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When the passion for champagne meets the art of the table
When the passion for champagne meets the art of the table
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On parle souvent de l’expérience du champagne comme d’un art à part entière. Mais ce qui frappe vraiment, c’est ce...

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4 essential types of champagne for your aperitif toasts
4 essential types of champagne for your aperitif toasts
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Rien n’évoque la fête et l’élégance comme un bon toast accompagné de bulles raffinées. Savourer du champagne autour...

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How can you tell a good Champagne from a bad one?
How can you tell a good Champagne from a bad one?
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Champagne is much more than just a sparkling wine; it's a symbol of celebration, elegance and French savoir-faire....

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Multi-temperature wine cellar: each wine at its ideal temperature
Multi-temperature wine cellar: each wine at its ideal temperature
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Choisir le bon vin, c'est bien. Le conserver et le servir dans des conditions optimales, c'est mieux. Que vous soyez...

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Which software should you choose to manage your wine cellar?
Which software should you choose to manage your wine cellar?
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Dans un restaurant ou un hôtel, la cave à vin ne se résume pas à un simple espace de stockage. Elle représente un...

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Massal and clonal selections in Champagne

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Champagne viticulture is a matter of precision and passion, where every detail counts. Two particular techniques play a crucial role in the production of these world-renowned sparkling wines: massal selection and clonal selection.

La Sélection Massale

Massal selection is a traditional technique that consists of identifying the vines bearing the best fruit. These plants are then used for propagation, ensuring that desirable characteristics are retained in future generations of vines. This method preserves genetic diversity within the vineyard, which is essential for wine resilience and complexity. In Champagne, this technique has enabled winemakers to produce wines with a variety of flavors and aromas that reflect the region's unique terroir.

Clonal Selection

Clonal selection, on the other hand, involves reproducing vine plants from a single individual, or clone. This technique ensures optimum sanitary quality and uniformity in the vineyard.

In Champagne, around 50 clones of the three Champagne grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay) have been approved after several decades of selection work. These clones are pre-multiplied by the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), which also distributes certified grafts.

Impact on Wine

These two selection techniques have a direct impact on the quality of Champagne wine. Massal selection contributes to the complexity and diversity of flavors, while clonal selection ensures consistent quality.

Ultimately, massal and clonal selection in Champagne is a perfect example of how science and tradition can work together to create something truly exceptional.