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WSET Diploma D3 - Wines of the World > 6. The Loire Valley > Flashcards

6. The Loire Valley Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the four districts of the Loire Valley (east to west)?

A

1) Pays Nantais (lower)
2) Anjou-Saumur (middle)
3) Touraine (middle)
4) Central Vineyards (upper)

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2
Q

What is the largest district with land under vine?

A

Anjou-Saumur

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3
Q

What is the main variety of Pays Nantais?

A

Melon/Melon de Bourgogne/Muscadet

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4
Q

What is the climate of Pays Nantais? (2)

A

1) Cool maritime climate
2) Cool springs, warm and humid summers

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5
Q

In what months in Pays Nantais does rain fall, and why is this problematic? (2)

A

1) March/April - affects flowering
2) September - affects harvest

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6
Q

What is another key weather threat in Pays Nantais?

A

Frost

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7
Q

When does Melon bud & ripen?

A

Early

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8
Q

What two disease pressures is Melon vulnerable to and why?

A

1) Botrytis
2) Downy mildew
3) Humidity in the region

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9
Q

Since 2018 basic Muscadet may include 10% of what variety?

A

Chardonnay

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10
Q

Is chaptalisation permitted in Pays Nantais?

A

Yes up to 12% abv potential alcohol

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11
Q

What two vessel types is Muscadet typically fermented and matured in?

A

1) Large, shallow underground glass-lined concrete vats
2) Stainless steel

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12
Q

Is MLC common for Muscadet?

A

No

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13
Q

Sur lie has what two benefits for Muscadet?

A

1) Adds body
2) Retains freshness and CO2

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14
Q

What are the four Muscadet appellations?

A

1) Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
2) Muscadet AOC
3) Muscadet Coteaux de la
Loire AOC
4) Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC

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15
Q

What is the maximum yield for Muscadet AOC?

A

70 hL/ha

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16
Q

What is the maximum yield for all Muscadet appellations besides Muscadet AOC?

A

55 hL/ha

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17
Q

What are the two conditions of a wine labelled sur lie?

A

1) Must be bottled between 1 March and 30 November of the year following harvest
2) Bottled in the winery in which it was made

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18
Q

What is the maximum yield of the ten Muscadet cru communaux?

A

45 hL/ha

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19
Q

Why can the ten Muscadet cru communaux not be labelled sur lie?

A

The extended lees ageing means they’re bottled after the date required for sur lie

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20
Q

Name three cru communaux in Muscadet

A

1) Clisson
2) Gorges
3) Le Pallet

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21
Q

What are the three principal grape varieties of the middle Loire?

A

1) Chenin Blanc
2) Cabernet Franc
3) Sauvignon Blanc (mostly Touraine)

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22
Q

What is the climate of Touraine?

A

Continental (though not as extreme as in the Central Vineyards)

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23
Q

What is the climate of Anjou-Saumur?

A

Maritime with continental influence

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24
Q

What Anjou-Saumur river creates the misty conditions ideal for the spread of botrytis

A

River Layon

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25
Q

What are the soils of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine?

A

Clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel and tuff

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26
Q

Where is most schist and limestone found?

A

Anjou-Saumur

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27
Q

Name a rootstocks that is used in the Loire Valley and why?

A

1) Fercal and Riparia Gloire de Montpellier
2) Protect the vines from chlorosis (lime content of the soils)

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28
Q

Where is more chalk found?

A

Touraine

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29
Q

When does Chenin Blanc bud?

A

Early

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30
Q

When does Chenin Blanc ripen?

A

Late

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31
Q

Why is the amount of mechanical harvesting limited for Chenin Blanc?

A

It ripens unevenly, so may require multiple passes of hand-harvesting

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32
Q

Chenin Blanc is prone to what two disease pressures?

A

1) Botrytis
2) Powdery mildew

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33
Q

When does Cabernet Franc bud?

A

Early

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34
Q

When is Cabernet Franc prone to?

A

Coulure

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35
Q

What might Cabernet Franc be blended with in eastern Touraine?

A

Malbec/Cot

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36
Q

Besides Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, what three other varieties are grown in the middle Loire?

A

1) Grolleau Noir
2) Gamay
3) Cabernet Sauvignon

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37
Q

What are the three regional appellations in the middle Loire?

A

1) Anjou AOC
2) Saumur AOC
3) Touraine AOC

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38
Q

What two grapes are the wines of Anjou Villages AOC made from?

A

Entirely Cabernet Franc and
Cabernet Sauvignon, either singly or blended

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39
Q

What is Coteaux du Layon AOC?

A

An appellation for noble rot/late harvest Chenin Blanc

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40
Q

What two appellations with Coteaux de Layon have a reputation for high quality sweet wines?

A

1) Bonnezeaux AOC
2) Quarts de
Chaume AOC

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41
Q

Which appellation became the Loire Valley’s first Grand Cru in 2019?

A

Quarts de Chaume AOC

42
Q

What is the min and max yield range for Coteaux du Layon to Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru?

A

20-35 hL/ha

43
Q

What are the four appellations (excluding sub-regions) of Anjou?

A

1) Anjou AOC
2) Anjou Villages AOC
3) Savennieres AOC
4) Coteaux du Layon AOC

44
Q

What are the two smaller appellations with Savennieres AOC?

A

1) Savennières La Roche aux Moines AOC
2) Coulée de Serrant AOC

45
Q

Explain four reasons why Savennieres AOC achieves concentration and ripeness

A

1) South-facing slopes
2) Low-fertility
3) Rocky schist soils
4) Low yields

46
Q

What are the three rose appellations of Anjou-Saumur?

A

1) Rose de Loire AOC
2) Cabernet d’Anjou AOC
3) Rose d’Anjou AOC

47
Q

What is the main variety used for Rose d’Anjou AOC?

A

Grolleau Noir

48
Q

Rose de Loire AOC is commonly produced using which four grape varieties?

A

1) Cabernet Franc
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Gamay
4) Grolleau Noir

49
Q

What is the typical sweetness of Rose d’Loire?

A

Dry

50
Q

What is the typical sweetness of Rose d’Anjou & Cabernet d’Anjou?

A

Medium-dry

51
Q

What two varieties must be used for Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?

A

1) Cabernet Franc
2) Cabernet Sauvignon

52
Q

What are the three key appellations of Saumur?

A

1) Saumur AOC
2) Saumur-Champigny AOC
3) Coteaux de Saumur AOC

53
Q

What wine style is made in Coteaux de Saumur AOC?

A

Late harvest/botryitis sweet Chenin

54
Q

Saumur-Champigny must be what per cent of what variety?

A

1) Cabernet Franc
2) 85%

55
Q

What are the six key appellations of Touraine?

A

1) Touraine AOC
2) Vouvray AOC
3) Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
4) Bourgeuil AOC
5) Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
6) Chinon AOC

56
Q

What are the three principal varieties of Saumur AOC?

A

1) Chenin Blanc
2) Cabernet Franc
3) Cabernet Sauvignon

57
Q

Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC is 100% what variety?

A

Chenin Blanc

58
Q

What are the three principal varieties of Touraine AOC?

A

1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Cabernet Franc
3) Cot

59
Q

Touraine AOC rose may be made from a wide range of varieties including which five?

A

1) Cabernet Franc
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cot
4) Gamay
5) Grolleau

60
Q

What is Touraine AOC Amboise?

A

One of six villages within Touraine AOC that allow differences between the varieties used.

In this case, Chenin Blanc is the variety used

61
Q

Vouvray AOC must be what minimum per cent of what variety?

A

1) Chenin Blanc
2) 95%

62
Q

Describe the soils of Vouvray AOC

A

Flinty, clay and limestone over a tuff, enabling good
drainage

63
Q

Vouvray AOC can only make sweet wines in certain vintages, unlike Anjou where sweet wines can be made in almost every
vintage. Why? (2)

A

1) It has less Atlantic influence
2) Away from the Loire the percentage of clay increases making the soils colder, inhibiting ripening

64
Q

Where is more wine made between Anjou-Saumur and Touraine? What is its primary style?

A

1) Anjou-Saumur
2) Rose

65
Q

Compared with Bourgeuil AOC, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC’s wines are what?

A

Lighter

66
Q

What are the soil types of Bourgeuil AOC, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC’s and Chinon AOC?

A

Sand, gravel and clay-limestone

67
Q

What is the climate of the Central Vineyards?

A

Continental

68
Q

What are two growing season threats in the Central Vineyards?

A

1) Spring frosts
2) Summer hailstorms

69
Q

What two weather conditions account for the restraint of the wines from the Central Vineyards?

A

1) Long growing-season day lengths
2) Low light intensity and low heat

70
Q

What climatic condition is unusual for a the Central Vineyards considering it’s a continental climate?

A

High annual rainfall (750mm)

71
Q

What are the two principal varieties of the Central Vineyards?

A

1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Pinot Noir

72
Q

When does Sauvignon Blanc bud?

A

Late

73
Q

When does Sauvignon Blanc ripen?

A

Early

74
Q

What four disease pressures is Sauvignon Blanc prone to?

A

1) Powdery mildew
2) Botrytis bunch rot
3) Esca
4) Eutypa dieback.

75
Q

Sauvignon Blanc grown in shadier conditions will result in what flavour characteristics?

A

Green pepper and grassy notes

76
Q

What are the five main appellations of the Central Vineyards?

A

1) Sancerre
2) Pouilly-Fume
3) Menetou-Salon
4) Quincy
5) Reuilly

77
Q

What are the three soil types of Sancerre?

A

1) Silex
2) Caillottes
3) Terre Blanches

78
Q

What is the largest appellation of the Central Vineyards?

A

Sancerre

79
Q

Are Sancerre’s Sauvignon Blanc fermentation temperatures lower or higher than Marlborough’s? Why?

A

1) Lower
2) More restrained fruit expression

80
Q

At what elevation are vineyards in Sancerre planted?

A

200-400m

81
Q

Describe Caillottes

A

Very shallow soils (25–40 mm) over limestone

82
Q

Describe the fruit grown on Caillottes

A

Said to produce the most aromatic wines that are first to be ready to drink and to have less potential for ageing in the bottle

83
Q

Describe Terre Blanches

A

The same limestone and marl that is to be found in Chablis

84
Q

Name one of two famous vineyards planted on Terre Blanches

A

Côte des Monts Damnés

85
Q

Describe the fruit grown on Terre Blanches

A

Said to produce the most structured wines that need long maturation before they are ready to drink and age well

86
Q

Describe Silex

A

Flinty soils that accumulates heat and leads to early ripening

87
Q

Describe the fruit grown on Silex

A

Said to produce wines with stony or smoky aromas

88
Q

Why are the appellations of the Central Vineyards other than Sancerre more prone to frost?

A

They are on flatter land

89
Q

Compare Pouilly-Fume to Sancerre in terms of the wine’s major differences

A

Pouilly-Fume tends to be a little rounder and less aromatic than Sancerre and often needs a little more time

90
Q

The white wines of Reuilly must be what variety?

A

Sauvignon Blanc only

91
Q

The red wines of Reuilly must be what variety?

A

Pinot Noir only

92
Q

The rose wines of Reuilly must be what varieties?

A

Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris

93
Q

What are the wines of Quincy AOC?

A

White wines only from Sauvignon Blanc (minimum 90 per cent) and Sauvignon Gris

94
Q

What three reasons contribute to the vines of Menetou-Salon more vulnerable to frost than neighbouring Sancerre?

A

1) Flatter south-facing slopes
2) Further from the moderating influence of the Loire
3) Less protection from nearby forests

95
Q

What is the sales split between negociants, estates and co-operatives?

A

50% negociants
41% estates
9% co-operatives

96
Q

The lines between negociant and estate has become blurred in recent years. How?

A

Many negociants have opted to vinfy their wines themselves rather than relying mainly on buying finished wine.

97
Q

An increasing number of family estates has a negociant side to their business. Why?

A

Frost and hail have reduced crop levels so buying grapes, juice or wine can be a way of keeping their clients and avoiding financial problems

98
Q

Exports account for 20% of Loire Valley wine sales. What are the top three?

A

1) US
2) UK
3) Germany

99
Q

What is the leading appellation of the Loire Valley for export sales by value and volume?

A

Sancerre

100
Q

Who founded the Renaisssances des appellations/Return to Terroir, a worldwide group of biodynamic producers with more producers in the Loire than anywhere else?

A

Nicolas Joly

WSET Diploma D3 - Wines of the World (42 decks)

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