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Champagne & French Sparkling Wine

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October 9, 2017 By admin

Champagne has been a celebratory beverage throughout human history. From ancient times through the Middles Ages, from the royalty of the French and British courts to the everyday celebrations of today, from humble down-to-earth beginnings to zero-gravity champagne enjoyed by astronauts in space. 


Credit: Mumm Champagne

There is a certain mystique and romance about champagne: the ceremonial opening of the bottle, the pop of the cork, those tiny bubbles and frothy foam, the pour into special flutes, the perlage of effervescence ascending in the glass, the toast to a special occasion. No other beverage is like it.

In this course, you will take a deep dive into the beverage of kings and queens and learn all there is to know about champagne and other French sparkling wines. This course covers these lessons:

    • History of Champagne
    • Champagne region location and climate
    • Soils of Champagne
    • Grapes allowed in champagne
    • Wine laws and rules of Champagne
    • Champagne subregions
    • Making champagne
    • Glossary

NOTE: Throughout the course we will differentiate between Champagne the region and champagne the beverage. The region is referred to with first letter capitalized; the beverage is lowercase.

This online course is currently only meant to complement the live course being next taught at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. You can register here for the live course, and the online course is complimentary.

Champagne and French Sparkling Wine – (CAHM140)
Jan 31, 2019 – May 23, 2019
Thursdays 6-9pm

Each week, you will learn from wine experts through lecture and tasting a flight of wines associated with this region in a group setting.

Course Content

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Lessons Status
1

Introduction to Champagne and French Sparkling Wine
  • What is Champagne, What is Sparkling Wine, What is the Difference Between Them
  • How Champagne Is Made
  • When to Drink Champagne
  • Proper Method of Opening Champagne

2

Champagne History
  • Early History
  • Early Champagne
  • 1700s and 1800s
  • First Champagne Houses
  • La Belle Epoque: The Golden Age of Champagne (1890 – 1914)
  • World War I (1914 – 1918)
  • Prohibition & Champagne
  • World War II (1939 – 1945)
  • Important People Involved

3

Champagne Location & Climate
  • Climate of Champagne Region

4

Soils of Champagne
  • Chalk
  • Kimmeridgean Marl
  • Sand and Clay
  • Limestone-Rich Marl

5

Grapes
  • Traditional (9th C to 16th C)
  • Modern (16th C to Today)

6

Wine Laws & Rules
  • How to Read a Champagne Label
  • Champagne AOPs
  • Ranking Champagne
  • Different Types of Producers in Champagne
  • Sweetness Levels
  • Champagne Styles
  • Bottle Sizes
  • Crémant AOPs
  • Crémant Laws

7

Subregions of Champagne
  • Reds
  • Whites

8

Making Champagne
  • Méthode Traditionelle, Made in this Bottle
  • Other Methods of Production

9

Glossary

Primary Sidebar

Introduction to Champagne and French Sparkling Wine
  • What is Champagne, What is Sparkling Wine, What is the Difference Between Them
  • How Champagne Is Made
  • When to Drink Champagne
  • Proper Method of Opening Champagne
Champagne History
  • Early History
  • Early Champagne
  • 1700s and 1800s
  • First Champagne Houses
  • La Belle Epoque: The Golden Age of Champagne (1890 – 1914)
  • World War I (1914 – 1918)
  • Prohibition & Champagne
  • World War II (1939 – 1945)
  • Important People Involved
Champagne Location & Climate
  • Climate of Champagne Region
Soils of Champagne
  • Chalk
  • Kimmeridgean Marl
  • Sand and Clay
  • Limestone-Rich Marl
Grapes
  • Traditional (9th C to 16th C)
  • Modern (16th C to Today)
Wine Laws & Rules
  • How to Read a Champagne Label
  • Champagne AOPs
  • Ranking Champagne
  • Different Types of Producers in Champagne
  • Sweetness Levels
  • Champagne Styles
  • Bottle Sizes
  • Crémant AOPs
  • Crémant Laws
Subregions of Champagne
  • Reds
  • Whites
Making Champagne
  • Méthode Traditionelle, Made in this Bottle
  • Other Methods of Production
Glossary
  • "The wine program at Cabrillo College was a great launching point for me as I entered the wine industry. The in-depth courses gave me a very solid foundation. Certain classes really ignited a passion for discussing wine academically and cultivated the skillset to taste and discuss wine systematically. I pursued various professionally recognized certifications including the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust Level 3, Italian Wine Scholar, and Certified Wine Specialist. I have since trained restaurant staff, hosted private wine tastings, poured at special events, and most recently created a wine education company. I am confident anyone interested in a very thorough education in international wines would benefit from the program offered at Cabrillo College." Chaney Janssen, IWS, CWS, WSET 3 Founder, Destined For Grapeness
    Chaney Janssen
  • "The Cabrillo College Wine Program has given me the tools that I needed to be successful in the wine industry. After my second wine class, I became a tasting room host for Wrights Station Winery up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and eventually, I became the lead host for Scheid Vineyards Tasting Room (Carmel By The Sea). I've earned a Certificate in Wine Studies which has helped me achieve my current position as district manager for Republic National Distributing Company where I lead a team in charge of wine and spirit sales for chain stores." Fanny González District Manager, Republic National Distributing Company
    Fanny Gonzalez

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