MS Champagne Flashcards
(146 cards)
What is the oldest Champagne house?
Gosset - established in 1584 as a still wine house
Ruinart - established in 1729 as a sparkling house
Who developed the formula for secondary fermentation?
A pharmacist Andre Francois along with Jean-Antoine Chaptal (chaptalization researcher)
Who created the first Brut Champagne, what was it called?
Pommery in 1874, “Nature”
What is special about Champagne labelling?
They are the only appellation that is not required to state AOP/AOC on the label
How & why was the CIVC created?
Formed during Nazi occupation in 1941 by Count Robert-Jean de Vogue of Moet to protect the interest of the Champenois from the Nazis.
Who’s leading the way for English Sparkling wine?
Nyetimber and Ridgeview Estate, both located in Sussex, lead the way
Name some Champagne houses operating in the USA
Roederer Anderson Valley in Mendocino
Taittinger Carneros Napa
Moët et Chandon, Yountville Napa
What are synonyms for Brut Nature?
Non-Dosé, Brut Sauvage, Ultra Brut, Dosage Zéro, Sans Sucre, Pas Dosé
What was the first vintage of Dom Perignon?
1921
What is belemnite chalk?
Derived from cephalopods, long favored due to it being found mostly on the hillsides
What is micraster chalk?
Derived from sea urchins - common in the valley
What is the most dominant soil type in the Aube?
clay
What pruning methods are allowed in Champagne?
Cordon de Royat
Chablis
Valle de la Marne
Guyot (double & single)
What grapes other than the major 3 are permitted in Champagne?
Pinot Blanc Vrai
Arbane
Pinot Gris
Petit Meslier
What is the pressing limit enforced by the CIVC since 1992?
102 L per 160 kg of grapes
2,550 L per 4,000 kg of grapes (size of coquard press)
also called a marc
Name the Grand Cru villages of Montagne de Reims from n-s
Sillery Puisieulx Beaumont-sur-Vesle Verzenay Mailly Verzy (added in 1985) Louvois Bouzy Ambonnay
Name the Grand Cru villages of Valle de la Marne from n-s
Ay
Tours-sur-Marne (red only)
Name the Grand Cru village of Cotes des Blancs from n-s
Chouilly (white only, added in '85) Oiry (added in '85) Cramant Avize Oger (added in '85) Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (added in '85)
What do the terms blocage & deblocage mean?
blocage = the reserve of wine stocks for use in future vintages deblocage = the release
What is a matriculation number?
a number assigned to each producer by the CIVC
What does NM mean on a Champagne label?
Negociant Manipulant
A house that purchases grapes or base wine. They may also own their own vineyards.
What does RM mean on a bottle of Champagne?
Recoltant Manipulant
A grower producer who makes wine from estate fruit. 95% must come from their own vineyards.
What does CM mean?
Coopérative Manipulant
A grower cooperative that produces a wine under one brand
What does RC mean?
Recoltant Cooperateur
A grower whose grapes are vinified at a co-operative but is labeled as their own brand