6. The Loire Valley Flashcards
What are the four districts of the Loire Valley (east to west)?
1) Pays Nantais (lower)
2) Anjou-Saumur (middle)
3) Touraine (middle)
4) Central Vineyards (upper)
What is the largest district with land under vine?
Anjou-Saumur
What is the main variety of Pays Nantais?
Melon/Melon de Bourgogne/Muscadet
What is the climate of Pays Nantais? (2)
1) Cool maritime climate
2) Cool springs, warm and humid summers
In what months in Pays Nantais does rain fall, and why is this problematic? (2)
1) March/April - affects flowering
2) September - affects harvest
What is another key weather threat in Pays Nantais?
Frost
When does Melon bud & ripen?
Early
What two disease pressures is Melon vulnerable to and why?
1) Botrytis
2) Downy mildew
3) Humidity in the region
Since 2018 basic Muscadet may include 10% of what variety?
Chardonnay
Is chaptalisation permitted in Pays Nantais?
Yes up to 12% abv potential alcohol
What two vessel types is Muscadet typically fermented and matured in?
1) Large, shallow underground glass-lined concrete vats
2) Stainless steel
Is MLC common for Muscadet?
No
Sur lie has what two benefits for Muscadet?
1) Adds body
2) Retains freshness and CO2
What are the four Muscadet appellations?
1) Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
2) Muscadet AOC
3) Muscadet Coteaux de la
Loire AOC
4) Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC
What is the maximum yield for Muscadet AOC?
70 hL/ha
What is the maximum yield for all Muscadet appellations besides Muscadet AOC?
55 hL/ha
What are the two conditions of a wine labelled sur lie?
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
What is the maximum yield of the ten Muscadet cru communaux?
45 hL/ha
Why can the ten Muscadet cru communaux not be labelled sur lie?
The extended lees ageing means they’re bottled after the date required for sur lie
Name three cru communaux in Muscadet
1) Clisson
2) Gorges
3) Le Pallet
What are the three principal grape varieties of the middle Loire?
1) Chenin Blanc
2) Cabernet Franc
3) Sauvignon Blanc (mostly Touraine)
What is the climate of Touraine?
Continental (though not as extreme as in the Central Vineyards)
What is the climate of Anjou-Saumur?
Maritime with continental influence
What Anjou-Saumur river creates the misty conditions ideal for the spread of botrytis
River Layon
What are the soils of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine?
Clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel and tuff
Where is most schist and limestone found?
Anjou-Saumur
Name a rootstocks that is used in the Loire Valley and why?
1) Fercal and Riparia Gloire de Montpellier
2) Protect the vines from chlorosis (lime content of the soils)
Where is more chalk found?
Touraine
When does Chenin Blanc bud?
Early
When does Chenin Blanc ripen?
Late
Why is the amount of mechanical harvesting limited for Chenin Blanc?
It ripens unevenly, so may require multiple passes of hand-harvesting
Chenin Blanc is prone to what two disease pressures?
1) Botrytis
2) Powdery mildew
When does Cabernet Franc bud?
Early
When is Cabernet Franc prone to?
Coulure
What might Cabernet Franc be blended with in eastern Touraine?
Malbec/Cot
Besides Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, what three other varieties are grown in the middle Loire?
1) Grolleau Noir
2) Gamay
3) Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the three regional appellations in the middle Loire?
1) Anjou AOC
2) Saumur AOC
3) Touraine AOC
What two grapes are the wines of Anjou Villages AOC made from?
Entirely Cabernet Franc and
Cabernet Sauvignon, either singly or blended
What is Coteaux du Layon AOC?
An appellation for noble rot/late harvest Chenin Blanc
What two appellations with Coteaux de Layon have a reputation for high quality sweet wines?
1) Bonnezeaux AOC
2) Quarts de
Chaume AOC
Which appellation became the Loire Valley’s first Grand Cru in 2019?
Quarts de Chaume AOC
What is the min and max yield range for Coteaux du Layon to Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru?
20-35 hL/ha
What are the four appellations (excluding sub-regions) of Anjou?
1) Anjou AOC
2) Anjou Villages AOC
3) Savennieres AOC
4) Coteaux du Layon AOC
What are the two smaller appellations with Savennieres AOC?
1) Savennières La Roche aux Moines AOC
2) Coulée de Serrant AOC
Explain four reasons why Savennieres AOC achieves concentration and ripeness
1) South-facing slopes
2) Low-fertility
3) Rocky schist soils
4) Low yields
What are the three rose appellations of Anjou-Saumur?
1) Rose de Loire AOC
2) Cabernet d’Anjou AOC
3) Rose d’Anjou AOC
What is the main variety used for Rose d’Anjou AOC?
Grolleau Noir
Rose de Loire AOC is commonly produced using which four grape varieties?
1) Cabernet Franc
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Gamay
4) Grolleau Noir
What is the typical sweetness of Rose d’Loire?
Dry
What is the typical sweetness of Rose d’Anjou & Cabernet d’Anjou?
Medium-dry
What two varieties must be used for Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?
1) Cabernet Franc
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the three key appellations of Saumur?
1) Saumur AOC
2) Saumur-Champigny AOC
3) Coteaux de Saumur AOC
What wine style is made in Coteaux de Saumur AOC?
Late harvest/botryitis sweet Chenin
Saumur-Champigny must be what per cent of what variety?
1) Cabernet Franc
2) 85%
What are the six key appellations of Touraine?
1) Touraine AOC
2) Vouvray AOC
3) Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
4) Bourgeuil AOC
5) Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
6) Chinon AOC
What are the three principal varieties of Saumur AOC?
1) Chenin Blanc
2) Cabernet Franc
3) Cabernet Sauvignon
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC is 100% what variety?
Chenin Blanc
What are the three principal varieties of Touraine AOC?
1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Cabernet Franc
3) Cot
Touraine AOC rose may be made from a wide range of varieties including which five?
1) Cabernet Franc
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cot
4) Gamay
5) Grolleau
What is Touraine AOC Amboise?
One of six villages within Touraine AOC that allow differences between the varieties used.
In this case, Chenin Blanc is the variety used
Vouvray AOC must be what minimum per cent of what variety?
1) Chenin Blanc
2) 95%
Describe the soils of Vouvray AOC
Flinty, clay and limestone over a tuff, enabling good
drainage
Vouvray AOC can only make sweet wines in certain vintages, unlike Anjou where sweet wines can be made in almost every
vintage. Why? (2)
1) It has less Atlantic influence
2) Away from the Loire the percentage of clay increases making the soils colder, inhibiting ripening
Where is more wine made between Anjou-Saumur and Touraine? What is its primary style?
1) Anjou-Saumur
2) Rose
Compared with Bourgeuil AOC, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC’s wines are what?
Lighter
What are the soil types of Bourgeuil AOC, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC’s and Chinon AOC?
Sand, gravel and clay-limestone
What is the climate of the Central Vineyards?
Continental
What are two growing season threats in the Central Vineyards?
1) Spring frosts
2) Summer hailstorms
What two weather conditions account for the restraint of the wines from the Central Vineyards?
1) Long growing-season day lengths
2) Low light intensity and low heat
What climatic condition is unusual for a the Central Vineyards considering it’s a continental climate?
High annual rainfall (750mm)
What are the two principal varieties of the Central Vineyards?
1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Pinot Noir
When does Sauvignon Blanc bud?
Late
When does Sauvignon Blanc ripen?
Early
What four disease pressures is Sauvignon Blanc prone to?
1) Powdery mildew
2) Botrytis bunch rot
3) Esca
4) Eutypa dieback.
Sauvignon Blanc grown in shadier conditions will result in what flavour characteristics?
Green pepper and grassy notes
What are the five main appellations of the Central Vineyards?
1) Sancerre
2) Pouilly-Fume
3) Menetou-Salon
4) Quincy
5) Reuilly
What are the three soil types of Sancerre?
1) Silex
2) Caillottes
3) Terre Blanches
What is the largest appellation of the Central Vineyards?
Sancerre
Are Sancerre’s Sauvignon Blanc fermentation temperatures lower or higher than Marlborough’s? Why?
1) Lower
2) More restrained fruit expression
At what elevation are vineyards in Sancerre planted?
200-400m
Describe Caillottes
Very shallow soils (25–40 mm) over limestone
Describe the fruit grown on Caillottes
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
Describe Terre Blanches
The same limestone and marl that is to be found in Chablis
Name one of two famous vineyards planted on Terre Blanches
Côte des Monts Damnés
Describe the fruit grown on Terre Blanches
Said to produce the most structured wines that need long maturation before they are ready to drink and age well
Describe Silex
Flinty soils that accumulates heat and leads to early ripening
Describe the fruit grown on Silex
Said to produce wines with stony or smoky aromas
Why are the appellations of the Central Vineyards other than Sancerre more prone to frost?
They are on flatter land
Compare Pouilly-Fume to Sancerre in terms of the wine’s major differences
Pouilly-Fume tends to be a little rounder and less aromatic than Sancerre and often needs a little more time
The white wines of Reuilly must be what variety?
Sauvignon Blanc only
The red wines of Reuilly must be what variety?
Pinot Noir only
The rose wines of Reuilly must be what varieties?
Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris
What are the wines of Quincy AOC?
White wines only from Sauvignon Blanc (minimum 90 per cent) and Sauvignon Gris
What three reasons contribute to the vines of Menetou-Salon more vulnerable to frost than neighbouring Sancerre?
1) Flatter south-facing slopes
2) Further from the moderating influence of the Loire
3) Less protection from nearby forests
What is the sales split between negociants, estates and co-operatives?
50% negociants
41% estates
9% co-operatives
The lines between negociant and estate has become blurred in recent years. How?
Many negociants have opted to vinfy their wines themselves rather than relying mainly on buying finished wine.
An increasing number of family estates has a negociant side to their business. Why?
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
Exports account for 20% of Loire Valley wine sales. What are the top three?
1) US
2) UK
3) Germany
What is the leading appellation of the Loire Valley for export sales by value and volume?
Sancerre
Who founded the Renaisssances des appellations/Return to Terroir, a worldwide group of biodynamic producers with more producers in the Loire than anywhere else?
Nicolas Joly
