2. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier are the main grapes Famous for its sparkling wines, but does produce some other stuff as well! There is a lot more to Champagne than Cristal and Dom P.! Utilize your Rosé and Blanc de Blanc sections Remember: Proper Champagne service is equally about safety and elegance! Take your time and do it correctly so nobody loses an eye! Some of the Basics:
9. Working the lees and other forms of sediment down to the crown cap or temporary cork Courtesy of Madame Cliquot Also known as Riddling Takes place after the second fermentation Remuage
13. The wines age in the cellar for their designated time interacting with the lees and form a distinctive ‘autolytic’character These characteristics are often described as nuttiness, toastiness, ‘yeasty’, and other desirable aromas and flavors Autolysis
15. Disgorging is the act of removing the frozen plug of ice (containing spent yeast) from a bottle of Champagne or Sparkling Wine, after riddling Degorgement
17. The few ounces of wine, sometimes sweetened, which is added to each bottle of champagne after disgorging to make up for the liquid volume lost by disgorging AKA Liqueur d’Expedition Dosage
19. These companies (including the majority of the larger brands) buy grapes and make the wine Moet & Chandon VeuveCliquot Krug NM: Négociant manipulant
21. (Also known as Grower Champagne) A grower that also makes wine from its own grapes (a maximum of 5% of purchased grapes is permitted). There are currently over two thousand, which represents a third of all Champagne producers. RM: Récoltant manipulant
29. MA: Marque auxiliaire or Marque d'acheteur A brand name unrelated to the producer or grower; the name is owned by someone else, for example a supermarket, restaurant or wine shop
31. This consists of an individual person or a legal entity (wine merchant) who buys wines in finished bottles. He adds his own label in his workshop. ND: Négociant distributeur
32. Brut Natural or Brut Zéro (less than 3 grams of sugar per liter) Extra Brut (less than 6 grams of sugar per liter) Brut (less than 15 grams of sugar per liter) Extra Sec or Extra Dry (12 to 20 grams of sugar per liter) Sec (17 to 35 grams of sugar per liter) Demi-Sec (33 to 50 grams of sugar per liter) Doux (more than 50 grams of sugar per liter) More Label Jargon
34. Chalk! The chalky soil is ideal for Champagne wine. It absorbs water during winter and gives it back to the vine's roots during summer. The other way around, it absorbs heat during summer to give it back during winter. Main Soil Component
52. - Chardonnay provides freshness and elegance - Pinot Meunier brings fruitiness and aromas - Pinot Noir gives body and structure Quick Facts
53. - Montagne de Reims: south of Reims city, where the best Pinot Noir grow - Cote des Blancs: south of Epernay city, where the best Chardonnay grow - Vallée de la Marne: west of Epernay city, where the best Pinot Meunier grow Quick Facts
