the Marne river West of Epernay.
Subsoil of limestone, but with more clay and sandstone.
Pinot Meunier Noir is the most planted grape.
1 Grand Cru
Which is the only Grand Cru of Vallee de la Marne?
Ay-Champagne
Describe Meunier Noir and what it gives to the wine in the blend
Flowers late but ripens early.
Adds fruit character and makes the wine more approachable
Describe Cote des Blancs
20km South of Epernay.
Rich in Belemnite or Campanian chalk soil, very rich in mineral.
Chardonnay is the most planted grape.
6 Grand Crus
List the 6 Grand Crus of Cote des Blancs
Chouilly
Oiry
Cramant
Avize
Oger
Les-Mesnil-sur-Oger
Describe the Cote de Sezanne
Few km down from Cote des Blancs.
Marl mixed with limestone, over limestone soil.
Chardonnay is the most planted grape.
No Grand or Premiere Cru
Describe the Cote des Bars
Most Southern region, located in Aube.
Kimmeridgian soil, loke Chablis.
Pinot Noir is the most planted grape.
Comprises 25% of Champagne Vineyards
What is Rose de Riceys AOC?
Still rose wine from Cote des Bars, produced from 100% Pinot Noir
Which are the main grapes for Champagne?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Pinot Meunier
Which are the 4 additional permitted grapes?
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Arbane
Petit Meslier
Which are the 4 permitted pruning techniques for Champagne?
Guyot (single or double)
Chablis
Cordon de Royat
La Taille Vallee de la Marne
What is the ‘Echelle-des-Crus Champagne’?
Classification system in order to set prices for the grapes of each village. (until 1990)
100 (Grand Cru Classse)
90-99 (Premiere Cru Classe)
80-89 (Cru Classe)
What does ‘CM’ means?
Cooperative de Manipulant
Wine has been made by a cooperative
What does ‘NM’ means?
Negotiant-Manipulant
House that produced grapes from growers or smaller houses
What does ‘RM’ means?
Recoltant-Manipulant
Produced from a grower, from their own grapes
What does ‘RC’ means?
Recoltant-Cooperateur
Grower selling their wines from its own grapes, but produced by a cooperative
What does ‘MA’ means?
Marque d’Acheteur
Wine bought from a producer and sold under an other name
What does ‘SR’ means?
Societe de Recoltant
Sold under company of growers from the same family
What does ‘ND’ means?
Negotiant-Distributeur
Company that buys, rebrands and distributes the wine