6. The Loire Valley Flashcards by Shaun Walton

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)

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What is the largest district with land under vine?

Anjou-Saumur

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What is the main variety of Pays Nantais?

Melon/Melon de Bourgogne/Muscadet

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What is the climate of Pays Nantais? (2)

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

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

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

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What is another key weather threat in Pays Nantais?

Frost

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When does Melon bud & ripen?

Early

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What two disease pressures is Melon vulnerable to and why?

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

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

Chardonnay

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Is chaptalisation permitted in Pays Nantais?

Yes up to 12% abv potential alcohol

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

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

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Is MLC common for Muscadet?

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Sur lie has what two benefits for Muscadet?

1) Adds body
2) Retains freshness and CO2

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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

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What is the maximum yield for Muscadet AOC?

70 hL/ha

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

55 hL/ha

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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

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

45 hL/ha

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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

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Name three cru communaux in Muscadet

1) Clisson
2) Gorges
3) Le Pallet

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

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

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What is the climate of Touraine?

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

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What is the climate of Anjou-Saumur?

Maritime with continental influence

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

River Layon

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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