Champagne - From Vine To Wine

CHAMPAGNE FROM VINE TO WINE To be called Champagne, a wine must be made in the Champagne region of France using a strictly controlled method. Pinos noir Chardonnay Pinot meunier HARVESTING Champagne is made from a combination of three main grape varieties. These must be harvested by hand, picking machines are not allowed. PRESSING Whole bunches of grapes are pressed as soon as possible after picking. The juice from the first pressing is called the Cuvée and is reserved for top quality champagne. Juice from second and third pressings is called 1er Taille and 2ème Taille respectively, and is used in more affordable bottles. FERMENTATION Sugar and yeast are added to the separate grape juices. These mixtures are called the Tirages and are left to ferment in temperature controlled tanks at around 55-60 °F to create the base wines, or Vin Claires. BLENDING The separate Vin Claires are then mixed together to create the final blend. Each individual champagne uses a different combination of grape varieties and vintages. BOTTLING The Liqueur de Tirage, a blend of sugar, yeast and still champagne is added before it is placed into bottles and sealed with a crown cap. (Like a beer bottle cap) YYYY PRISE DE MOUSE The bottles are laid on their sides during the 2nd fermentation. This takes around three months at 50-55 °F. When this is finished, a sludge of dead yeast cells will have collected on the sides of the bottle. LEES AGING The build-up of dead yeast cells is called Lees. The wine is left to age on this for a minimum of 15 months. Top quality Champagne can be aged on Lees for more than 10 years. REMUAGE The bottles are placed in racks at 45° then slowly riddled. Every few days the bottles are given a small twist which moves the lees into the neck. DISGOREMENT The bottle is held upside down in a salty ice bath which freezes the dead yeast cells to form a solid plug. The cap is then removed and the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas forces out the plug leaving clear champagne behind. CORKING The Dosage, a blend of wine, sugar and brandy, is added to adjust the flavour before the bottle is corked. www.JuicyGrapeWines.co.uk BIG CRUSH JUICYGRAPE