CHAMPAGNE

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Mass selection and
clonal selection
Protection of a young rooted vine
Mass selection
and clonal
selection
These two methods provide Champagne winegrowers
with the best available vines in terms
of superior fruit (mass-selected vines) and
disease-resistance (clonally selected vines).
Ever since the phylloxera epidemic (late 19 th to early 20 th Century), vine stocks
have been obtained from grafting together French and American vines. Vine
selection depends on the terroir in question, but the favourite planting in
Champagne today is the 41B (81% of plantings). Highly adaptable, the 41B
will grow just about anywhere and particularly favours clayey soils. The
SO4 prefers moderately limestone soils while the 3309C does best in soils
containing very little limestone.
Decades of research into vine selection
give today’s Champagne winegrowers
the choice of some 50 or so clones
of the three approved AOC varietals.
Pre-multiplication is carried out by the
Comité interprofessionnel du vin de
Champagne (CIVC), the industry trade
association also responsible for the
distribution of approved scions.
Omega-shaped grafting