Champagne Flashcards
What are the Grand Cru villages of Montage de Reims?
- Sillery
- Puisieulx
- Mailly - Champagne
- Verzenay
- Beaumont - sur - velse
- Verzy - added in 1985
- Louvois
- Bouzy
- Ambonney
- Tours-sur-Marne
What are the Grand Cru villages of Côtes de Blancs?
North to South
- Chouilly - white only, added in 1985
- Oiry - added in 1985
- Cramant
- Avise
- Oger - added in 1985
- Le- Mensil-sur-Oger - added in 1985
What techniques did Dom Perignon contribute to Champagne?
Assemblage and viticulture techniques.
When was the first sparkling wine believed to be enjoyed?
In the late 17th century when wine bottles were made stronger and could handle second fermentations.
What is the oldest Champagne house?
Gosset, founded in 1584
What is the oldest sparkling Champagne house?
Ruinart, established in 1729
Before sparkling wine was made in Champagne, what did winemakers do to try and compete with the wines of Burgundy?
They made white wine from red grapes
What are some famous Champagne houses founded in the 18th century?
- Ruinart
- Taittinger
- Moet et Chandon
- Delamotte
- Veuve Cliquot-Ponsadirin
Sparkling Champagne production was problematic until when?
The early 1800s when key discoveries were made.
Which process did Veuve Clicquot pioneer?
Remuage (riddling)
What did smaller individual growers do because they could not afford the process of making Champagne?
They sold off their fruit to the larger Champagne houses.
Which was the first Champagne house to market “Brut” Champagne?
Pommery in 1874
What was the status of many regular Champagne customers?
A lot of them were royalty - this helped with the image of luxury Champagne created
Which year did the French government delimit the
Champagne region?
In 1908.
The Aube was excluded from the region.
When was the Aube reinstated into the Champagne region?
1927
Which is the only AOP/AOC region in France that does not have to include appellation controlee on the label?
Champagne
While war raged on, who cared for the grape harvests?
Women, children, and the elderly.
Despite the war going on, Champagne made one of its finest vintages of the century in 1914
What existing organization was the CIVC created from?
The commission de Chalons
Who created the CIVC in 1941.
Count Robert-Jean de Vogue of Moet et Chandon.
What does the CIVC do?
It acts as a mediator between small growers and large Champagne houses.
In 1921, what prestige cuvee did Moet et Chandon release?
They released Moet et Chandon “Dom Perignon”
After Moet et Chandon released “Dom Perignon”, what happened?
Many other Champagne houses started to release a Prestige or Tete Cuvee.
What are the main grape varieties of Champagne?
- Pinot Noir: 38% of plantings
- Chardonnay: 31% of plantings
- Pinot Meunier: 31% of plantings
What are some other grape varieties permitted in the Champagne AOP
- Pinot Gris
- Arbane
- Petit Meslier
These other grapes are not common and account for less that .3% of total plantings
What is the average annual temperature of Champagne?
50 degrees F
What parallel is Champagne located?
Between the 48th and 49th parallel.
Why do Champagne houses usually make blends?
Because the quality and ripening of grapes vary from year to year.
What are some climate influences that are a threat to growers in Champagne?
- Frost
- Rain
- Fungal disease
What is the soil like in Champagne?
Chalk
What is the top soil and second layer of soil like in Champagne?
Top Layer: Belemnite Chalk made of fossilized cephalopods and limestone that allows the roots to dig deep and helps grapes retain lots of acidity
Second layer:
Micraster Chalk named after extinct sea urchins
Where are the major commercial Champagne houses located?
In the city of Reims and smaller towns of Epernay and Ay.
How many villages are authorized to grow grapes for the Champagne AOP?
357
These villages are split among 5 districts
How many districts are there in the Champagne AOP?
5.
What are the 5 districts of the Champagne AOP?
- Montagne de Reims
- Vallee de Marne
- Cote des Blancs
- Cote de Sézanne
- The Aube
What is cru status awarded to in Champagne?
Entire villages