Champagne

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/champagne

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the production technique?Requires secondary fermentation in the bottle (méthode traditionnelle) to create carbonation
2. What is the cultural significance?Globally recognized as a symbol of celebration, luxury, and achievement
3. What makes Champagne a special bubbly drink?Champagne is made only in a special region of France and follows strict rules called the AOC. The grapes come from that area and the wine is made with a special second fermentation in the bottle, which creates the fine bubbles.
4. How do the bubbles in Champagne form?After the first fermentation, a mixture called liqueur de tirage is added to each bottle. The bottle is sealed and a second fermentation happens, producing carbon dioxide that dissolves into the wine and creates the bubbles.

Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC): A French system of designating and protecting the origin and quality of wine and other food products.
Méthode Traditionnelle: The traditional method of producing sparkling wine involving secondary fermentation in the bottle.
Terroir: The unique environmental factors of a specific region, including soil, climate, and topography, that influence a wine's character.
Lees: The sediment of dead yeast cells left at the bottom of a wine vessel after fermentation, contributing flavor and texture.