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Champagne Flashcards

(65 cards)

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1
Q

Where is Champagne located?

A

In northern France, 90 miles NE of Paris

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2
Q

What is the climate of Champagne?

A

Cool continental, similar to Chablis which is only 20 miles away

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3
Q

On what latitude is Champagne located?

A

49th parallel

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4
Q

What body of water has a great influence on Champagne?

A

Atlantic Ocean

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5
Q

What is a distinct climatic feature of Champagne?

A

Often cloudy with unpredictable weather.
One of the coolest wine growing regions in the world

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6
Q

What is the soil in Champagne?

A

Limestone and chalk

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7
Q

How do vines/roots react in the soil of Champagne?

A

The roots dig deep because the soil drains well. However, it also retains adequate moisture for the vine

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8
Q

How does temperature of the soils in Champagne change throughout the year?

A

The soils remain at a relatively constant temp throughout the year

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9
Q

What grape varieties are grown in Champagne?

A

Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Meunier

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10
Q

What viticulture threats do growers face?

A

Rain, frost, hail

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11
Q

What are the ways to create blends in Champagne?

A 
By grape (chard + pinot noir + meunier)
By sub region, village, or vineyard
By vintage
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12
Q

What is the method by which the wines of Champagne are made?

A

Methode champenoise
Known as methode classique outside of Champagne

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13
Q

What are the steps of making sparkling wine in the traditional method?

A
  1. Making the base still wine
  2. Assemblage of the “cuvee” (blend)
  3. Secondary fermentation
  4. Sur lie aging
  5. Riddling (Remuage) - removal of sediment part 1
  6. Disgorging (Degorgement) - removal of sediment part 2
  7. Dosage
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14
Q

What is the important aspect of pressing grapes when making champagne?

A

You want to press the grapes quickly and gently to avoid skin contact and color from the red varities (noir and meunier) and avoid oxidation.

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15
Q

What are characteristics of the base wines in Champagne?

A

Very light in color
Low in alcohol
High in acidity

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16
Q

What fermentation vessels are used for the still wines made in the methode champanoise?

A

Stainless steel or oak

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17
Q

What are the three types of blends made in Champagne?

A 
Non-vintage
Vintage
Prestige cuvee (premier vintage)
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18
Q

What does cuvee mean?

A

A blend of wine

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19
Q

What options for variation are there when making a blend of champagne?

A

It can be a blend of:
Grapes
Vintages
Regions
Villages
Vineyards

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20
Q

Why is secondary fermentation necessary in champagne?

A

To create the carbonation in champange and impact additional flavors and textures

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21
Q

Where does secondary fermentation in champagne take place?

A

In the bottle

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22
Q

How is secondary fermentation of champagne created?

A

Base wine is bottle with a syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar (called liqueur de tirage).
Bottle is sealed with a cap and the yeast turns the sugar into CO2 and alcohol. CO2 remains trapped in the sealed bottle

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23
Q

What is the syrupy mixture called that is added to the base wine to make champagne?

A

Liqueur de tirage

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24
Q

What is autolysis?

A

The gradual break down and break apart of yeast cells after completion of fermentation. Creating additional texture in the wine

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25
What is sur lie aging? What flavors are added with this method?
The wine is aged with the lees still in the fermentation vessel (in the bottle for champagne). Imparts flavors of yeast, dough, and fresh baked bread
26
What is the minimum time period for aging champagne sur lie?
12 months on lees 15 months total aging required, minimum
27
What is riddling?
Also known as Remuage The process of moving sediment to the neck of the bottle for removal
28
Why is riddling necessary?
Removal of the lees creates a clear wine.
29
How is riddling completed?
Each bottle is gently turned to gradually move the lees into the neck By hand via a pupitre By machine via a gyropalette
30
What is a pupitre?
A wooden A-frame wine rack used for the purpose of riddling
31
Who created the pupitre?
Widow Clicquot She made it from her dining room table
32
How many bottles does a pupitre hold?
60
33
How long does riddling via pupitre take to complete?
8 weeks
34
What is a gyropalette?
A large machine used for automated riddling
35
How many bottles does a gyropalette hold?
504 bottles at once
36
How long does riddling via gyropalette take to complete?
8 days
37
What is disgorging (degorgement)?
The process of removing the sediment that has collected in the neck of the bottle via the riddling process
38
How is disgorging completed?
By freezing the bottle's neck in an icy bath, solidifying the contents in the neck. Then the cap is removed and the frozen contents are ejected, leaving clear wine
39
What is the step after disgorging?
Dosage
40
What is dosage?
A mixture of wine and sugar (called liqueur d'expedition) is added to the bottle.
41
What is liqueur d'exposition?
A mixture of wine and sugar added to champagne during dosage
42
What determines the amount of liqueur d'exposition added during dosage?
The style of wine being made. The more that is added, the sweeter the finished product
43
What are the sweetness levels of Champagne and their corresponding styles?
Brut Nature (non dose): bone dry Extra Brut: very dry Brut: dry Extra Dry: off dry Sec: semi sweet Demi Sec: sweet Doux: very sweet
44
What are the appellations of Champagne?
* *Champagne AOP** - sparkling wine made via methode champenoise * *Champagne Sub-regions** - Vallee de la Marne - Cotes des Blancs - Montagne de Reims
45
What are the Champagne Age Designations?
* *Non-Vintage (NV) Champagne** - aged minimum 15 months, at least 12 months on lees * *Vintage Champagne** - aged minimum 36 months
46
What are the 3 main regions of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims Vallee de la Marne Cote des Blancs
47
What is the northern most sub region of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
48
What is the southern most sub region of Champagne?
Cote des Blancs
49
What are the main cities near Champagne?
Reims, Epernay, Cramant
50
What are the 4 styles of champagne?
* *Rose** - a pink colored champagne * *Blanc de Blancs** - 100% chardonnay * *Blanc de Noirs** - Made only from pinot noir and pinot meunier * *Non-labeled** - made from a blend of red and white grapes
51
What is a single vineyard champagne?
Champagne made from grapes from a single vineyard. The single vineyard is listed on the label
52
What is a Clos or Mono Parcel champagne?
A noted single parcel in a vineyard under a single owernship
53
What is Cuvee Prestige or Tete de Cuvee?
The top end bottling of a particular champagne house or producer
54
What are the types of producers of champagne?
* *Negociants** - producers who buy grapes, juice, or finished wine and bottle the wine under their own name or label * *Growers** - producers that make the wine from grapes grown in vineyards they own
55
How much does vintage variation in champagne occur?
Frequently. There are extreme weather differences season to season, meaning vintages vary widely. Some years go without a vintage from some houses Most champagnes are non-vintage (i.e. a blend of wine from multiple vintages)
56
What are some of the top recent vintages of champagne?
Red: 2015, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2005 White: 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006
57
What percent of each grapes is grown in Champagne?
38% pinot noir 32% meunier 30% chardonnay
58
What is the rule about harvest in Champagne?
The grapes have to be harvested by hand
59
What piece of equipment is used for pressing champagne grapes?
The basket press
60
What is the term for the character imparted by the dead yeast cells
Autolytic character
61
Can you taste the difference in a bottle that was riddled by hand vs by machine?
No, there is no discernable difference in taste
62
What is the river that runs through Champagne?
The Marne river
63
Who are some key producers in Champagne?
Krub, Louis Roderer, Dom Perignon,
64
Which two regions are home to all 17 Grand Cru villages in champagne?
Montagne de Reims, Cote des Blancs
65
How many Premier Cru villages are in champagne?
42

Sparkling Wines (2 decks)

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