History Flashcards
The first vines in Champagne are said to date back to which era?
Gallo-Roman Era as early as the 1st century (Romazination of Gauls under provincial rule of the Roman Empire from 1st century BC before Christ to the 5th century AD Anno Domini In the year of our Lord)
Name of the Gaul tribe that used to buy wine from the Romans who were then prohibited to plant vines when they fell under the later’s rule but did anyways in the 1st century before the ban was lifted in the 3rd century
The Remi (“Les Rèmes”)
How did “the wine of Kings and the King of wines” came to be in reference to the wines of Champagne?
Starting with the baptism of Clovis the first, king of the Franks, at Reims’ Notre-Dame Cathedral in 496, the cathedral became a strong symbol and almost all the Kings of France would thenceforth be crowned at this site. Wines of Champagne was said to flow freely at the coronation banquets hosted during these lavish ceremonies which would be attended by the most prominent names of the region. This shaped Champagne’s prestigious reputation and image as a legendary wine.
How are the first evidence of significant wine-making activity in Champagne connected with the Church?
The archbishop of Reims, following in the footsteps of St-Remigius (6th century), and several abbeys in the region, were prominent grape-vine owners. The cultivation methods and wine-making know-how were forged in their estates.
Why did Champagne become the wine supply region for the whole of northern Europe?
Because beyond Champagne, the climate was too cold for vines to be grown.
Which war disrupted the Champagne region before vineyards resumed their growth across the region from the late 15th century?
The Hundred Years’ War (Guerre de Cent Ans 1337 - 1453) : a series of armed conflits between the kingdoms of France and England
Which 16th century edict put forward by the Parliament of Paris contributed to the success of the Champagne region and why?
The Parliament of Paris passed an edict banning Parisian cabaret owners from sourcing their supply from anywhere within a 90-kilometre radius round the capital to counter a drop in quality among Parisian growers. This was a godsend for Champagne, which was just on the border of this area!
Name 2 monks that were also major protagonists in the development of Champagne as we know it today.
Dom Pierre Pérignon, a Benedictine monk at Hautvillers Abbey, and Frère Oudart, from Saint-Pierre-aux-Monts Abbey in Pierry.
What major improvement did Dom Pierre Pérignon bring to Champagne?
Dom Pierre Pérignon was one of the first to see that different wines and different crus could complement each other to exquisite effect. So he began to blend wines in a much more carefully considered manner. This resulted in wines that were more balanced, accomplished and of superior quality.
When was a new, gentler pressing technique where the juice was separated into fractions invented in Champagne and what did it enable?
In the latter half of the 17th century and it henceforth enabled white wines to be made using black grapes.
When were “Champagne wines” first mentioned and how were they referred to prior to that?
- Until the Middle Ages, all wines coming from France were referred to generically as “French wines”. But from the 1690s, specific reference was made to “Champagne Wines”.
Why did the years from 1670 to 1720 marked a turning point in the history of Champagne wine-making?
Because this was when the production of sparkling wines became a deliberate choice in the region. Until then, effervescence (i.e. bubbles) depended very much on external conditions.
When were cork stoppers introduced in Champagne?
1685
When was the new Champagne bottle introduced?
1770 (made of much thicker glass which was therefore much more resistant)
Until the introduction of the new Champagne bottle, how was wine stored and how did that alter the style of the wine?
Bottles had hitherto only been used to serve wine, but could now be used to store it too. The gas given off while in storage, which caused the wines to bubble (effervescence), tended to escape from the casks used previously, but could now be preserved in the bottles. The wine’s delicate fizz won over certain aristocratic circles keen to set themselves above the rest.
In which cities (3) did the first Champagne merchants set up shops and when did they first emerge?
Reims
Épernay
Aÿ
They emerged in the 18th century.
Why was the effervescence pretty inconsistent before a series of innovations made it possible to control the process by which Champagne becomes sparkling (effervescence)?
For a long time, this depended on the bottling date. And results were therefore pretty inconsistent. Bottles were often known to explode, leading to considerable losses. Either that, or all the gas escaped and the wine stayed non-sparkling.
Who developed a reliable method for accurately measuring the amount of sugar to be added to wine for optimal effervescence and when?
A Châlons-based pharmacist named Jean-Baptiste François developed it in 1837.
Which important discovery was made in Champagne in 1860 and by who?
It wasn’t until 1860 that Louis Pasteur discovered the yeast that converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The process had previously been a mystery!
Who invented the cold disgorging method and when?
Finally, in 1884, Armand Walfard, owner of a Champagne House, invented the cold disgorging method.
In which year did grape phylloxera reached Europe’s shores?
1863
When was the AVC founded? Under the pressure of which event? What does it stand for?
In 1898, growers along with the main Houses, which also had vines of their own, realized that they would have to work together to protect their common heritage from phylloxera. Therefore founded the Champagne Viticultural Association (Association Viticole Champenoise) that set about replanting vineyards by grafting the Champagne vine shoot onto an American rootstock, which was resistant to the insect.
When was probably the first incidence of Champagne winning a case in defending its name?
In 1887, they obtained a ruling from the Angers Court of Appeal whereby the term Champagne shall refer exclusively to wine produced in and sourced from the Champagne region.
When was the first delimitation of the official Champagne vineyard area made and how?
In 1905, Champagne producers lobbied the French Ministry of Agriculture for delimitation of the official Champagne vineyard area, with the name Champagne strictly reserved for wines “exclusively sourced from and produced in the Champagne vineyard area”.
When was the Champagne designation/AOC officially enshrined in law along with all of the rules that Champagne producers had already laid down?
- A year after the concept of controlled designation of origin (AOC) was introduced in 1935.
Which decade of history marked by insouciance and frivolity turned out to be a golden age for Champagne?
The Roaring Twenties (“Les Années Folles”)
Which commission was set up in 1935 by bringing together representatives of Houses and Growers alike, to jointly define the rules governing the production of Champagne wines in their common interests?
The Châlons Commission
Into which organization did the The Châlons Commission evolve in 1941?
The Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) trade association was founded in 1941, following on from the Châlons Commission. This was invested with more powers to defend and protect the region’s wines.
