Hereby marketh the fourth installment of the Weekly Wine Quiz! Based on feedback from ever-so-vocal-and-intelligent YOU, I will not be supplying the answer directly in the post – you will need to tune back in later in the comments section for the answer. So you can put your answer in the comments for potential bragging rights later (not that you’d gloat… too much…).
I’m en route to the Loire wine region this week, for the Salon des Vins de Loire (more on that next week), so the answer may not be quick in forthcoming (depending on how my access to the Global Interwebs fares during those travels); your patience is most appreciated!
Champagne: Room To Grow?
Finishing up our Champagne theme that kicked off the Weekly Wine Quiz, here’s one last question that has to do with the region, and the real backbone of its production!
The Champagne region is home to many storied brands with unique histories, including some that have become household names. You probably know many of the famous few brand names, but do you know how many grape growers actually own the vast majority of Champagne vineyards?
- A. 19,000
- B. 12,000
- C. 5,500
- D. 1,700
Cheers – and good luck!
Indeed, 19.000 grape growers in the Champagne region. Many of them are small grape growers.
Cheers!
@esterbachs
Thanks, esterbachs!
Too slow once again…
masi3v – Well, there's no prize for being 1st to respond, apart from potential bragging rights if you're answer is correct :).
19,000
Thanks, Gilbert.
Alright you smarty-pantses, the answer is…
A. 19,000
According to the Center for Wine Origins, while the ten largest Champagne houses account for over half of the region's sales, they don't own the majority of the vineyards. About 19,000 small grape growers account for 90% of the ownership of vineyards in the Champagne region, one of the reasons why cooperatives, merchant houses and negociants play such major roles in getting those grapes into their final bottles.