When did Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay become the main plantings in Champagne?

• A. Post WWI and the war on phylloxera
• B. 18th century expansion
• C. After World War II
• D. Renaissance era

Answer: (A)

These three varieties became the backbone of Champagne after the phylloxera crisis and the move to grafted rootstocks. When phylloxera devastated vineyards in the late 19th century, growers replanted on resistant rootstocks and standardized on Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay for their compatibility with Champagne’s style—high acidity, good aging potential, and workability in blending. By the early 20th century, and especially after World War I, these grapes had become the dominant plantings. So the shift is tied to rebuilding after phylloxera, not to earlier centuries or to post‑war periods unrelated to that crisis.