Random Champagne Questions Flashcards
How many litres of grape must are produced from 4000kg of pressed grapes?
- 2.55 hectolitres
- 25.5 hectolitres
- 255 hectolitres
- 5 hectolitres
- Pressing 4000kg of grapes produces 25.5 hectolitres of grape must.
- The first 20.5 hectolitres are known as the “Cuvee” the last 5 hectolitres are known as the “Taille”
What percentage of a Champagne producer’s annual production can be declared to be vintage?
- 20%
- 50%
- 80%
80%
- A Champagne producer can dedicate a maximum of 80% of his total production for the year to creating vintage Champagne
How many bottles can a Gyropalette riddle at the same time?
- 100 Bottles
- 200 Bottles
- 500 Bottles
500 Bottles
- The Gyropalette can riddle up to 500 bottles simultaneously and complete the process in approximately 1 week
Grape are considered to be ripe for harvesting when the minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume has reached which level?
- 9% vol.
- 11% vol.
13% vol.
9% vol.
- The Champagne AOC has established that grapes can be considered to be ripe when there are 143g of sugar per litre of grape must and the natural alcoholic strength by volume has been reached 9%
Are there any rules regarding bottling in Champagne?
- No
- Yes, bottling can only take place 12 months after alcoholic fermentation has been completed
- Yes. bottling can only take place after January 1 following the grape harvest
Yes, bottling can only take place after January 1 following the grape harvest
- Harvest normally takes place between late August and late September in the region of Champagne and grapes are pressed immediately.
- By regulation, the wines of the current year’s harvest cannot be bottled before January 1
What is the smallest size grape press used in Champagne making?
- 1,000kg
- 2,000kg
4,000kg
2,000kg
- The rules on presses are set by the Champagne AOC. Grape presses can vary in size from a minimum load of 2,000kg to a maximum load of 12,000kg
What colour grapes can be used for Champagne AOC?
- Only White Grapes
- White and Black Grapes
- White, black, and Grey Grapes
White, black, and grey grapes
4 White Grape Varieties
2 Black Grape Varieties
1 Grey Grape variety (Pinot Gris) are recognized for the Champagne appellation
What is the traditional name for a Champagne barrel?
- Barrique
- Foudre
- Fut
Fut
- A small dimension wine cask, or barrel, in Champagne is known as a fut while a larger cask is known as a foudre.
Place the following bottle sizes in the correct order from largest to smallest
- Methuselah - Salmanazar - Balthazar
- Salmanazar - Methuselah - Bathazar
- Bathazar - Salmanazar - Methuselah
Bathazar - Salmanazar - Methuselah
- A Bathazar holds the equivalent of 16 bottles of Champagne, the Salmanazar 12 and the Methuselah 8 bottles
What is the maximum level of sulphur dioxide allowed in Champagne?
- 85mg/l
- 100mg/l
- 185mg/l
185mg/l
The EU limit for the use of sulphites is 185mg/l for quality sparkling wines. On the other hand, the limit for still white wine is 200mg/l
When was the Champagne appellation created?
- 1941
- 1936
- 1905
1936 (June 29)
- The Champagne AOC was created by decree in 1936. The other 2 years relate to the first law concerning the designation of origin for wines (1905) and the foundation of the CIVIC, the Champagne trade association (1941)
Can wood chipping be used in making Champagne?
- Yes, providing the wine is not made in wooden barrels
- Yes, providing that the wine is not destined to become a vintage Champagne
- No, the use of wood chipping is not permitted in Champagne
No, the use of wood chipping is not permitted in Champagne
- Using wood shavings or chippings to alter the characteristics of a wine is not allowed in Champagne
Which harvesting methods are recognized in Champagne?
- By Hand
- Automated
- Both by hand and automated
By Hand
- Harvesting is carried out strictly by hand in the Champagne wine region
When does the blending of grape varieties or wines of different ages take place in Champagne making?
- Before bottling
- Before riddling
- Before disgorging
Before bottling
- All blending takes place before bottling.
- The liqueur d’expedition is added after blending and is the only mixture added to Champagne.
- It is used to does the wines during disgorging and corking process.
How much pressure does a bottle of Champagne lose during the disgorging and corking process?
- Approximately 2 atmospheres
- Approximately 1 atmosphere
- Nothing
Approximately 1 atmosphere
When is a Champagne considered to be sulphur-free?
- When the presence of sulphur dioxide is less than 1 mg/l
- When the presence of sulphur dioxide is less than 10 mg/l
- When the presence of sulphur dioxide is than 15 mg/l
When the presence of sulphur dioxide is than 10 mg/l
- The EU limit for sulphur-free wine 10 mg/l. Small quantities of free sulphur dioxide are produced naturally during the vinification process
What is the authorized distance allowed between two vines in the same row in a Champagne vineyard?
- 30 - 60 cm (1 - 2ft)
- 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3ft)
- 90 - 150 cm ( 3 - 5ft)
90 - 150cm (3-5ft)
- Planting and vine density are both regulated by the Champagne appellation. Vines must be planted within 90-150 (3-5ft) of each other within the same row.
What is a marc in Champagne?
- A tax levied on each bottle of Champagne
- A tax levied on each kilo of grapes that has been harvested
- A unit of measurement for a press load of grapes
A unit of measurement for a press load of grapes
- A marc is a tradtional measurement for a 4000kg load of grapes