Champagne Flashcards
What is Champagne?
French sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France
What are the grape varieties used for making Champagne?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Meunier
Champagne Location/Geography
The Champagne region is located in northern France, about 90 miles northeast of Paris
Champagne Climate
Cool continental. Champagne hovers at the northern most limit of vine growing. Champagne has no natural protection from the Atlantic. With often cloudy, unpredictable weather, it is one of the coolest wine growing regions in the world.
Champagne Soil
Limestone and chalk. Vine roots can dig deep in these soils, which provide good drainage while also retaining moisture. These soils maintain a relatively constant temperature throughout the year.
Champagne Viticulture
The northern location means that growers in Champagne face persistent threats of rain, frost, and hail.
Champagne Vinification
Most Champagne is a blend of grapes, sub-regions, villages, vineyards and vintages. In Champagne wines are made using the méthode champenoise. Outside of Champagne this is called méthode classique.
What is méthode champenoise?
The traditional method of making sparkling wine
What are the seven steps in méthode champenoise?
- Base still wine bottled
- Assembling the blend
- Secondary fermentation
- Sur lie aging
- Riddling
- Disgorging
- Dosage
How is the base still wine made?
Grapes are pressed quickly and gently to avoid retaining color from the skins and to prevent oxidation. The base wine is very light in color, low in alcohol and high in acidity. Fermentation is done in stainless or oak.
What is another name for the blend?
Cuvée
How are the bubbles created?
The base wine is bottled with a syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar, called the liqueur de tirage. The bottle is sealed with a crown cap and, over time, the yeast metabolizes the sugar, creating a small amount of alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. The CO2 is trapped in the bottle and creates the bubbles.
What is Sur lie aging?
Resting the wine on the lees after the secondary fermentation and autolysis.
What is autolysis?
The yeast cells breaking down after the secondary fermentation in sparkling wine.
By law how long must NV Champagne be aged and how long on the lees?
15 months total and 12 months on the lees
What flavors and aromas does sur lie aging impart?
Yeast, dough, and fresh baked bread
What is riddling?
Gently turning each bottle twice a day to gradually move the lees into the neck
What is a pupitre?
An A-frame wine rack that holds 60 bottles. Created by widow Clicquot.
What is a gyropalette?
A large machine
How long does riddling take?
8 weeks by hand and 8 days by machine
What is disgorging?
Ejecting the sediment from the bottle by freezing the wine neck and opening the bottle.
What is dosage?
Adding a mixture of wine a sugar called liqueur d’expédition to the bottle after disgorgement. The amount of sugar added determines the sweetness level and style of the Champagne
Champagne Styles from Dry to Sweet
Brut Nature - Non Dosé Extra Brut Brut Extra Dry Sec Demi Sec Doux
Champagne AOP
Sparkling wine made via the méthode champenoise
