Champagne

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Monks of Saint Hilaire

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Credited with crafting the first French sparkling wines in the ancestral methode; located near Languedoc town of Limoux.

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Clovis, King of the Franks

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United all of the tribes of Gaul (former name of France) under his rule under new name (France) and faith (Christianity).

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Bishop Remi of Reims

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-Spiritual leader of Reims (principle city in Champagne)
-Convinced Clovis to convert to Christianity if he was victorious in uniting France.
-Went on to be cannonized as Saint Remi

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City of Reims

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Extraordinary political importance; for 600 years, 27 French kings from Louis VIII to Charles X were crowned in the Cathedral of Reims. Champagne became know as wine of Kings and King of wines.

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17th Century

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-shift from still to sparkling wine production
-rise of the champagne houses: Ruinart, Moet, Clicquot...
-champagne allowed to be traded/transported in bottle

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1887 Champagne Decree

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Declaration that the word "Champagne" could only be used in conjunction with the wines produced from that region.

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Location

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-Represents most northernly of all French wine regions
-Lies btw 49 and 49.5 degrees parallel north
-1.5 hrs drive east of Paris

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Climate

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Continental and Maritime (Atlantic) influences

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Traditional Grapes

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-Gouais: white; used to craft vins de la montagne
-Fromenteau: gray-pink; used to craft vins de riviere

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Modern Grapes

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**In order of volume
-Pinot Noir: gives cherry, strawberry, power, structure
-Pinot Meunier: gives acid, red fruit, depth, earthiness
-Chardonnay: gives most acid/alcohol, floral, citrus, apple

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Other Authorized Grapes

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-Pinot Blanc
-Arbanne (w)
-Petit Meslier (w)
**Authorized, but uncommon

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Sub-Regions (7) & Grapes

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-Cote des Bar: main Pinot Noir, Kimmeridgean limestone
-Montagne de Reims: mostly Pinot Noir w/ PM & Chard
-Val de Reims: mostly Pinot Meunier w/ some PN
-Vallee de la Marne: mostly Pinot Meunier
-Cote de Blancs: mostly Chardonnay
-Cote de Sezanne: mostly Chardonnay
-Vitry-le-Francois: mostly Chardonnay

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Soils

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-Belemnite & Micraster Chalk
**Belemnite perfered, upper to mid-slope
-Kimmeridgean Marl (Cote des Bar)

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Chalk Soils

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-Chalk: a type of porous limestone
**All chalk is limestone, not all limestone is chalk
-Are known as "dry" champagne
-Reims, Epernay, Ay, Ambonnay and Verzernay

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Sand & Clay

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Vallee de la Marne
Val de Reims

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Limestone-Rich Marls

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Soil type found only in the Cote des Bar
**Part of Kimmeridgean Ring running through England & France

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The Echelle des Crus

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-Champagne possess on 1 AOC.
-System is an effort to recognize different terriors
-Established 1911; ranks wine producing villages and surrounding vineyards a single entity (grower may get 1er Cru designation due to village designation, but have a Grand Cru vineyard)

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The Echelle des Crus

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-Villages & their vineyards ranked on scale of 80-100%
-Grand Cru: 100% rating, 17
*Cote des Blanc (6), Montagne de Reims (9), Vallee de
le Marne (2)
-Premier Cru: 90-99% rating, 41
-Village Cru: 80-89% rating, 255

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Historical Impact of the Echelle des Crus

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Was used to set price of grape each harvest; no longer used (as of 2003).

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Base Wine Production

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Grapes picked by hand and fermented to still wine. Wine blended with other still wines to create one "house style" that remains consistent year to year.
**No more than 80% of a year's harvest may be used; remaining 20% saved for future vintages & blending

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Prise de Mousse

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Translates as "the seizing of the foam" and refers to the second alcoholic fermentation which creates 4.9-6 atmospheres of pressure inside the bottle to become sparkling.

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Tirage

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French for the act of bottling. Yeast and sugar mixed into the blended wine or cuvee, than bottled - adding the "liqueur de tirage." Distinguishing element btw Ancestral & Traditionnelle method; guarantees sparkling product.

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Brother Jean Oudart
(Abbey of St. Pierre aux Monts)

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Credited for developing "liqueur de tirage" method.

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Elevage Sur Lattes

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Bottles sealed with crown cap and stored on its side in a wine cellar separated by wood strips called lattes.

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Dom Perignon

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Credited for integrating Spanish cork and English glass into Champagne production.

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Remuage

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Riddling - process of collecting dead yeast cells in the neck of the champagne bottle in preparation for disgorging. Moved from hand riddling (3 months) to use of gyropalates (one week).

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Disgorgement

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Disgorging - process of removing dead yeast cells from the bottle of sparkling wine in order to deliver a clear and non-gritty sparkling product.
**A La Volee: disgorging by hand.

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Liqueur de Dosage/Liqueur d'Expedition

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Process of adding a mixture of sugar and still reserve wine after disgorging a sparkling wine; determines final sweetness level.

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Cork Shapes

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Cylindrical: shape before bottling
Juponne: skirt or mushroom shape when released
Cheville: order cork shaped when released (breaks down)

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Levels of Sweetness

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Brut Nature: 0-0.3% RS
Extra Brut: 0-0.6% RS
Brut: 0-1.5% RS
Extra Dry (Extra-Sec): 1.2-2% RS
Dry (Sec): 1.7-3.5% RS
Demi-Sec: 3.3-5% RS
Doux: over 5% RS

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Label Nomenclature: NM

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NM: negociant-manipulant
Producer that incorporates grapes purchased from others in the vinification process; may also use own fruit

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Label Nomenclature: RM

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RM: recoltant-maninpulant
Producer vinifying only his own estate grapes; doesn't purchase grapes from others

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Label Nomenclature: RC

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RC: recoltant-cooperateur
Vine grower affiliated w/ wine making co-op cellar; brings his grapes for co-op to vinify then retrieves, bottles & sells under his private label

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Label Nomenclature: SR

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SR: societe de recoltants
Group of grape growers who jointly vinify and sell one communal or several communal brands.

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Label Nomenclature: CM

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CM: cooperative de manipulation
Co-op cellar which vinifies grapes of member growers.

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Label Nomenclature: MA

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MA: marque auxiliare
Private label registered by any individual, group or society (restaurant, wine store, supermarket, etc); source of wine can be any of above producers

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Label Nomenclature: ND

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ND: negociant-distributeur
Wine buyer who purchases finished wines and gives them his own private label

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Bottle Names

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-Magnum: 2 bottles
-Jeroboam: 4 bottles
-Rehoboam: 6 bottles
-Methuselah: 8 bottles
-Salamanzar: 12 bottles
-Bathalzar: 16 bottles
-Nebuchadnezzar: 20 bottles