Somm1 - Champagne Flashcards
Define Champagne type of producer:
“MA”
“Marque d’Acheteur:
A brand name owned by the purchaser, such as a restaurant, supermarket, or wine merchant.”
Define Champagne type of producer:
“RC”
Recoltant-Cooperateur: A grower who delivers grapes to a cooperative and receives back ready-made Champagne, which they sell under their own name. Seldom encountered.
Define Champagne type of producer:
“ND”
“Negociant-Distributeur:” A company that sells Champagne it did not make to others, who then retail it.
Define Champagne type of producer:
“CM”
“Cooperative-Manipulant:” A cooperative of growers that makes and sells Champagne under one or more brands that it owns.
Define Champagne type of producer:
“NM”
“Negociant-Manipulant:” (A.K.A. House) A Producer that is allowed to purchase grapes and vins clairs in large volumes from growers, cooperatives, and other houses.
Define Champagne type of producer:
“RM”
“Recoltant-Manipulant:” (Grower/Producer) A Producer that grows own grapes. However, legally allowed to buy 5% grapes/vins clairs from 3rd parties.
Define Champagne type of producer:
“SR”
“Societe de Recoltants:” A publicly registered firm set up by two or more growers - often related - who share premises to make and market their Champagne under more than one brand.
The Houses of Champagne command what percentage of vineyard and overall sales?
12% Vineyard
70% Champagne Sales
What are the 5 major districts of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims Vallee de la Marne Cote des Blancs Cote de Sezanne Aube (Cote des Bars)
What are the Champagne styles?
Non-Vintage. Vintage. Rose. Blanc de Blancs. Blanc de Noirs. Single Vineyard (Clos). Cuvee de Prestige/Tetee de Cuvee.
What are the Dryness/Sweetness levels?
- Brut Zero
- Brut
- ExtraDry
- Sec
- DemiSec
- Doux
What are the effects of Sur-lie aging?
The aging “on the lees”/the effects of Autolysis (the breakdown of yeasts) on wine contributes to a creamy mouthfeel, fuller perception of body, reduced perception of tannins, increased ageability, & aromas of biscuits, bread dough, nuttiness.
What are the famous sparkling wines of Northern Italy?
Moscato d’Asti DOCG (Piemonte)
-Charmat Process
Franciacorta DOCG (Lombardy)
- Classic Method
- Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir
What are the highly regarded vintages of Champagne?
1996, 2002, 2004.
What are the large format bottle sizes?
- Magnum(2)
- Jeroboam(4)
- Rehoboam(6)
- Methuselah(8)
- Salmanazar(12)
- Balthazar(16)
- Nebuchadnezzar(20)
- Solomon(24)
- Primat(36)
What are the other French sparkling wines?
Cremant de Bourgogne.
Cremant d’Alsace.
Cremant de Loire.
Blanquette de Limoux (Languedoc).
What are the primary grape varieties of Champagne?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, & Pinot Meunier.
What is “Disgorgement?”
The process of lees removal from a wine. In Champagne, disgorgement a la glace is used (after remuage) by releasing lees from an inverted bottle.
What is “Dosage?”
The process of adding liqueur d’Expedition to replace lost volume from disgorgment and balance final product before corking.
What is “Liqueur d’expedition?”
A mixture added during the dosage process. Mixture includes: base wine, sucrose, and SO2 as a preservative. (The purpose of sugar is primarily to balance acidity than to sweeten.)
What is “Remuage?”
A process that releases built-up sediment (resulting from Methode Champenoise). Traditionally, via pupitre (by hand). Contemporarily, via Gyropalette (automated).
What is “Transfer Method?”
Process for sparkling wine: 2nd fermentation occurs in-bottle and aged for at least 6 months. The wine is transferred to a larger tank, filtered, liqueur de dosage is added, and then filled back into new bottles for sale. Pros: Variation between bottles is limited.
What is Assemblage?
The process of blending different grapes, areas and even reserve wine from different vintages to achieve a desired house style.
What is the “Carbonation Method?”
A process for sparkling wine: Carbon dioxide is simply injected into still wine.
What is the “Charmat Method?”
A process to produce sparkling wine: 2nd fermentation occurs in stainless steel tank and then wine is then bottled.
What is the “Liqeuer de Tirage?”
“Bottling Liqour” - A mixture that is added to Vin Clair to initiate 2nd fermentation. The mixture includes: still champagne, sugar, selected yeasts, yeast nutrients, and a clarifying agent.
What is the famous sparkling wine of Spain?
Cava DO.
-More sparkling wine produced than any other country.
-Most produced in Catalonia.
Classic Method
Traditional Grapes:
Xarel-lo, Parellada, Macabeo (Monastrell, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir)
What is the Methode Champenoise?
“Champagne Method” - The process of 2nd fermentation in bottle.
What is Crémant?
Any non-Champagne sparkling wine produced by Méthode Traditionnelle
