France - Champagne & Sparkling Wine Flashcards
(80 cards)
What type of wines are allowed to be produced in Coteaux Champenois AOC? What grapes are allowed?
Coteaux Champenois is a wine Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the Champagne province of France. It covers the same area as sparkling Champagne production, but covers only still wines. The grapes are the same as those allowed for sparkling Champagne: Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier for red wines, and Chardonnay for whites.
Which producer was responsible for the first single vineyard Champagne? What is the name of the vineyard?
Philipponnat Clos des Goisses is considered to be the first vineyard-specific champagne ever made, dating back to 1935 when the vineyard was purchased by Pierre Philipponnat.
https://quillandpad.com/2019/03/30/philipponnat-clos-des-goisses-les-cintres-2008-champagne-magnificence-from-the-first-single-vineyard-champagne-ever-made/
Which producer was responsible for being the 2nd house to produce a single vineyard Champagne? What is the name of the vineyard?
Cattier’s Clos du Moulin in 1952
Which producer was responsible for being the 3rd house to produce a single vineyard Champagne? What is the name of the vineyard?
Krug twins, first Clos du Mesnil and subsequently Clos d’Ambonnay.
Who were the first 3 Champagne houses to produce a single vineyard Champagne? What are the names of the cuvées?
Philipponnat Clos des Goisses - 1935
Cattier’s Clos du Moulin - 1952
Krug Clos d’Ambonnay - 1995
What does tête de cuvée mean?
Tête de cuvée is a French term that can be loosely translated as top batch or top blend. This is the term the Champenois use to describe their very best (and most expensive) bottlings. Outside of Champagne these wines are also called Prestige Cuvées. Some examples of tête de cuvée from Champagne.
What does RM mean on a label?
RM: Récoltant manipulant. (Also known as Grower Champagne) A grower that also makes wine from its own grapes (a maximum of 5% of purchased grapes is permitted). Note that co-operative members who take their bottles to be disgorged at the co-op can now label themselves as RM instead of RC
What does NM mean on a label?
NM: Négociant manipulant. These companies (including the majority of the larger brands) buy grapes and make the wine
On a bottle of “Grower Champagne,” what letters can be found on the label indicating the type of Champagne producer?
RM: Récoltant manipulant. (Also known as Grower Champagne) A grower that also makes wine from its own grapes (a maximum of 5% of purchased grapes is permitted). Note that co-operative members who take their bottles to be disgorged at the co-op can now label themselves as RM instead of RC
What letters can be found on the label of most Champagne bottles indicating the type of Champagne producer?
NM: Négociant manipulant. These companies (including the majority of the larger brands) buy grapes and make the wine
What producers have NM (Négociant manipulant) on their label?
GH Mumm Moët & Chandon Veuve Clicquot Veuve Bereche & Fils* Laherte Freres*
*Now registered as NM so they can buy more grapes to increase diversity in their wines
What producers have RM (Récoltant manipulant) on their label?
Agrapart & Fils
Jacques Selosse
Cedric Bouchard
Bereche & Fils* and Laherte Freres* - Now registered as NM so they can buy more grapes to increase diversity in their wines
What does CM mean on a label?
What does CM mean on a label?
CM: Coopérative de manipulation. Cooperatives that sells wines from its members’ grapes. They make wines from the growers who are members, with all the grapes pooled together
What producers have CM (Coopérative de manipulation) on their label?
Nicolas Feuillatte - Oldest and largest example of a co-op
Mailly Grand Cru
Devaux
Who makes the tête de cuvée Sir Winston Churchill?
Pol Roger
What is Méthode Champenoise?
Méthode Champenoise, a complicated process involving secondary fermentation in the bottle and can ONLY be used when referring to wines made in Champagne.
Did the techniques of sparkling winemaking did not originate with the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon?
No! The techniques of sparkling winemaking did not originate with the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon
What does mousseux mean?
Mousseux—implying effervescence—appeared in connotation with the wines of Champagne
What is the name of the oldest still wine Champagne house still in operation today?
Gosset is the oldest Champagne house still in operation today founded in 1584 as a still wine producer
What is the name of the oldest sparkling wine Champagne house still in operation today?
Ruinart, established in 1729, can claim to be the oldest sparkling Champagne house.
What does veuve mean in French?
Widow
What is Remuage?
Remuage, or Riddling - Madame Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the Veuve (“widow”) Clicquot pioneered this procedure that allows lees/sediment to be easily removed from a bottle during dégorgement to create a clear wine.
What is Chaptalization?
Chaptalization is the process of adding sugar to unfermented grape must in order to increase the alcohol content after fermentation.
Discovered by French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal
What is the name for the wire cage that’s used to secure the cork of the Champagne bottle?
A muselet (myz.le) is a wire cage that fits over the cork of a bottle of champagne to prevent the cork from emerging under the pressure of the carbonated contents. It derives its name from the French museler, to muzzle. The muselet often has a metal cap incorporated in the design which may show the drink maker’s emblem. They are normally covered by a metal foil envelope. Muselets are also known as wirehoods, cages or Champagne wires.
