6. Loire Valley Flashcards
How many sparkling wine appellations are there in Loire Valley and what are the most important? What is the relative size of the market compared to still wines?
- 7 appellations
- Cremant de Loire, sparkling Vouvray, sparkling Saumur
- Production of Cremant de Loire equal to sparkling Vouvray and sparkling Saumur combined
- Total sparkling wines 13% of all Loire wines
- Production centered in Saumur for Cremant de Loire and sparkling Saumur.
What is the connection between Champagne and sparkling wines in the Loire?
Major sparkling wine companies in the Loire are owned by Champagne houses. Bouvet-Ladubay was owned by Taittinger for more than 40 years. Gratien & Meyer is owned by Champagne Alfred Gratien. Langlois-Chateau owned by Bollinger.
What region were the first sparkling wine cellars located and why?
Saumur, due to availability of caves suitable for ageing wine.
What is the aroma and flavor profile of Cremant de Loire?
- Chenin blanc dominant
- 90% white
- Medium intensity apple and citrus with light toasty autolytic notes
- Can develop honeyed aromas with 2-3 years of age
- High acidity
- Most Brut, but demi-sec also made
- Brut Nature increasingly popular
- Mainly mid-priced; some premium
Where is the fruit for Cremant de Loire grown?
The middle Loire districts of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine only. 200km stretch of river Loire and tributaries - helps moderate temp. Zone south and southwest of Saumur is source of most of the fruit.
What is the primary climatic influence in Loire? What are the primary vineyard threats?
Atlantic Ocean - extends cool, mild influence to just east of Tours in center of Touraine. Covers most of the Cremant de Loire appellation.
Cool climate helps to produce grapes with low potential alcohol and high acidity - perfect for base wines.
Fungal diseases and untimely rain (during flowering, fruit set and harvest) can be a problem.
Discuss the soil types in Loire
- Wide range, including clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel and tuff.
- More schist and limestone in Anjou and more chalk in Touraine.
- Key properties - good drainage and water retention characteristics of limestone elements
- Caves ideal maturation chambers for lees-ageing - little temperature/humidity fluctuation.
- High lime content in soils - rootstocks with high tolerance of lime used to protect from chlorosis.
- Best exposed sites reserved for still wines. Sites for sparkling wines less exposed w/ higher % of clay (but not excessive)
What grape varieties are used in Cremant de Loire? What common local variety is NOT used and why?
Used: CCCCGGPP 1. Chenin Blanc - major part of most wines 2. Cabernet Franc 3. Cabernet Sauvignon 4. Grolleau Noir 5. Grolleau Gris 6. Pineau d'Aunis 7. Pinot Noir 8. Chardonnay Not used: Sauvignon Blanc - aromatic profile not well suited to traditional method
Discuss winemaking techniques of CDL
- Pneumatic press most common - low phenolics
- Fermented in stainless steel - oak not desired
- Some top cuvees fermented in oak
- Practices vary regarding malolactic conversion
- Wines from different areas may be blended before 2nd fermentation to maintain consistency
- Time on lees varies from 9 mos min to up to 2 years.
- Use of reserve wines not typical for mid-priced but more common for premium wines.
What is Prestige de Loire, and what are the requirements?
- New top tier sparkling launched in 2018 (but wines date back to 2010)
- Aim to establish min 10 euro price.
- Applies across Cremant de Loire, Anjou, Saumur and Vouvray appellations
- White wines only
- Made from Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, singly or blended
- Min 24 months on lees
- Must be vintage-dated
- Must be Brut style (including Brut Nature & Extra Brut)
- Producers must achieve set of environmental standards aiming at sustainable viticulture within 5 years.
Discuss the breakdown of producer types for CDL and the domestic/export market
- 19 merchant houses, 10 coops, 400 producers
- 9 large houses account for 80% production
- Larger houses use their own fruit and buy from growers.
- Buy grapes over must to confirm grape quality
- 50% domestic, 50% export
- Main export - Germany, USA, UK
What are requirements for Saumur Mousseux?
- Minimum 60% Chenin Blanc
- Max 10% Sauvignon Blanc
- Rose’ min 60% Cabernet Franc (and max 10% Sauvignon Blanc)
- Mechanical harvesting allowed
- More juice can be extracted than for Cremant
What are the only varieties permitted for Vouvray Mousseux?
- Chenin Blanc - must be majority in blend (can be 100%)
2. Arbois (alternate spelling Orbois)
What is a common practice in the production of sparkling wine in both Saumur and Vouvray?
It is common for producers who focus mainly on still wines to turn over secondary fermentation to a specialist. Many producers don’t have equipment or expertise. Base wine transported to specialist in bulk, who handles bottling, secondary fermentation, lees aging and disgorgement. Returned to producer for labeling and distribution.
Why is making sparkling wine an attractive option for growers in Saumur and Vouvray?
Less risk
- Grapes can be picked early at lower ripeness (avoids possibility of late season rain or botrytis)
- Permitted yields higher than AOC still wine
