Week 2g: Champagne

Question 1

Champagne climate:

Answer 1

Crossroads between Maritime and Continental climates

Cool even though summers can be hot

Question 2

Global warming impact on Champagne:

Answer 2

Heatwaves becoming more common

Question 3

When is the Atlantic influence strongest? Impact on grape growing:

Answer 3

Strongest during mid-August to late October. Drives rainy weather during harvest

Question 4

On what parallel is Champagne:

Answer 4

48-49 parallel

Question 5

Impact of latitude on Champagne:

Answer 5

Acute angle of sun’s rays makes it harder to ripen grapes

Question 6

Champagne soil type:

Answer 6

Ancient seabed rich in limestone

Mix of limestone, calcareous clay, limestone rich marl, soft white chalk

Question 7

Define calcareous.

Answer 7

Mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate. Autrement dit, containing lime or being chalky.

Question 8

Define marl.

Answer 8

An earthy material rich in carbonate minerals, clays, and silt

When hardened into rock, this becomes marlstone.

Question 9

Acid level of chalk soil. How wine is impacted:

Answer 9

Chalk soils are basic. Makes wine more acidic

Question 10

Notable characteristics of chalk:

Answer 10

Coolant and water reservoir

Holds water in a way that allows roots to thrive

Question 11

Historical strategic importance of Champagne:

Answer 11

Crossroads of European trade routes

Question 12

Historic rivals of Champagne:

Answer 12

Burgundy, often over who made the better wine

Question 13

When was Champagne invented

Answer 13

1700’s

Question 13

When was the Champagne region defined?

Answer 13

1908 but this is not the AOC system yet

Question 13

When did phylloxera hit Champagne? What happened as a result?

Answer 13

1863.

Major fraud with other sparkling wine being passed off as Champagne

Question 14

When did the Aube revolt?

Answer 14

1908

Question 15

What is the CIVC?

Answer 15

Comité Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne

Question 16

Why was the CIVC formed?

Answer 16

In response to the Nazi occupation

Question 17

What does the CIVC do?

Answer 17

Controls every aspect of Champagne production.

Question 18

How did British glass become stronger than French glass? What impact did this have on Champagne production?

Answer 18

Due to wars, Britain had to switch to coal to make glass. Hotter temperatures, stronger glass

Question 19

How did the invention of stronger glass help Champagne?

Answer 19

Better glass and market interest started the Champagne industry

Better understanding of the fermentation process

Allowed Champagne to distinguish itself form Burgundy

Question 20

Who released the first Tête de Cuvée? When?

Answer 20

Moët Chandon: Dom Perignon

1921 vintage

Question 21

Dom Perignon’s contribution to Champagne production:

Answer 21

Invented a more gentle press
Able to make white wine from red grapes which offered more flavour

Question 22

André François’ contribution to Champagne production:

Answer 22

Discovered the exact amount of sugar needed to complete 2nd fermentation in bottle without bottles exploding

Question 23

Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin's contribution to Champagne production:

Answer 23

Invented riddling as a way to speed up prep for disgorging Caused by race to get Champagne to Russian markets first.

Question 24

Louise Pommery's contribution to Champagne production:

Answer 24

Pioneer's dryer style of wine Released first Brut Captivates English market

Question 25

Lilly Bollinger's contribution to Champagne production:

Answer 25

Pioneers recently disgorged style of wine.

Question 26

Describe NV Champagne:

Answer 26

80% of production Goal is consistency year over year 15 months ageing during second ferment Can include Têtes de Cuvée

Question 27

Vintage Champagne harvest, amount of production, ageing requirements:

Answer 27

Max 80% of any harvest (far lower in reality) 2% of Champagne sold each year is Vintage 36 months on lees

Question 28

What is a Négotiant Manipulant

Answer 28

Buy grapes from growers Some limit on how much they can own land 80% of all Champagne

Question 29

What is a Recoltant Manipulant?

Answer 29

Grower Champagne. The own their own vineyards and vinify their own grapes

Question 30

What is a Recoltant Cooperateur?

Answer 30

Grower who uses a coop facility to vinify and then bottle under their own label

Question 31

What is a Cooperative Manipulant?

Answer 31

Many growers vinify and label their fruit under one coop label.

Question 32

Sweetness levels of Champagne:

Answer 32

Brut Zero: 0-3g/l Extra Brut: 0-6 Brut: 0-12 Extra Sec: 12-17 Sec: 17-32 Demi Sec: 32-50 Doux: 50+

Question 33

Grapes in Blanc de Blancs:

Answer 33

Chardonnay Pinot Gris / Blanc Arbane Petit Meslier

Question 34

Grapes in Blanc de Noirs:

Answer 34

100% black grapes: Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier

Question 35

Moët Chandon Tête de Cuvée:

Answer 35

Dom Perignon

Question 36

Louis Roederer Tête de Cuvée:

Answer 36

Cristal

Question 37

Bollinger Tête de Cuvée:

Answer 37

La Grande Année Vielles Vignes Français

Question 38

Gossett Tête de Cuvée:

Answer 38

Celebris

Question 39

Taittinger Tête de Cuvée:

Answer 39

Comte de Champagne

Question 40

Perriet Jouet Tête de Cuvée:

Answer 40

Belle Epoque

Question 41

What is a Single Vineyard Champagne?

Answer 41

Increasingly popular category Often overlaps Vintage and Prestige Cuvée Categories

Question 42

Single Vineyard Champagne of Billecart Salmon:

Answer 42

Clos Saint Hilaire

Question 43

Two Single Vineyard champagnes of Krug:

Answer 43

Clos de Mesnil Clos d'Ambonnay

Question 44

Single Vineyard Champagne of Philpponat:

Answer 44

Clos de Goisses

Question 45

Single Vineyard Champagne of Pierre Peters:

Answer 45

Les Chetillons

Question 46

What is a Special Club Champagne:

Answer 46

Collective formed by some producers in 1971 to show quality of Grower Champagnes which lived under the shadow of big houses

Question 47

What do members of Special Club Champagne members do?

Answer 47

25 members who all release their individual wines in the same unique style bottle. Tasting panel tests both vin clair and finished Champagne

Question 48

3 original members who remain a member of Special Club Champagnes:

Answer 48

Paul Bara Pierre Gimonnet Gaston Chiquet

Question 49

What is Cru status accorded to in Champagne?

Answer 49

Whole villages

Question 50

How did the Echelle de Crus system work?

Answer 50

Rating out of 100 dictated the purchase price for the grapes. Ranked villages into Grand Cru, Premier Cru or Cru vineyards.

Question 51

When was the Echelle de Cru system introduced and abolished? Why is it still important?

Answer 51

Introduced in the 1800's. Abolished in 2010. Still recognized by consumers so producers add it to the label.

Question 52

Grape grown in Montagne de Reims:

Answer 52

Pinot Noir

Question 53

Best sites in Montagne de Reims:

Answer 53

Grand Montagne

Question 54

How many GC villages in Montagne de Reims?

Answer 54

10 Bouzy Ambonnay

Question 55

Grape grown in the Vallée de la Marne:

Answer 55

Pinot Meunier

Question 56

GC in Vallée de la Marne:

Answer 56

Ay

Question 57

Soil in Vallée de la Marne:

Answer 57

Heavier More clay Rich soils Alluvial soil around the river

Question 58

Grape grown in Côte de Blanc:

Answer 58

Chardonnay

Question 59

Grape grown in Côte de Sézanne:

Answer 59

Chardonnay More ripe, lush, aromatic than other regions