APPELLATION
Champagne through the 4 main different regions
Montagne de Reims – Vallée de la Marne – Côte des Blancs – Côte des Bar
Since 1927, Champagne vineyards have been limited by law to 34,000 hectares according to the viticultural history of the villages, the growing areas, locality and plots.
Montagne de Reims
- The vineyard: stretches around the city of Reims.
- Climate: semi-oceanic, very cold winter, warm to fresh summer.
- Soil: chalk and limestone.
- Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, some Meunier and a little Chardonnay.
Côte des Blancs
- Vineyard: It is the smallest starting in Epernay ending in Vertus. Stretching over only a few miles.
- Climate: semi-oceanic, very fresh winter, warm to fresh summer.
- Aspect : facing East and having sun rise.
- Soil: chalk with not so much topsoil.
- Grape Varieties: Chardonnay and very little Pinot noir. The different tastes between the villages are absolutely amazing.
Côte des Bar
- Vineyard: located in the southern part of Champagne. “Bar” means small river.
- Climate: semi-continental, very cold winter, hot summer.
- Aspect : facing South-East.
- Soil: limestone with clay.
- Grape Varieties: mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They develop there a wonderful taste due to the specific aspects of the different soils.
Grape varieties
Since 1927, only three grape varieties have been authorized:
Pinot Noir – Meunier – Chardonnay
These three varieties have their own characteristics which evolve and express themselves differently according to the different “terroir” (soil type, aspect and micro-climate): Power for Pinot Noir – Fruit for Meunier – Finesse for Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Mainly grown in Montagne de Reims and Côte des Bar. Full bodied aromas of red fruit. Grown on chalk soils.
Meunier
Mainly grown in Vallée de la Marne and the western part of Montagne de Reims, fruity aromas, resistant to frost and to humidity
1/3 of the grapes are white:
Chardonnay
Mainly grown in Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar. Finesse and elegance with white flower aromas with an occasional hint of minerality grown on chalk soils.
Some growers have recently introduced old grape variety as : Arbanne, Petit Melier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
The "Crus" system
Codified in 1911, the scale for classifying vineyards by villages (Crus) has undergone several slight alterations with 321 Crus making up the delimited region of Champagne on a qualitative scale. 17 Grands Crus – 42 Premiers Crus – 320 Crus
ART OF CHAMPAGNE
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