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Introductory Turned Certified Sommelier - Matt & Ryan > Champagne (R) > Flashcards

Champagne (R) Flashcards

(74 cards)

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1
Q

Champagne - location?

A

Northern France; 90 miles northeast of Paris

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2
Q

Champagne - climate?

A
  • Cool continental
  • Northern-most limit of vine growing
  • No natural protection from Atlantic
  • Cloudy, unpredicatble weather
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3
Q

Champagne is one of the __________, most __________ wine growing regions in the world.

A

Coolest, northernly

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4
Q

Champagne - soil?

A

Limestone and chalk

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5
Q

What characterizes the soil in champagne?

A
  • Good drainage while retaining moisture (roots can dig deep in these soils)
  • Soils maintain a relatively constant temperature
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6
Q

Champagne - grape varieties?

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Meunier
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7
Q

Champagne - primary viticultural considerations?

A

Persistent threats of rain, frost, hail

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8
Q

Champagne - primary vinification aspects?

A
  • Blends!
  • Of grapes
  • Of sub-regions/villages/vineyards
  • Of vintages
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9
Q

What method is used to make wine in Champagne?

A

Methode champenoise

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10
Q

What is the method used to make wine in Champagne called outside of Champagne?

A

Methode Classique

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11
Q

How many steps are in the Methode Champenoise?

A

7

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12
Q

Name the seven steps of the Methode Champenoise.

A
  1. Making the base still wine
  2. Assemblage of the “Cuvee” (assembling the blend)
  3. Secondary Fermentation (creating bubbles)
  4. Sur Lie Aging
  5. Riddling (removal of sediment part 1)
  6. Degorgement (removal of sediment part 2)
  7. Dosage
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13
Q

Define step 1 of the methode champenoise.

A
  • Grapes pressed quickly and gently to avoid color and oxidation
  • Light in color
  • Low alcohol
  • High acidity
  • Fermentation in stainless or oak
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14
Q

Define step 2 of the methode champenoise.

A
  • Assembling (assemblage) the blend of grapes from various vintages, regions, villages, or vineyards
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15
Q

Define step 3 of the methode champenoise.

A
  • Secondary fermentation; Bottled with liquear de tirage (a syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar)
  • Bottled is sealed
  • Yeast metabolizes the sugar creatiing small amount of alcohol and CO2
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16
Q

Define step 4 of the methode champenoise.

A
  • Autolysis (yeast cells gradually break down)
  • Wine rests on the lees
  • Law requires at least 12 months on lees during minimum 15 months total aging
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17
Q

Define step 5 of the methode champenoise.

A
  • Lees must be removed to create clear wine
  • Bottles must be turned (riddling) by hand or machine
  • Lees gradually moves into the neck
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18
Q

Define step 6 of the methode champenoise.

A
  • Disgorging
  • Neck of bottle frozen in ice bath so yeast can be ejected
  • By hand or machine
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19
Q

Define step 7 of the methode champenoise.

A
  • Dosage
  • Liquer d’expedition is added
  • Amount of sugar determines sweetness and style
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20
Q

List the style categories and corresponding sweetness levels for Champage.

A
  1. Brut Nature (bone dry)
  2. Extra Brut (very dry)
  3. Brut (dry)
  4. Extra Dry (off dry)
  5. Sec (semi sweet)
  6. Demi Sec (sweet)
  7. Doux (very sweet)
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21
Q

What is a pupitre?

A

Wooden A-frame rack used for riddling by hand

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22
Q

Who created the pupitre?

A

The widow Clicquot

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23
Q

How many bottles does a pupitre hold?

A

60

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24
Q

How long does it take to riddle a pupitre by hand?

A

8 weeks

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25
What is the name of the machine used for riddling?
Gyropalette
26
How many bottles does a gyropalette hold?
504
27
How long does it take to riddle Champagne via machine?
8 days
28
What is the AOP in Champagne?
Champagne AOP
29
List the sub-regions in Champagne.
1. Valee de la Marne 2. Cote des Blanc 3. Montagne de Reims
30
What are the aging requirements of a non-vintage (NV) Champagne?
Minimum 15 months aging; 12 months on lees
31
What are the aging requirements of a vintage Champagne?
Minimum 36 months
32
List three styles of champagne and the grapes used in each.
1. Rose (pink colored Champagne) 2. Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) 3. Blanc de Noirs (Pinto Noir and Meunier - only dark grapes)
33
What grape varieties are in a Blanc de Blancs?
100% Chardonnay
34
What grap varietis are in a Blanc de Noirs?
Only dark grapes; Pinot Noir and Meunier
35
What is a single vineyard Champagne?
Produced by and noted as single vineyard on the label
36
What is a Clos or Mono Parcel in Champagne?
A noted single parcel in a vineyard under single ownership
37
What is a Cuvee Prestige?
Top-end bottling of a particular Champagne house
38
What is another name for a Cuvee Prestige?
Tete de Cuvee
39
What is a negociant in Champagne?
Producers who buy grapes, juice, or finished wine to bottle under their own names
40
What is a grower in Champagne?
Producers that own the vineyards they are producing wine from start to finish
41
Why are most champagnes non-vintage wines?
- Huge weather extremes mean quality varies season to season | - Consequently, multiple vintages are often blended to maintain quality and consistency
42
In Champagne, there are a __________ number of vtinage wines in a decade.
limited
43
What are the top recent vintages in Champagne?
2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
44
What are the three methods of making sparkling wine?
1. Methode Champenoise 2. Transfer Method 3. Tank Method (Charmat Process/Cuve Close)
45
List 4 wines that are made using the methode champenoise.
1. Champagne 2. Cremant 3. Cava 4. Franciacorta
46
What is tthe Transfer Method different than the Methode Champenoise?
- No degorgement - Instead bottles are emptied into large tanks under pressure and filtered - Dosage - REBOTTLING
47
Why is the Transfer Method used?
For large and small format bottling
48
Is riddling involved in the Transfer method?
No
49
Is riddling involved in the Methode Champenoise?
Yes
50
What are the advantages of the Methode Champenoise?
- Extended lees contact | - Intense lees flavor
51
What are the advantages of the Transfer Method?
- Lees contact | - Eliminates riddling
52
What are the advantages of the Tank Method?
- Saves time! - Fermentation 4-5 Days - No costly riddling or disgorging - Best process for aromatic varieties
53
What is another name for the Tank Method?
Charmat Process / Cuve Close
54
Name 3 wines that use the Tank Method / Charmat Process.
1. Prosecco 2. Moscato d'Asti 3. Lambrusco
55
List the steps involved in teh Tank Method / Charmat Process.
1. Base wine sealed in pressurized tank 2. Sugar and yeast added 3. Secondary fermentation in tank 4. Filtered under pressure 5. Dosage under pressure
56
What is a Cremant?
- French sparkling wine in France grown outside of Champagne | - Must used methode champenoise
57
Can a Cremant list methode champenoise on the label?
No; must say methode classique
58
List three examples of Cremant.
1. Cremant de Bourgogne 2. Cremant d'Alsace 3. Cremant de Loire
59
List the four Italian Sparkling wines.
1. Asti DOCG 2. Prosecco 3. Lambrusco 4. Franciacorta DOCG
60
What method is used to produce Asti DOCG?
Charmat/Tank Method
61
What method is used to produce Prosecco?
Charmat/Tank Method
62
What methodi is used to produce Lambrusco?
Charmat/Tank Method
63
What method is used to produce Franciacorta DOCG?
Methode classique
64
What are two other names for the methode classique in Italian?
1. Metodo Classico | 2. Metodo Tradizionale
65
Where is Asti DOCG produced?
Piedmont
66
Where is Prosecco produced?
Veneto
67
Where is Lambrusca produced?
Emilia-Romagna
68
Where is Franciacorta DOCG produced?
Lombardy
69
What grape varieties are used to produce Franciacorta DOCG?
1. Chardonnay 2. Pinot Nero 3. Pinot Bianco
70
What is the name of the sparkling wine in Spain?
Cave DO
71
Where is Cava DO produced?
Spain - Catalonia
72
What method is used to produce Cava DO?
Methode classique
73
What grape varieties are used to produce Cava DO?
1. Xarel-lo 2. Paradella 3. Macabeo
74
Who produces the most sparkling wine of any country?
Spain

Introductory Turned Certified Sommelier - Matt & Ryan (28 decks)

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