Geography and Regions Flashcards
Champagne is the most_________________of the French wine regions?
Northerly
Where does champagne sit in France?
The most northerly region. It lies between the 49 degree and 49.5 degree parallel north. It is 1.5 hours from Paris.
How many hours of sunlight does Champagne get?
1,650 hours (Bourgogne get 1,910 and Bordeaux 2,069 hours)
What are the climatic factors of champagne?
A strong continental and Atlantic (maritime) influences
Continental affects winter temps; things get cold
Maritime Climate affects spring and fall with significant frost
What sort of frosts are common in champagne?
Spring frosts- they are common and severe
What is used to protect the buds in champagne during frosts?
A sprinkler system. Continuous sprinkling maintains an ice capsule around the bud, protect the bud and keeps temps @ 33 degrees farenheit (0 degrees Celsius)
Summers in champagne?
Can be warm but maritime influence means that there is often a lot of cloud cover.
What does Autumn bring in champagne?
Often early frosts
What do Winters bring in champagne?
Brutal freezes. Temps can drop below 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius) for 3-4 days
What are the four main regions of Champagne?
The Montagne and Val De Reims
Vallee De La Marne
Cote Des Blancs and surroundings
Cotes Des Bar
How many terroirs are there throughout champagne?
17
How many terroirs are there in the Montagne and Val De Reims?
4
Massif De Sant- Thierry (Montagne and Val De Reims)
- Pinot Meunier
- Located along the Right bank of Vesle River
- Northernmost section of the Champagne Viticole
- Located Northwest Of the city of Reims
- Faces southeast on sand, clay and Marl
Vesle and Ardre Valley (Val De Reims)
- Pinot MEUNIER
- South Of Massif De Saint Thierry, West Of Reims
- Vines flank the Ardre (both sides), while the vines on the Right bank are between the Ardre and Vesle
- Soils Of Ardre are sand, clay and Marl
- Vineyards face Northwest and southeast
Monts De Berru (Montagne and Val De Reims)
- Chardonnay
- V/ yards of Mont Berru and short 4 miles/ 7 kms east of Reims
- Vineyards have varying aspects
- Soil= chalk
Grande Montagne De Reims (Montagne and Val De Reims)
- Pinot Noir
- Montagne De Reims is an uplift that is shaped like a horseshoe
- South Of Reims, north of Epernay
- V/ yards face south, east, northeast and north
- Soils vary by village- some are limestone rich marls while others are chalk
How many terroirs are in the Vallee De La Marne?
6
Grand Vallee De La Marne (Vallee De La Marne)
- Pinot Noir
- South Of Montagne De Reims, North Of Epernay, the Marne River carves a steep valley as it flows west towards Paris
- Eastern fringe borders dry champagne, with chalk subsoils
- Rest Of the Valley is composed of sands, clays and marls
- Most Vineyards face south
Coteaux Sud d’Epernay (Vallee De La Marne)
- Chardonnay/ Pinot MEUNIER
- V/ yards lie to the Southeast, south, southwest of Epernay
- To the west is the Marne Valley, further south is the Côte De blancs
- Soils are chalk, sand, clay and Marl
Vallee De la Marne Rive Gauche (Vallee De la Marne)
- Pinot MEUNIER
- Left Bank Of the Marne River
- Comprised Of sands, marls and clay
- Most Vineyards face north
Vallee De la Marne Rive Droite (Vallee De la Marne)
- Pinot Meunier
- Right bank of the Marne Valley
- Bisected by the Chatillon River
- Soils: Sands, Marls and Clay
- Most vineyards face south
Conde (Vallee De la Marne)
- Pinot Meunier
- Further west within the Marne Valley
- A small cluster of villages, encircling a large limestone uplift
- Vineyards vary in aspect
Vallee De la Marne Ouest (Vallee De la Marne)
- Pinot Meunier
- Western Most section of the Champagne Viticole
- Soils are sands, marls and clay
- Vineyards face south and southeast
How many terroirs does the Côte De Blancs have?
5
The Cote De Blancs
- Chardonnay
- Northeast to Southwest perpendicular to the Marne Valley
- South Of the Coteaux Sud d’Epernay and is approximately 8 miles/ 13 kms in length
- Sub Soil is chalk, vineyards face east
Val Du Petit Morin (Cote Des Blancs)
- Pinot Meunier/ Chardonnay
- 53 miles/ 86 kms long of the Marne
- Headwaters form here midst a series of hills, southwest of the Cote Des Blancs
- Soils: Chalk and sand/marl/ clay
- Most vineyards face South
Sezannais (Cote Des Blancs)
- Chardonnay
- Hilly Zone
- North and South Of the city of Sezanne
- Predominately chalk, some pockets of clay
- Vineyards face southeast
Vitryat (Vitry- Le- Francois)- Cote Des Blancs
- Chardonnay
- Zone Of Production in the heart of Dry Champagne
- Southeast Of the Côte Des Blancs, Northeast Of the Côte De Sezanne
- Vineyards are on the east- facing chalk slopes
Montgeaux (Cote Des Blancs)
- Chardonnay
- Vineyards Of Montgeux are Located to the west of Troyes on a south facing chalk out crop
How many terroirs does the Côte Des Bar have?
2
Bar Sur Aubois (Cote Des Bar)
- Pinot Noir
- Vineyards encircle the city Bar Sur Aube, meaning they have varying aspects
- Aube is the principal River of this region and bisects the town
- Soils is Primarily Kimmeridgian Marl
Barsequannais (Cotes Des Bar)
- Pinot Noir
- Five River valleys: l’Orce, Seine, Laignes, Sarce
- Meaning v/yards have varying aspects
- Soils is Kimmeridgian Marl
Origin of Soils- Champagne
- Champagne reflects a series of sedimentary soils created when the Paris basin was an inland sea
- “Have their head in tertiary and feet in Cretaceous”- James Wilson, Terroir- Tap root burrows through 90 million year old Cretaceous chalk while upper (superficial roots) exist in Soils much younger, 1.8 million years ago formation
What are the two most common soils?
Belemite and Micraster
Belemite Chalk
Ancient arrow, or dart like relative of today’s squid
Micraster Chalk
Fossilised sea urchins…..a member of the starfish family
What type of chalk is preferred in champagne?
Belemite
Is there a difference between the two chalks in champagne?
No according to the University of Reims
What are the 3 AOCs of Champagne?
- AOC Rose Des Riceys- 100% Rose
- AOC Coteaux Champenois- 100% Still
- AOC Champagne- 100% Sparkling
Where is Rose De Riceys produced?
In the 3 villages of Les a Riceys in the Aube
Where does Coteaux Champenois sit?
In the zone of production for AOC Champagne. Produces still wine from Arbanne, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir.
When was the Eschelle Des Cru created?
1911
Does the Eschelle Des Cru rank the village or the vineyard?
It ranks the village and the vineyards surrounding it as one entity- quite controversial
What were Villages rated between on the Eschelle Des Crus?
Between 80- 100%. Grand Cru at 100%
How many villages in champagne Grand Cru?
17
Where are the spread of Grand Crus?
6 Cote Des Blancs
9 Montagne De Reims
2 Vallee De la Marne
Champagne is_____________ from Paris
150 Kms
How many departments make up Champagne?
5
What are the 5 departments of Champagne?
Aisne Seine- et- Marne Aube Marne Haute Marne
Limestone Subsoils?
The limestone subsoil (comprising chalk, limestone, sandstones and marls) provides good drainage and also explains why certain Champagne wines have a distinctly mineral taste.
Champagne Chalk
The Champagne chalk is made up of the skeletons of marine micro-organisms and mollusc fossils from the Secondary Era. It is highly porous.
This means it acts as a reservoir, storing 300-400 litres of water per m3 which provides the vines with a steady supply of water even in the driest summers.
Characteristics of the Champagne climate?
THE CONTINENTAL INFLUENCE
offers a guarantee of steady, yet moderate precipitation, providing the region with near-ideal rainfall which is essential for the quality of the grapes (average annual rainfall = 700mm).
THIS DUAL INFLUENCE
brings steady rainfall, with no significant variations in
annual temperatures.
THE OCEANIC INFLUENCE
ensures ideal levels of sunlight in summer.
What is the average temperature of champagne?
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE IS 11°C.
With moderate sunshine, the growth and development of the vines is limited, giving the ripe grapes the freshness and crispness that Champagne wines require.
What are the dangers of the climate of champagne?
Winter frosts and violent storms accompanied by hail
What are the altitudes of champagne’s vineyards?
Between 90 and 300 metres
Is it compulsory for vines to be grafted onto rootstocks in champagne?
Yes, due to the phylloxera epidemic
What did phylloxera mean in champagne?
The end of en foule (close together) planting
In what year can AOC Champagne be produces from new vines?
In its 3 year