List the notable vintages of the 80’s.
82
85
88
89
What is the residual sugar level for a Champagne labeled Demi-Sec?
32-50 g/L
How many liters may be extracted from 4000 kg of grapes to make Champagne?
2550 liters
List the notable vintages of the 90’s.
90*
95
96*
What does CM on a bottle of Champagne indicate?
Coopérative Manipulant
A growers’ co-operative produced under a single brand
What does ND on a bottle of Champagne indicate?
Négociant Distributeur
A “middleman” company the sells Champagne it did not make.
List the steps of the Méthode Champenoise.
1 - Base Wine
2 - Assemblage of “Cuvée”
3 - Secondary Fermentation (Liqueur de Tirage)
4 - Sur Lie Aging (Autolysis)
5 - Remuage (Riddling/Gyropalette)
6 - Dégorgement (Disgorging)
7 - Dosage (Liqueur d’Expédition)
What is the residual sugar level for a Champagne labeled Brut?
0-12 g/L
Meunier is heavily cultivated in which district of Champagne?
Vallée de la Marne
What is the 3rd step in the Méthode Champenoise?
Secondary Fermentation
- Addition of Liqueur de tirage
- Liqueur de tirage* is a mixture of still wine, yeasts, sugar, and fining agents that will serve to ignite the secondary fermentation.
What is the residual sugar level for a Champagne labeled Doux?
50+ g/L
What does RC on a bottle of Champagne indicate?
Récoltant Coopérateur
A grower whose grapes are vinified at a co-operative but sold under his own label.
What is the residual sugar level for a Champagne labeled Extra Dry?
12-17 g/L
What does MA on a bottle of Champagne indicate?
Marque d’Acheteur
A buyer’s own brand
Supermarket or Restaurant who purchases Champagne then sells it under their own label.
What does NM on a bottle of Champagne indicate?
Négociant Manipulant
A house that purchases grapes and or base wines from growers and other small houses.
Pinot Noir is the prominent grape grown in what 2 districts of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
Côte de Bars (the Aube)
The 357 villages authorized to grow grapes for Champagne are split between 5 districts. Name the 5 districts.
Montagne de Reims
Côte des Bars (the Aube)
Côte des Blancs
Côte de Sézanne
Vallée de la Marne
Chardonnay is dominant in what 2 districts of Champagne?
Côte de Sézanne
Côte des Blancs
What is the residual sugar level for a Champagne labeled Sec?
17-32 g/L
List the notable vintages of the 70’s.
71
73
75
76
79
What is the 4th step in the Méthode Champenoise?
Sur Lie Aging
- Autolysis (breakdown of yeast cells)
- Aged on lees
- Minimum 12 months on lees
(15 months minimum total aging)
What is the residual sugar level for a Champagne labeled Extra Brut?
0-6 g/L
What is the 1st step in the Méthode Champenoise?
Making the base still wine
- Grapes are gently pressed
- Base wine: light color, low alcohol, high acidity
- Fermented in stainless steel or wood
After extraction, the 2550 liters of juice is divided into what 3 groups?
- Vin de cuvée* (first 2050 liters)
- Vin de taille* (next 500 liters)
- Reb**êche* (1-10% of total used for distillate)
