Unit 2 - Geology, Topography and Soils

Question 1

The Region of Champagne takes its name from what Latin word and what does it mean

Answer 1

Campagna, meaning unforested land or open country or plain

Question 2

Is the region of Champagne located on land flat?

Answer 2

No, the region is not flat. There are gentle to steep slopes.

Question 3

Why is Champagne considered a plain or open expanse

Answer 3

The lack of forest

Question 4

What is the Paris Basin

Answer 4

A large downward depression (syncline) of sedimentary rock strata

Question 5

When was the Triassic period? And what rock or soil forms came about due this period

Answer 5

250 - 200 Million Years Ago

• Gypsum, Rock Salt, and Sandstone

Question 6

What was the Jurassic period? And what rock or soil forms came about due to this period

Answer 6

200 - 145 Million Years Ago

• Sandstone and Limestone

Question 7

What was the Cretaceous period? And what rock or soil forms came about due to this period

Answer 7

145 - 65 Million Years Ago

• Chalk, Clays, and Sands

Question 8

What was the Tertiary period? And what rock or soil forms came about due to this period

Answer 8

65 - 1.8 Million Years Ago

• Sands, Marls, Lignite Clays

Question 9

How big is the Paris Basin

Answer 9

Approximately

• 310 miles / 500 km from east to west
• 185 miles / 300 km from north to south
• Over 54,000 square miles / 140,000 square km in size
• Represents 25% of the country of France

Question 10

What soil makes up 75% of the top soil in Champagne

Answer 10

Limestone ( including chalk and marl)

Question 11

How long is the Seine River

Answer 11

482 miles long

Question 12

What River cuts through the Aube (Cote des Bars)

Answer 12

Seine River

Question 13

The Marne River is a tributary to what river in France

Answer 13

Seine River

Question 14

The Marne River travels near what two major cities in Champagne

Answer 14

Epernay and Reims

Question 15

Vallee de la Marne, Vallee de l’Ardre, Vallee de la Vesle and Vallee du Surmelin were all formed by what river and its tributaries

Answer 15

Marne River

Question 16

The hills in the Aube sub regions were form by what rivers

Answer 16

Bar-sur-Aube

• Aube
• Landion

Barsequanais

• Ource
• Arce
• Laignes
• Seine

Question 17

The hills of the Cote de I’Ile-de-France, Cote de la Champagne and the Cote des Bars were formed due to what?

Answer 17

A result of the tectonic upheaval when the Paris Basin sank at its center and shunted its northern and eastern rims upwards

Question 18

What vineyards in Champagne make up the Cote de I’Ile-de-France

Answer 18

• Montagne de Reims
• Cote des Blancs
• Sezanne

Question 19

What vineyards in Champagne make up Cote de la Champagne

Answer 19

• Vitry -le - Francois

- Montgueux

Question 20

What vineyards in Champagne make up the Cote des Bar

Answer 20

• Barsequanais

- Bar-sur-Aube

Question 21

The average slope in Champagne possesses what grade

Answer 21

12%

Question 22

What slope direction gets the most intense sun exposure

Answer 22

• East
• Southeast
• South

Question 23

The Aisne, Aube, Marne, Yonne, Barse, Eure, Orge, Yvette, Loing, Oise, Epte, and Risle rivers all feed what river in France

Answer 23

Seine

Question 24

What are the two primary sub-soils of Champagne

Answer 24

Chalk and limestone-rich marl

Question 25

CHAMPAGNE SIDE NOTE

Answer 25

All chalk is limestone, not all limestone is chalk - The two calcium-rich rocks have very different properties

Question 26

True or False: Chalk can not absorb a lot of water

Answer 26

False: Chalk can absorb a lot of water. It acts like a subterranean sponge effectively pulling rainwater from the surface and down to its 985 - 1,310 feet / 300 - 400 meters depths

Question 27

Where is the largest portion of the chalk plains located

Answer 27

- Reims and Epernay - East of Montage de Reims - Chalons-en-Champagne - Cote des Blancs - Also the famous villages of Ay, Ambonnay and Verzenay

Question 28

What does Dry Champagne refer too

Answer 28

A term used by James Wilson in regards the the area that had a lack of moisture and lack of production due to the chalk top soil

Question 29

The Aube lays on top of what type of subsoil

Answer 29

Kimmeridgean Marl ( a limestone - clay base that retains water, but not to the detriment of plant life)

Question 30

What does Wet Champagne refer too

Answer 30

A term used by James Wilson to describe the kimmeridgean marl that is found in the Aube

Question 31

What does Champagne humide mean

Answer 31

Wet Champagne

Question 32

What does Champagne Pouilleuse mean

Answer 32

Dry Champagne

Question 33

What type of soil does Pinot Noir thrive in

Answer 33

Limestone rich marl

Question 34

What characteristics does limestone rich marl give to Pinot Noir

Answer 34

Deep aromatic and earthy expressions

Question 35

Vallee de la Marne (most of it) and Val de Reims are comprised of what type of soils

Answer 35

Sands, Marls, and Clay - Although there are some pockets of chalk in a few villages on the eastern fringe where these sub - regions boarder the chalk plains

Question 36

What type of wines do clay soil produce

Answer 36

- wines that can be mineral rich | - wines that need more significant time aging to express their true flavors and aromas

Question 37

What type of wines do sandy soils produce

Answer 37

- wines with more overt fruit characteristics | - these wines are open and easy - drinking

Question 38

What is the main soils of the Cote de Sezanne

Answer 38

Chalk and Clay

Question 39

Do the wine regions in France follow the political borders

Answer 39

Not always

Question 40

What are the two primary chalks of Champagne

Answer 40

Belemnite and Micraster

Question 41

What is Belemnite Chalk?

Answer 41

Refers to the ancient arrow or dart like relative of today's Squid

Question 42

What is Micraster Chalk?

Answer 42

Composed of fossilized sea urchins - a member of the starfish family

Question 43

Which chalk is more preferred? Belemnite or Micraster? And why

Answer 43

Belemnite - simply due to its location. It is found mostly in the upper and middle slope levels

Question 44

Where is most Belemnite chalk located

Answer 44

the upper and middle slope levels - this happens to be ideal for optimal sun exposure and moisture retention

Question 45

Why is mid slope vineyards in such great position

Answer 45

They can ensure they will get maximum water retention. - They collect the rainwater falling from above plus the rainwater running downhill from points above it

Question 46

Where is Micraster Chalk located

Answer 46

Where the slope begins to flatten

Question 47

What type of characteristic does chalk provide for the wine

Answer 47

- High in acid | - Reserved Aromatics

Question 48

Kimmeridgean Marl is also known as

Answer 48

Virgulien marl

Question 49

What is Exogyra Virgule

Answer 49

The fossilized marine deposit that are those of a small comma shaped oyster. This is what makes up kimmeidgean marl

Question 50

What is the Kimmeridgean ring

Answer 50

A ring of limestone - rich marl outcrops that run through England and France - the ring leaves England at the cliffs of Dover, dips under the English Channel and rises again as the cliffs of Normandy, France

Question 51

Where does the name Kimmeridgean come from

Answer 51

The Dorset Village of Kimmeridge in England. - This is where the soil was first classified

Question 52

What area in Champagne is apart of the Kimmeridgean ring

Answer 52

Cote des Bar

Question 53

What is Mono - Parcelles

Answer 53

Houses that capitalize on their special terriors - Example: Philipponnat's Clos des Goisses Launched since 1935

Question 54

What is Mono - Cru

Answer 54

Houses that opt to focus on the fruit from one village or cru - Example - Salon' Cuvee "S" Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Launched since 1921

Question 55

Who has benefited the most behind the idea of singe vineyard / single village wines and why

Answer 55

Grower Producers - they embrace vintage variation - they embrace the signature flavors of a single cru / and or a single vineyard bottling

Question 56

Why is the idea of what grower producers modus operandi frowned upon by the large houses in Champagne

Answer 56

Because the masions or negociants believe in maintaining a house style and in blending grapes