Champagne (wine region)
The region of Champagne is approved for the cultivation of basic wines of Champagne area. Its expansion was set on 22 July 1927. It is not identical with the administrative region of Champagne -Ardenne Champagne and the historic landscape, but it also includes more in the regions of Picardy and Ile- de -France situated vineyards. In addition to the champagne exist within the wine region two small appellations for still wine, Coteaux Champenois and the Rosé of Riceys.
The production area has about 34,000 acres in five departments: Marne, Aube, Aisne, Haute -Marne and Seine- et- Marne, which lie in the latter two only very small vineyards. In the year 2002 32.710 ha were planted, these were 30,891 ha in yield. An expansion of the cultivated area to 357 communities is decided. The definition of eligible parcels is planned for 2015, champagne grapes can be read from 2017 there. ' Blueprint ' for the extension was the AOC approval of 30 hectares in the commune of Fontaine- sur- Ay in 1995 after thirteen years of litigation.
Climate and soil
With its location between the 48 ° and 49.5 ° north latitude Champagne lies at the northern limit of viticulture. The climate is semi- continental with oceanic influences. The annual rainfall is quite moderate with 650 to 700 mm. The sun shines an average of 1650 hours, of which a quarter are in July and August. In sum, the climate of Champagne a very slow maturation of the grapes result, which promotes freshness and finesse of Champagne. In addition, the base wine is a natural alcohol content of 11 vol - % fully sufficient as for the second fermentation in the bottle (see fermentation in the bottle ) sugar is added.
The Champagne is known for her ground - Belemnite chalk. This originates from the Upper Cretaceous soil type is found in the heart of the growing region between the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. It stores the moisture very well and manages nevertheless excess water down from. Also calcareous soils, but mixed with more clay, are found in the south of the wine region in the Côte des Bar They originate from the geological formation of the Kimmeridgian of the Upper Jurassic, similar to the area around Chablis. Geologic significantly younger the soils in the valley of the Marne. They are sandy- loamy and are from the Paleogene. On average, the slopes are steeper there than in the embossed areas of limestone.
Varieties
In Champagne, three grape varieties are grown in essence, the choice of which is determined primarily from the ground. The chalk ground with its good water regulation comes to meet especially the Chardonnay, which represents 28 % of the acreage. On the harder and heavier soils of the Montagne de Reims and the Aube Pinot Noir thrives particularly well with 39% share. The clay soils of Marnetals say to the Pinot Meunier, which represents the remaining 33 %.
In 2002, 91 ha or 0.3 % of the acreage were planted with the other approved varieties, 2008 officially 86ha with the white varieties Chardonnay next to the ( 9599ha ). These are the gray and white Burgundy and almost disappeared varieties Arbane and Petit Meslier.
Zoning
The area is divided into 20 natural regions, each having quite homogenous terroir. These are grouped into six major regions. The largest wineries are located in the cities of Reims and although Epernay; as the heart of the wine region with the best locations, however, the regions Verzenay and Bouzy - Ambonnay the Côte des Blancs with the places Avize and ogres and the Grande Vallee de la Marne apply in the eastern and southern part of the Montagne de Reims to Aÿ. Here are all classified as Grand Cru wine-growing villages ( see below).
Montagne de Reims
Région de Chigny -les -Roses Région de Verzenay
Région de Trépail - Nogent de l' Abbesse Région de Bouzy - Ambonnay
Together 2,360
950 1100
45% Meunier, 30 % Pinot Noir 80 % Pinot Noir
Predominantly Chardonnay 75 % Pinot Noir
Vallée de la Marne
Région d' Epernay
Vallée de la Marne ( rive droite ) Vallée de la Marne ( rive gauche )
Région de Condé -en- Brie Région est de Château- Thierry Région ouest de Château- Thierry
1240
Together 5152
Together 2,989
75-80 % Pinot Meunier
Côte des Blancs
Petit Morin et Grand Morin
Côte de Champagne
Côte des Bar
Classification of Municipalities
Most winemakers in Champagne establish not have its own champagne, but sell their grapes to the big champagne houses or wine cooperatives. Depending on the quality potential of the vineyards, the grapes were achieved in the past in different high prices. The experience of the Courtiers mentioned grapes brokers formed the starting point for the classification of the champagne vineyards on a percentage scale. It has been constantly refined and 1911 set out in writing. According to the ratio of the actual to the maximum achievable grape price all the communities were rated on a 80 % to 100 % reaching scale ( échelle the crus ). Is between the individual layers in the communities - unlike, say, in Burgundy - not further differentiated. In some communities, there are differences in classification between red and white grape varieties. In 1999, the determination of grape prices was abolished by the Percent method.
The 100 % classified communities may bear the designation Grand Cru. Between 90 and 99% of a municipality is considered as Premier Cru. Of the currently 324 wine-growing villages of the Champagne 17 as Grand Cru and Premier Cru classified as 44. The Grand Cru communities represent approximately 13.5 % of the total 4,400 ha of vineyards. Specifically, these are:
The following municipalities with a yield area of approximately 6,000 ha ( 18.3% of the total area) shall be authorized to designate plants as Premier Cru ( sorted by classification):
- 99%: Mareuil -sur- Ay, Tauxières - Mutry
- 95 %: Bergeres-les - Vertus (white grapes), Billy -le- Grand, Bisseuil, Chouilly (red grapes), Cui (white grapes), Dizy, Grauves (white grapes), Trépail, Vaudemanges, Vertus, Villeneuve- Renneville, Villiers- Marmery, Voipreux
- 94 %: Chigny -les -Roses, Cormontreuil, Ludes, Montbré, Rilly- la -Montagne, Taissy, Trois- Puits
- 93 %: Avenay -Val- d'Or, Champillon Cumières, skin Villers, Mutigny
- 90 %: Chamery, Coulommes -la -Montagne, Coligny (white grapes), Cui (red grapes), Ecueil, Etréchy (white grapes), Grauves (red grapes), Jouy- lès -Reims, Les Mesneux, Pargny- lès- Reims, Pierry, Sacy, Sermiers, Tours- sur -Marne (white grapes), Villedomange, Villiers- Allerand, Villiers -au- Noeuds, Vrigny.
All other communities of the area of Champagne belong in the group between 80 % and 89 % ( non classé terroir ). From wine-growing communities with a rating below 80 % no grapes may be used for the production of champagne.
Of the acreage of Grands Crus and Premiers Crus account for about 45% Chardonnay and 36% Pinot Noir and 19% Pinot Meunier.
Originates the base wine of Champagne exclusively from Grand Cru and Premier Cru towns, so this must be noted in each case on the label. Many top cuvees of the great Champagne houses are made exclusively from Grand Cru sites.