Grape Growing Flashcards
What factors influence the grapes you choose to grow?
Aromatic intensity
Acid retention while ripening
Base wine response to Autolysis
Appellations in Champagne for still wines?
AOC Rose des Riceys (Cote des Bar) - still rose of PN
AOC Coteaux Champenois - mostly still PN but can be white and rose
When were Champagne AOC’s designated?
1927
What is Echelle des crus?
“Ladder of growths”
Rating system to deterine grape prices
What is the Blocage system?
Reserve wines
Young wine as insurance policy
Now used for blending/consistent style
Five sub-regions of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims Vallee de la Marne Cote des Blancs Cote de Sezanne Cote des Bar
Climate of Champagne?
Cool continental - avg annual 11C
Oceanic influence
700mm rain
Climate change: Warming has caused 0.7% potential ABV
Soil of Champagne?
Chalky with limestone subsoil
Stores water
Describe Montagne de Reims, and name important grand crus.
Mostly black grapes
Many north-facing slopes
High acid, austere
Mailly, Verzeney, Verzy, Ambonnay, Bouzy
Describe Vallee de la Marne, and name important grand crus.
Known for Meunier on clay/marl/sand (fruity style)
Frost-prone
Ay
Describe Cote des Blancs, and name important grand crus.
95% Chardonnay
Purest form of chalk
Cramant, Avize, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Describe Cote de Sezanne.
Mostly chardonnay
Mostly south-eastern slopes (Fruity, riper)
Clay and clay/silt soils
Lower quality
Describe Cote des Bar.
Mostly Pinot Noir, fruity & ripe
Kimmeridgian calcareous marl soil
Steep slopes
What are the 4 other grape varieties allowed in Champagne?
Pinot Blanc
Arbanne
Petit Meslier
Fromenteau
Describe the properties of Meunier?
Early budding (latest of Champagne) Likes heavy clay soils Sensitive to botrytis Adds fruit and softness Not usually blended in wines meant for long aging
Approved trellising systems in Champagne?
Taille Chablis: 3-4 cordons + spur pruning; maximize soil reflection; Chardonnay
Cordon du Royat: single cordon + spur pruning; Pinot Noir/Meunier
Guyot: replacement cane, single or double; all varieties
Valle de la Marne: Guyot but more buds; not widely used
Planting density and buds per vine in Champagne?
8000 vines per hectare
No more than 18 per square meter
Threats to Champagne vineyards?
Severe winter frost Spring frost Cold rainy June, disrupting flowering/fruit set Summer hail Hot/humid summer leading to botrytis Dagger nematode (fanleaf virus) Downy/powdery mildew
Sustainable practices in Champagne?
Encouraged by Comite Champagne
Limits pesticides
Soil protection methods (cover crops, groundwater management)
Lighter weight bottles introduced in 2010
Roles of the Comite Champagne?
Set harvest start date Set yields Measure samples to make determinations Manage reserve levels Regulate price (supply/demand)
Harvesting requirements in Champagne?
Follow dates set by Comite Champagne
Hand harvesting
Whole bunches
Climate of Alsace?
Sunny, continental
Mountainous - eastern flanks of Vosges
Dry, but rain at harvest. No irrigation permitted
Spring frost problems
Primary grape for Cremant d’Alsace? Others allowed?
Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
Popular area for Cremant d’Alsace?
Munster Valley
Cool airflow for Pinot Blanc
Describe Pinot Blanc in terms of Alsace:
Early budding
Early ripening
Prone to fungal diseases
Apple/pear/high acid
Grapes in Cremant d’Alsace Rose?
Pinot Noir only
Grapes in Cremant de Bourgogne?
Primarily Chardonnay, some Pinot Noir
Also allowed: Gamay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Aligote, Melon
Main areas for Cremant de Bourgogne, and why?
Maconnais Rully Beaujolais Yonne Chatillon-sur-Seine Hautes Beaune/Nuits
Cooler and cheaper
Climate of Bourgogne?
Cool continental; mediterranean in Southern areas
South-facing slopes
Grower problem facing Cremant de Bourgogne?
Increase in price for still wines
Growers can get better prices for still wine, threat to Cremant
Appellations for Loire sparkling?
Cremant de Loire
Sparkling Vouvray
Sparkling Saumur
Four others not covered
Production of Loire sparkling?
13% of total Loire
Famous Loire producers and their parent company?
Bouvet-Ladubay -> Taittinger
Gratien & Meyer -> Champagne Alfred Gratien
Langlois-Chateau -> Bollinger
Where are grapes for Cremant de Loire grown?
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Climate of Loire?
Loire river moderates
Cool maritime
Soil in Loire?
Need good drainage and water retention
Many types: clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel, tuff
Rootstock for Cremant de Loire?
Fercal
Riparia Gloire de Montpellier
Both have high limestone tolerance and protect from Chlorosis
Grapes allowed in Cremant de Loire?
Chenin Blanc (Majority) Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Grolleau Noir/Gris Pineau d'Aunis Pinot Noir Chardonnay
Max 30% Cab Sauv/Pineau d’Aunis allowed combined
Where is Cava grown and produced?
Primarily Penedes in Cataluna (95%)
Other important areas: Lleida, Tarragona, Valencia, Rioja
Climate of Penedes?
Mediterranean
Coastal/higher altitude vineyards
Moderate rainfall
Soil of Penedes?
Poor in nutrients
Adequate drainage/water retention
Alluvial, clay, and granite