Champagne

Question 1

What is “disgorgement”?

Answer 1

In sparkling wine production, the removal of yeast after the second fermentation

Question 2

What is disgorgement “à la volée”?

Answer 2

Disgorgement by hand (vs. machine)

Question 3

What is a “mosser”?

Answer 3

A 17th century wooden whisk used to release trapped gas from wine

Question 4

What is the climate of Champagne?

Answer 4

Continental with maritime influences

Question 5

When did the King of France famously allow wine to be sold and transported in bottle?

Answer 5

1728

Question 6

What is the most popular style of Champagne?

Answer 6

NV Brut

Question 7

What city was historically the capital of the Champagne region?

Answer 7

Troyes

Question 8

What is chalk?

Answer 8

A porous limestone; a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate

Question 9

What was the first Champagne house?

Answer 9

Ruinart (1729)

Question 10

T or F: In Champagne, vineyards are ranked Grand/1er Cru.

Answer 10

FALSE. It is the village that is ranked.

Question 11

In Champagne, which is the higher ranking, “Grand Cru” or “Premier Cru”?

Answer 11

Grand Cru

Question 12

What are the two types of chalk found in Champagne?

Answer 12

Belemnite and Micraster

Question 13

What is the dominant grape in the Montagne de Reims?

Answer 13

Pinot Noir

Question 14

What is the dominant grape in the Vallée de la Marne?

Answer 14

Meunier

Question 15

What is Kimmeridgean Marl?

Answer 15

A limestone-rich clay whose dominant fossil is Exogyra virgula ( a small comma-shaped oyster)

Question 16

What is the dominant fossil found in Belemnite chalk?

Answer 16

Ancient arrow- or dart-like relatives of today’s squid

Question 17

Define “Mono-Parcelle

Answer 17

Single Vineyard

Question 18

Define “Mono-Cru”

Answer 18

Single Village

Question 19

What is a “gyropalette”?

Answer 19

A mechanized riddling machine

Question 20

What is a “Blanc de Blancs”?

Answer 20

A white sparkling wine made from white grapes

Question 21

What is the dominant grape of the Grande Vallée de la Marne?

Answer 21

Pinot Noir

Question 22

List the seven dosage levels from driest to sweetest.

Answer 22

From driest to sweetest: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Sec (or Extra Dry), Sec (Dry), Demi-Sec, Doux

Question 23

What is the dominant grape of the Côte de Sézanne?

Answer 23

Chardonnay

Question 24

What is a “Blanc de Noirs”?

Answer 24

A white sparking wine made from black grapes

Question 25

What does the abbreviation "RM" refer to?

Answer 25

Récoltant-Manipulant; a champagne producer who vinifies only his or her estate-grown grapes

Question 26

What is a "Tête de Cuvée"?

Answer 26

A champagne house's prestige bottling

Question 27

What are the three principal grapes of Champagne?

Answer 27

Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay

Question 28

What are the four authorized (but ancillary) grapes of Champagne?

Answer 28

Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier

Question 29

What was the contribution of Veuve Cliquot (Ponsardin) to the champagne method?

Answer 29

The process of riddling

Question 30

T or F: A champagne labeled "Grand Cru" hails from a single vineyard.

Answer 30

FALSE. A producer with several grand cru-ranked vineyards may blend them and label his wine "Grand Cru."

Question 31

Define "Perpetual Reserve"

Answer 31

A vat of reserve wine in which multiple vintages of wine are aged together in the same vessel; similar to a solera

Question 32

T or F: Most Coteaux Champenois production is white.

Answer 32

TRUE

Question 33

What were the two principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th to 16th centuries?

Answer 33

Gouais and Fromenteau

Question 34

What is a "crayère"?

Answer 34

Defunct chalk quarries dug by the Romans, now used as wine cellars

Question 35

What is the dominant grape of the Côte des Blancs?

Answer 35

Chardonnay

Question 36

T or F: There is a set blending formula within the Champagne AOC.

Answer 36

FALSE. Every champagne house has its own proprietary blend and house style.

Question 37

What is the difference between AOC Coteaux Champenois and AOC Champagne?

Answer 37

AOC Coteaux Champenois is 100% still, while AOC Champagne is 100% sparkling.

Question 38

Define "remuage"?

Answer 38

Riddling; the turning and shifting of champagne bottles from horizontal to vertical in order to collect the lees in the neck

Question 39

What does the abbreviation "NM" refer to?

Answer 39

Négociant-Manipulant; a champagne producer who incorporates grapes from others into his champagne

Question 40

What is a synonym for "liqueur d'expédition"?

Answer 40

Dosage

Question 41

What is the dominant grape of the Côte des Bar?

Answer 41

Pinot Noir

Question 42

Define "liqueur d'expédition"?

Answer 42

The mix of sugar and still reserve wine added to champagne after dégorgement and before the cork is inserted

Question 43

Define "prise de mousse"?

Answer 43

"Seizing of the foam"; in champagne production, the second alcoholic fermentation (which captures the bubble)

Question 44

What is "transversage"?

Answer 44

The process of using 750 ml bottles of champagne to fill large (bigger than magnums) and small format bottles after disgorgement.

Question 45

What is the primary grape of Rosé des Riceys?

Answer 45

Pinot Noir

Question 46

What are the three AOCs in Champagne?

Answer 46

Rosé des Riceys, Coteaux Champenois and Champagne