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Better - WSET Diploma D3 - Wines of the World > Central Vineyards > Flashcards

Central Vineyards Flashcards

1
Q

What percentage of vineyard area in the Loire is Central Vineyards?

A

10%

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2
Q

How many appellations are in the area known as the Central Vineyards?

A

Eight

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3
Q

Why is this area called the Central Vineyards?

A

The appellations are situated roughly halfway between the start of the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean

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4
Q

What are the two best known and heaviest planted appellations in the Central Vineyards?

A

Sancerre AOC

Pouilly Fumé AOC

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5
Q

What is the climate in the Central Vineyards?

A

Continental with cold winters and warm summers

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6
Q

What are the principal grape varieties in the Central Vineyards?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

Pinot Noir

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7
Q

What major climatic threats exist in the Central Vineyards?

A

Spring frosts

Summer hail

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8
Q

How do sunlight hours affect the profile of Central Valley wines?

A

The day length during the growing season is long but the sunlight and heat are low intensity, leading to restrained aromas

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9
Q

How much rainfall does the Central Vineyards experience? What effect does this have on viticulture?

A

750mm, high for a continental region. The grapes are not at risk of drought but do experience heightened disease pressure.

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10
Q

What are the budding and ripening characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc? How does this affect its cultivation in the Central Vineyards?

A

Late budding, early ripening, making it suitable for cool climates with risk of spring frost and early autumn rains

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11
Q

What types of soil is Sauvignon Blanc best suited to? Why?

A

Low fertility soils due to the high vigor it possesses

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12
Q

Why is canopy management important in Sauvignon Blanc cultivation?

A

It is highly vigorous and excess sharing will promote underripe, overly green aromas

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13
Q

What is Sauvignon Blanc prone to?

A

Powdery mildew, botrytis, trunk diseases such as Esca, and Eutypa Dieback if cordon trained

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14
Q

What aromas do Sauvignon Blanc wines of the Central Valley convey?

A

Grass, bell pepper, asparagus, gooseberry, grapefruit, wet stone (cooler areas)

Riper, passionfruit (warmer areas)

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15
Q

What effect does row orientation in the Central Vineyards have on the character of Sauvignon Blanc wines?

A

Rows oriented to provide more shade will produce wines with greener aromatics

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16
Q

What percentage of plantings in the Central Vineyards is comprised of Sauvignon Blanc?

A

70%

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17
Q

What percentage of plantings in the Central Vineyards is comprised of Pinot Noir?

A

20%

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18
Q

What is the typical character of Pinot Noir wines from the Central Vineyards?

A 
Medium ruby
Dry
High acid
Medium alcohol
Medium intensity raspberry and strawberry
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19
Q

How do white wine fermentation temperatures in the Central Vineyards compare to those in New World winemaking?

A

They are warmer, usually sitting in the upper part of cool and the lower part of the mid-range

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20
Q

Is malolactic conversion permitted in the production of Central Vineyard white wines?

A

Typically not, but some producers may use it depending on style

21
Q

What might be done during aging to produce long lived white wines in the Central Vineyards?

A

The use of large old oak barrels and batonnage

22
Q

How do François Cotat and Henri Bourgeois use oak barrels to expand their wine portfolio in Sancerre?

A

François Cotat uses large old oak casks and extensive batonnage to create a long lived wine

Henri Bourgeois has a heavily oaked wine

23
Q

What is the largest of the Central Vineyards appellations?

A

Sancerre AOC

24
Q

What wines are produced in Sancerre AOC?

A

White wines from Sauvignon Blanc

Rosé and red wines from Pinot Noir

25
Q

What were the original plantings in the Sancerre AOC pre-phylloxera?

A

Pinot Noir

26
Q

At what point did the white wines of Sancerre AOC become successfully promoted within France and then around the world?

A

The 1950s and 1960s

27
Q

What provides moderating influences against spring frost in Sancerre AOC?

A

Steep hillside slopes of 200-400m height

The Loire River

Nearby forests

28
Q

What are the maximum yields in all of the Central Vineyard AOCs?

A

65 hl/ha for white wines

63 hl/ha for rosé wines

59 hl/ha for red wines

29
Q

How do the maximum yields in the Central Vineyards affect aromatic intensity in the wines?

A

Sauvignon Blanc is able to produce wines with sufficient aromatic intensity even at 63 hl/ha

Pinot Noir must be harvested lower as 59 hl/ha yields will produce low aromatic intensity

30
Q

What is the typical character of Sancerre blanc?

A

Dry

High acid

Medium alcohol

Medium intensity grapefruit and gooseberry

31
Q

What is the typical quality and pricing of Sancerre blanc?

A

Good to outstanding

Mid-priced to premium with a few super premium

32
Q

What are the three soil types that can be found in Sancerrre AOC?

A

Caillottes

Terre Blanches

Silex

33
Q

Describe Caillottes as it is found in Sancerre AOC and its affect on the grapes.

A

Very shallow soils of 25-40mm sitting over limestone. Fractured Kimmeridgian rocks rest on top of the soil, reflecting heat into the canopy and facilitating ripening. The grapes on these soils are intended to be drunk young and have little aging potential.

34
Q

Describe Terres Blanches as it is found in Sancerre AOC and its affect on the grapes.

A

Kimmeridgian marl that is identical to the soil found in Chablis. These soils can be found on slopes or the tops of hills, and the clays retain water and remain cool to increase the growing time. Wines from these soils produce the most structured wines and need time to age.

35
Q

Describe Silex as it is found in Sancerre AOC and its affect on the grapes.

A

These are flinty soils that accumulate and retain heat and facilitate ripening. The fruit grown on these soils produce smoky or stony aromas.

36
Q

Which two famous Sancerre vineyards are planted on Terres Blanches?

A

Côtes de Monts Damnés

Cul de Beaujeu

37
Q

What types of wine are made in Pouilly Fumé AOC?

A

White wine from Sauvignon Blanc

38
Q

Why is Sancerre less at risk to frost damage than the other Central Vineyard appellations?

A

The other appellations are planted on flatter ground

39
Q

What is the difference in soil types found between Pouilly Fumé AOC and Sancerre AOC?

A

They are the same

40
Q

How is the character of Pouilly Fumé wines comparable to Sancerre wines?

A

Pouilly Fumé tends to be a little rounder and less aromatic. It also requires around 6 months of aging in-bottle to come together.

41
Q

What is the pricing and quality of Pouilly Fumé compared to Sancerre AOC?

A

Similar

Good to outstanding

Mid-priced to premium

42
Q

What types of wines are made in Reuilly AOC?

A

White wines from Sauvignon Blanc

Rosé wines from Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir

Red wines from Pinot Noir

43
Q

What types of wines are made in Quincy AOC?

A

White wines made from 90% (min) Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris

44
Q

What types of wines are made in Menetou-Salon AOC?

A

White wines from Sauvignon Blanc

Rosé and red wines from Pinot Noir

45
Q

True or False

The vineyards of Menetou-Salon are planted on south-facing vineyards that reduce the risk of spring frost

A

False. The vines are planted on gentle slopes, and so they are at greater risk of frost than Sancerre.

46
Q

What is the quality and pricing of wines from Reuilly AOC, Quincy AOC, and Mentou-Salon AOC?

A

Good to very good

Inexpensive to mid-priced

47
Q

How many crus are there in the Central Vineyards?

A

None, though single vineyard wines are becoming more popular

48
Q

What is the promotional body for the wines of the Central Vineyards?

A

BIVC (Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins du Centre)

Better - WSET Diploma D3 - Wines of the World (101 decks)

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