Wine Region- Champagne

Throughout the world and history there are hundreds of different wine regions around the world. In the old world, there are even multiple wine regions within each country of Europe. France alone has approximately 14 major wine regions. Within these major regions, the region Champagne has become an extremely well known wine region, even for the non wine drinkers. 

Located in the north eastern part of France, the Champagne region covers a pretty large area of land. The location can be seen in the map of France below, as well as a more zoomed out map of Europe.

It is obvious that the Champagne region is very large, and therefore is broken down in several sub-regions. These four major sub-regions consist of The Mountain of Reims, The Marne Valley, The Cote des Blancs, and The Cotes des Bars and Montgueux.  These regions can be seen in this zoomed in map of just the Champagne region itself below.  Geographically, Champagne is actually relatively pretty close to the city of Paris; just 90 minutes northeast of the city. 

Historically, Champagne has been an official wine region since 1927, when the first appellation of Champagne was created. However, this region has a history of growing wine since the third century A.D.  This region has been comprised of approximately 43,680 acres of vineyards.  Today , there are over 20,000 growers throughout the region. Champagne in the United States has become the famous sparkling wine that everyone makes a toast to and drinks on New Year’s Eve. However, the bubbles and sparkling aspect of the wine was not originally intentional. It was only discovered when the popping of the bottle opening occurred, and a process of making Champagne because intentional to create the bubbles. Today, the correct amount of CO2, fruit, and acidity are what makes Champagne a good Champagne.

Champagne historically became an official region in 1927 when the Champagne Appellation of Controlled Origin (AOC) came about. This government-sponsored control agency protects the reputation of Champagne only allowing wines that come from the specified region, maintaining the high standard of quality and fermentation process, to be called Champagne. This basically protects the historical name of Champagne, and keeps anyone from outside the region to replicate it. In addition, the Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) helps regulate the production of Champagne as well as distribution, promotion, and research of Champange. Below are two pictures of different Champagne labels, that must meet all of these government agency requirements in order for Champagne to be used on the label.

There are three main grape varieties that contribute to Champagne. These include Pinot Nior, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. With these wine varieties, there are three major different types of Champagne as well. The first is non vintage/multiple vintage Champagne wine that consists of a blend of two or more harvests. Second is a Vintage Champagne that comes solely from a single vintage. Lastly is  “Prestige” cuvee, which consists of only one vintage, however it has longer aging requirements.  This type usually is more highly rated out of all three Champagne types. This is because “Prestige” cuvee Champagnes are made from the best and first pressing of the grapes, aged longer in the bottle, and made solely from vintage years. Lastly there is not as much of this type of wine produce, therefore it creates a higher demand for this wine.

Lastly, in order to even be able to create these different types of Champagne, there is a reason of wine Champagne is the way it is and that the region is located where it is as well. Climate and soil play a huge role in the creation of Champagne. First of all, the Champagne region is relatively north from the equator compared to other wine regions throughout the world. Because of the slightly northern climate, the grapes picked for Champagne usually have a higher acidity than other grapes. The soil here is known to be chalky. This soil mixed with a climate of random sunshine, harsh climate, and shorter growing season, is what makes Champagne the way it is. The four different sub regions mentioned early also all bring slightly different soil characteristics and climate to the Champagne region as well. This is slightly because of the Marne River that runs through the middle of the region. Below are examples of two different pictures of vineyards throughout the Champagne region. 

Lastly Champagne has very unique characteristics that make the wine from this region stand out compared to the others. For example, probably the most obvious is that it is a sparkling wine that requires a specific bottle cork.  It is famous for popping the cork and letting the bubbles explode out of the bottle. However there are methods of opening the bottle in order to avoid this. Champagne also has a specific type of glass wear including the flute and the tulip shaped glass, in order to keep the bubbles in the glass longer.

WORKS CITED

"Champagne Map Wine Region." Champagne Map Wine Region. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.             <http://www.terroir-france.com/wine/champagne_map.htm>.

"Champagne Region « Wine Origins." Champagne Region « Wine Origins. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.wineorigins.com/?page_id=44>.

 

Zraly, Kevin. Kevin Zraly's Windows on the World Complete Wine Course. New York: Sterling, 2012. Print.