FR_Champagne (not ready) Flashcards
The major and minor grapes of Champagne
MAJOR: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier
MINOR: Pinot Blanc Vrai, Pinot Gris, Arbane
(arban), Petite Meslier (meal-yay)
3 geological facts about the
Location of Champagne
- Between the 48th and 49th parallels
- 90 miles directly east of Paris
- 172 miles from the English Channel
5 Districts of Champagne
and their dominant varieties
- Montagne de Reims (romz): Pinto Noir
- Côte des Blanc: Chardonnay
- Vallée de la Marne: Pinot Meunier
- Côte de Sézanne (say-zan): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
- Côte des Bar, located in the County of Aube (oh buh): Pinot Noir
When and where was the first sparkling wine house founded
1729: Ruinart (roo-uh-naart) was founded in the city of Reims (romz)
Landmarks/Bodies of water that influence Champagne
- Atlantic Ocean/English Channel
- Marne River
- The River Seine (sen)
2 fun Geological facts about Champagne
- A large outcropping (visible exposure of bedrock) of chalk dominates the area and continues under the English Channel into England (the white cliffs of Dover.)
- Montagne de Reims, an actual mountain, provides important microclimates.
5 fun facts about the climate of Champagne
- Maritime with a lot of continental influences.
- Wet and cold winters, cool summers (little temperature shift throughout the year)
- Some of the lowest levels of annual sunshine in France
- Rainfall is steady year-round
- Frosts are an issue in Spring and Fall
3 facts about the Terroir of Champagne
- Lots of hills
- The River Seine (sen)
- limestone (chalk) subsoil
- Champagne Soil
- Younger Soil
- Topsoil
- Belemnite (belem-nite) chalk = fossilized cephalopods, which are marine animals with tentacles.
- Micraster clay (fossilized sea urchin)
characterizes the younger soils. - Topsoil is sand and clay with more
clay to the south. Clay is the
preffered soil for Pinot Noir
What is assemblage and who is credited with creating this technique
what else is this person given credit for discovering
- A method of combining different grape
varieties to create a harmonious wine - Dom Perignon (a benedictine monk)
- The Champenoise method
What does MA stand for in Champagne
What does it mean
- MA: Marque d’Acheteur (mark dash-tour): A buyer’s own brand, often a large
supermarket, chain or Restaurant that buys Champagne and sells it under their own label. - Translation: buyer’s mark
Champagne
* First Press
* Second Press
* Last Press
- Vin de Cuvée is usually clear and used for champagne
- Vin de Taille is more tannic
- Rebéche (ruh-besh) is the must which may not be used for Champagne, only for distillation
10 most marketed Champagne houses and their Vin de Cuvée
Moët & Chandon: Dom Perignon
Louis Roederer (roy-day-rahr)
Taittinger
Krug
Salon
Bollinger
Pol Roger
Perrier-Jouet
Veuve Clicquot
