Champagne

Question 1

1. Name 5 Champagne houses that were established before the French Revolution.

Answer 1

The French revolution happened in 1789.

Ruinart(1729), Veuve Cliquot(1772), Roederer(1776), Heidsieck(1785), and Moet Chandon(1743)

Question 2

2. What is the most recent vintage of Salon Les Mesnil available on market? 1991, 1994, 1999, 1989, or 2002?

Answer 2

1999 is the most recent. Salon did not make Champagnes in ’89, ’91, or ’94. They DID make Champagne in ’02 but it is not yet released to the market.

Question 3

3. Who invented the muselet and in what year was it invented?

Answer 3

Adolphe Jacquesson 1844

Question 4

4. What Champagne houses are official sponsors to the following sporting events?

Answer 4

a) Formula 1 – Mumm
b) Wimbledon – Lanson
c) English Rugby Union – Bollinger

Question 5

5. On average, at what brix are Champagne grapes harvested and what is the potential level of alcohol at harvest?

Answer 5

18-19 degrees, 10% potential alcohol.

Question 6

6. What two villages were originally left out of the initial delimitation of the Champagne appellation in 1908?

Answer 6

The Marne and the Aube

Question 7

7. Who was the first cellarmaster at Veuve Cliquot and what did he invent that revolutionized the way Champagne was made?

Answer 7

Antoine Muller. He invented the riddling table.

Question 8

8. What is Tours-sur-Marne’s Echelle de Cru rating for white grapes?

Answer 8

90%

Question 9

9. What is a gluco-oenometre and who invented it?

Answer 9

It was invented by Andre Francois. A gluco-oenometre determines the amount of the liqueur de tirage that is needed for the appropriate increase in the amount of alcohol as well as carbonation (ensuring 5-6 atms).

Question 10

10. About how many miles of underground cellars are in the Champagne region and what is their constant temperature?

Answer 10

150 miles or 250 kilometers, kept at 50-52 degrees F on average.

Question 11

11. In a given decade, how many vintages will be deemed good enough to declare?

Answer 11

Approx 3-4.

Question 12

12. Most negociants are headquartered in what three towns?

Answer 12

Reims, Ay & Epernay

Question 13

13. Which one would I have a better chance of seeing, being sold at a retail outlet in the United States? Coteaux Champenois or Rose des Riceys? Why?

Answer 13

While Coteaux Champenois production is only .1% of the region, Rose des Riceys is even rarer. Therefore, you’re more likely to see Coteaux Champenois on retail shelves here in the U.S. as opposed to Rose des Riceys.

Question 14

14. Which of the following is a true statement?
    a) Coteaux Champenois produces red wines only
    b) Coteaux Champenois produces white wine only
    c) Coteaux Champenois produces reds and whites only
    d) Coteaux Champenois is a rose only appellation.
    e) Coteaux Champenois produces all three colors.

Answer 14

E

Question 15

15. Approximately how many kilometers is it from Epernay to the Aube and in which direction would you be headed?

Answer 15

Southeast, about 110 kilometers.

Question 16

16. Historically, what country has enjoyed a sweeter style of Champagne?

Answer 16

Russia

Question 17

17. This type of firm takes grapes from a collective/union of growers, makes the Champagne, and returns it to the members for sale under their own label. What kind of producer did I describe?

Answer 17

A Cooperative Manipulant, denoted by the code CM.

Question 18

18. Name 3 Champagne houses owned by the LVMH group, except Moet Chandon

Answer 18

Ruinart, Veuve Cliquot, Krug

Question 19

19. True or False – The Echelle de Cru rating is a legally binding price on grapes.

Answer 19

False, they are suggestive prices.

Question 20

20. True or False – The CIVC allows the use of pneumatic and hydraulic presses in addition to the traditional Coquard presses.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

21. Historically, there have been well regarded Champagne houses run by female vignerons. Name 3 of such grand dames.

Answer 21

Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin Cliquot, Louis Pommery, Lily Bollinger to name a few.

Question 22

22. Which one of these statements is true about Krug’s Grande Cuvee?

a) It is a NV blend from 100% grand cru vineyards.
b) It is a NV blend from grand cru as well as premier cru vineyards.
c) It is a NV blend from premier cru vineyards only
d) It is a NV blend and does not contain 100% grand or even premier cru sites.
e) It does carry a vintage date, and does not contain 100% grand or even premier cru sites.

Answer 22

D

Question 23

23. What was the first vintage of the following tete de cuvees?

a) La Grande Dame
b) Sir Winston Churchill
c) Vielles Vignes Francaises
d) Comtes de Champagne
e) Cuvee S de Salon

Answer 23

a) La Grande Dame – 1969
b) Sir Winston Churchill – 1975 (only released as a magnum)
c) Vielles Vignes Francaises- 1969
d) Comtes de Champagne – 1952
e) Cuvee S de Salon – 1921

Question 24

24. Please name two excellent Champagne vintages from the following decades.

a) 1990’s
b) 1980’s

Answer 24

a) 1990’s – 1990 and 1996

b) 1980’s – 1985 and 1988

Question 25

25. What is L’ouverture des vendange?

Answer 25

It is the official harvest date that is set for each commune by the CIVC.

Question 26

26. Who is the current president of CIVC?

Answer 26

Jean Luc Barbier

Question 27

27. What is a pressoir?

Answer 27

Pressing station placed throughout the vineyard so that the pressing can begin as soon as possible.

Question 28

28. A coquard press is no more than how many feet deep?

Answer 28

3 feet

Question 29

29. Up to how much time can a gyropalette save, over a pupitre, during the remouage process?

Answer 29

Up to 6-8 weeks.

Question 30

A primat bottle of Champagne holds how many liters and bottles?

Answer 30

Capacity is 27 liters and it is equivalent to 36 bottles.

Question 31

31. Please arrange these premier crus of the Montagne de Reims from North to South – Vrigny, Chigny-les-Roses, Ecueil, Jouy Les Reims, Sacy.

Answer 31

Vrigny, Jouy-Les-Reims, Sacy, Ecueil, Chigny Les Roses.

Question 32

32. Currently, how many members are in the Special Club?

Answer 32

26

Question 33

33. What are the two premier cru villages with a rating of 99%?

Answer 33

Mareuil-sur-Ay and Tauxieres.