What is Méthode Champenoise? Champagne production method explained
August 26, 2011
What makes those tiny bubbles?
The oldest and most traditional way to make sparkling wine was supposedly developed by Dom (Pierre) Perignon, a Benedictine Monk in the Champagne district of France, born in1638, and is known as Méthode Champenoise.
The Méthode Champenoise process starts by making wines. Usually white wines. Wines, plural. A blend of a number of wines is used to achieve consistency year after year. The wines are assembled into a “cuvée”, which just means a blend of wines. Blending is considered by most experienced winemakers to be the key to the art of méthode champenoise. The selection of the cuvée component wines is conducted with the intention of producing a definite consistent flavor and quality. Blending is a synergistic process; the result being greater than the sum of the parts. A winemaker wishing to assemble an exceptional cuveée must choose wines that are mature, yet still have the better part of their taste profile yet to come. This requires considerale insight. It is difficult to predict the results of blends that may be consumed years later.
Producing the tiny, delicate bubbles is the next order of business, and they are produced by a natural process in the best Champagnes. The “liquer de tirage”(yeast and sugar) is added to the cuvée, bottled, stoppered, and laid up “en tirage” to referment and trap the carbon dioxide gas produced by the yeast as it consumes its food– the sugars.
The wine is then fermented en tirage until the yeast has consumed all of the sugar and produced the coveted natural tiny CO2 bubbles. At the end of this fermentation in the bottle, the now carbonated wine will clear and leave a deposit of yeast. It is now ready for “riddling”.
The A-framed racks are called “riddling racks.” While the bottles are held hostage in the riddling racks, the process known as “remuage,” the slow and laborious process of dropping the yeast deposit into the neck of the bottle, is performed over several weeks to several months.
Finally, when all the yeast has dropped into the cap of the bottle, the bottles are “disgorged”. This is the skillful process of turning the bottle upright while removing the cap in one motion and letting the yeast sediment fly out of the bottle while retaining the sparkling wine. At most establishments, as is commonly known, the bottles are set in a freezing brine solution to freeze the yeast sediment and form a “plug” that is then ejected. At Chateau Renaissance we disgorge “on the fly,” by chilling the bottle but not freezing it.
Now that the Champagne is yeast-free, a little sugar can be added to offset the dryness of the disgorged Champagne. The amount of “dosage” determines the sweetness, or the lack of it preserves the natural dryness of the Champagne. Most Champagnes tend to be quite acidic, but even though our NATUREL is bone dry, i.e. no dosage is added, it has a mild, creamy mouthfeel as we keep the acidity lower. Our dry BRUT is very slightly sweetened, but is still drier than a so-called “Extra Dry,” which is really not at all dry. DEMI-SEC is slightly sweet, and our DOUX is medium sweet and luscious.
Patrice and the dosage machine steppin’ out
Corking Machine The clear Champagne must now be corked to preserve its “condition,” i.e. its CO2 content. Our corking machine is an antique, and can be seen being used in the DeMay Champagne caves of Vouvray, France, on the History page.
The last step is to squash the cork into its classic mushroom shape, thus creating an extreme seal, and at the same time tie the wire cage in place to prevent any possible premature decorking from the high pressure contained in the bottle if the bottle gets too warm.
SOURCE: http://www.winesparkle.com/what.html
Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.
Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.
This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
(045) 841 4006 / 0922-870-5173 / 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
www.YatsRestaurant.com
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion
www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
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