Terroir

Question 1

Why can Champagne’s climate best be described as a dual?

Answer 1

It is subject to both continental and oceanic influences.

Question 2

How does the oceanic influence manifests itself in the climate of the Champagne region?

Answer 2

Vineyards are blessed with fairly mild temperatures. It is neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer.

Question 3

What is the average annual temperature in Champagne?

Answer 3

The average annual temperature is 11°C.

Question 4

How does the continental influence manifests itself in the climate of the Champagne region?

Answer 4

Continental influences can lead to freezing temperatures in winter without warning. In places, temperatures below -10°C have been recorded, bringing frosts that can be devastating for the vineyards. The reverse can also happen in summer, with rising temperatures sometimes culminating in violent storms.

Question 5

The Champagne region is located between which parallels?

Answer 5

Between the 48th and 49th parallels

Question 6

What kind of subsoil is pushed to the surface on the appellation’s slopes, absorbing heat to protect the vines at night and providing excellent drainage in the wet climate?

Answer 6

Porous, belemnite chalk subsoil

Question 7

What is belemnite chalk derived from and what are some of its properties relevant to the success of grape growing in Champagne?

Answer 7

Belemnite chalk, derived from the fossilized remains of millions of extinct cephalopods, has a high limestone content, which allows vine roots to dig deeply and is linked to increased acidity.

Question 8

What is the name of that second layer of chalk that characterizes the valley vineyards in Champagne and where does the name originates from?

Answer 8

Micraster chalk (named for an extinct sea urchin)

Question 9

What types of thin soil cover much of the chalk in Champagne?

Answer 9

Clay and sand

Question 10

What is referred to in Champagne as “Les bleus de ville”?

Answer 10

The Champenoise have a long history of relying on recycled Parisian garbage to fertilize their vineyards. Shreds of blue plastic are scattered throughout many of the vineyards, remnants of bags used to ship composted trash. Composting is admirable, but the portion of inorganic and toxic waste grew over time, and the practice was outlawed in 1998.

Question 11

At which latitude does Reims and Épernay lie?

Answer 11

Reims: 49.5°
Épernay: 49°

Question 12

90 million years ago, what was the situation like in Champagne?

Answer 12

Back then, oceans covered every surface of land. Sediments (rock deposits) tossed about by the oceans settled on the seabed, piling up to as much as 200 metres in height!

Question 13

Fast-forward 70 million years, what happened to the Paris Basin?

Answer 13

It gradually sank in the centre under the weight of the accumulated sediments. Various types of rock then surfaced in successive layers.

Question 14

What is the Paris Basin and what is it bordered by on all sides?

Answer 14

The Paris Basin is a sedimentary basin covering most of the northern half of France that is bordered by the Armorican Massif to the west, the Ardennes-Brabant axis to the north, the Massif des Vosges to the east, and the Massif Central to the south.

Question 15

What exactly is chalk and how did it form?

Answer 15

It is made up of fragments of marine micro-organisms deposited millions of years ago.

Question 16

What are some of the advantages that chalk soils provide in the context of grape growing for quality wine production?

Answer 16

This type of subsoil is porous, thus allowing for good drainage so that roots will stay dry and, in turn, will helps to increase grape quality. Being highly porous, it acts as a reservoir (storing 300-400 litres of water per m3). This ensures that the vines have a steady supply of water even in the driest summers. What’s more, chalk draws in water through capillary action, naturally regulating the vine’s water consumption. This water stress in growing season achieves that delicate balance of ripeness, acidity and berry aroma potential.

Question 17

How could Champagne’s general topography situation best be described?

Answer 17

As a carefully shaped undulating region of vine-covered hillsides where vines are predominantly planted on slopes.

Question 18

What is the average gradient in Champagne and just how steep can it get in exceptional cases?

Answer 18

Average gradient is 12% but some of the slopes are as steep as 59%.

Question 19

What are 2 advantages of planting on hillsides in Champagne?

Answer 19

The hillsides provide each vine plant with optimal exposure to sunlight. They also optimise drainage as excess rainwater can run off.

Question 20

Where do the Champagne hillsides come from?

Answer 20

The Paris Basin’s gradual sinking under the weight of accumulated sediments led to up-thrusting along its northern and eastern sides. The newly formed hills then came under attack from erosion, wearing down the steepest slopes to produce the gently rolling landscape you see today.

Question 21

Why are most vineyards in Champagne planted on south-, southeast- and east-facing slopes?

Answer 21

This allows the vines to soak up a maximum amount of daily sunlight, which gently warms the vine plants, helping the grape clusters to grow healthily until they are fully ripe and ready for harvesting.

Question 22

Where is Champagne located in relationship/reference to Paris?

Answer 22

Some 90 miles/145km east of Paris