Known for its effervescent wines, the Champagne wine region also produces exceptional quiet wines. the Berne Castle takes you to the meeting of a unique vineyard in France.
The story of the Champagne vineyard
If the champagne wine has a reputation that is no longer to be done, the origins of the vineyards are still uncertain today. However, certain key dates are noted in the evolution of the Champagne wine region.
- 1st century AD: the first vines appear in Champagne, and announce the beginnings of a promising vineyard;
- 14th century: the Hundred Years War pushed the winegrowers to abandon the vines, considerably slowing down theboom in champagne wine ;
- End of the 15th century: the Champagne vineyard resumes its vigor, and the wine municipalities are increasing;
- End of the 17th century: the wines from the Champagne terroir officially take the name of "champagne wines". The wines are then gray wines raised in barrels;
- 1660: Aging in barrels is not suitable for champagne, we then bottle it, where it will naturally become sparkling. Then arises the problem of the explosion of bottles under the effect of bubbles;
- 1670: the Moine Cellérier Dom Pérignon Takes the assembly of grape varieties to improve the quality of wines, and introduces the use of the cork cork;
- 1837: The perfect sugar dosage makes it possible to obtain a second fermentation and considerably reduce the explosions of bottles;
- 1905: cannot be named " Champagne wines That wines being harvested and made on Champagne soil, and nowhere else. The wine region is then clearly delimited, and the municipalities concerned will be identified in the law of July 22, 1927.
Today, if the Champagne wine region is mainly recognized for its sparkling wines, it also produces quiet wines of excellent quality.
The geography of the Champagne vineyard
Champagne is the The northernest wine region in France, in other words, the most north. This terroir then benefits from the influences of the ocean climate from the West, and the continental climate by the East. We then see strong precipitation, and rather cold temperatures.
The uniqueness of champagne wines, whether Rosé champagne,from white champagne, or Quiet wine pink, red or white, is not only from the climate, but also from the limestone basement.
Extended on nearly 35,000 hectares of vineyards, the Champagne wine region is thus divided into 4 regions:
- The Reims mountain : in the Marne department;
- The Marne valley : spread over the departments of Marne, Aisne and Seine-et-Marne;
- The White Coast : from northeast to southwest of the vineyard;
- The Bar coast : southern part of the vineyard.
Champagne grape varieties
The Different champagne wines Mainly come from 3 grape varieties, including 2 red grape varieties and a white grape variety.
- the Chardonnay (30 % of production): This white grape from Burgundy is the main grape in the Champagne region. A champagne produced only with this grape variety is called a " White of whites » ;
- the Pinot Noir (38 % of the production): This red grape variety gives carpented wines, with a fine bouquet;
- the Pinot Meunier (31 % of the production): This grape variety gives wines close to those vinified from Pinot Noir. However, they are more fruity, and have a less important childcare potential.
The last small part of grape varieties used for Manufacture of champagne wine represent rarer white grape varieties, such as thearbane, the true pinot white, the Fromenteau (or Pinot Gris True), the Pinot in July and the small meslier.
According to Viticultural regions of Champagne, the dominant grape varieties vary:
- Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in the Reims mountain and the Marne valley;
- Chardonnay for the Côte des Blancs;
- Pinot Noir for the bar coast.
Champagne: the cradle of sparkling wine, but not only
If it is true that the White or rosé effervescent wine Makes the reputation of Champagne, the wine region also produces quiet wines under the name Coteaux Champenois (white wine, red wine and rosé wine), as well as very good rosés, like the rosé de Riceys, produced in dawn , in the town of Riceys.
The names of the Champagne wine region
The Champagne wine region has 3 names of controlled origin.
AOC Champagne
For'AOC Champagne, Champagne houses are free to assemble the wines in the proportions of their choice, to produce typical cuvées. Champagne can then be produced:
- By major brands that buy the grapes from the winegrowers;
- By harvesting harvesting winegrowers and cooperative cellars.
The AOC Coteaux Champenois
This name AOC Coteaux Champenois Groups red, white and rosé wines produced on the Champagne appellation area. There are great vintages, like Bouzy wine.
The rosé aoc of the riceys
As its name suggests, this appellation Riceys AOC Rosé Distinguishes quiet pink wines made with a particular vinification technique (short maceration) and manufactured only in the town of Riceys, in dawn.
If you appreciate white or rosy effervescent wines, a passage on the Champagne Wine Route is essential. You will discover a unique wine region, where champagne holds a special place.
