Central Vineyards Flashcards
What percentage of vineyard area in the Loire is Central Vineyards?
10%
How many appellations are in the area known as the Central Vineyards?
Eight
Why is this area called the Central Vineyards?
The appellations are situated roughly halfway between the start of the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean
What are the two best known and heaviest planted appellations in the Central Vineyards?
Sancerre AOC
Pouilly Fumé AOC
What is the climate in the Central Vineyards?
Continental with cold winters and warm summers
What are the principal grape varieties in the Central Vineyards?
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
What major climatic threats exist in the Central Vineyards?
Spring frosts
Summer hail
How do sunlight hours affect the profile of Central Valley wines?
The day length during the growing season is long but the sunlight and heat are low intensity, leading to restrained aromas
How much rainfall does the Central Vineyards experience? What effect does this have on viticulture?
750mm, high for a continental region. The grapes are not at risk of drought but do experience heightened disease pressure.
What are the budding and ripening characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc? How does this affect its cultivation in the Central Vineyards?
Late budding, early ripening, making it suitable for cool climates with risk of spring frost and early autumn rains
What types of soil is Sauvignon Blanc best suited to? Why?
Low fertility soils due to the high vigor it possesses
Why is canopy management important in Sauvignon Blanc cultivation?
It is highly vigorous and excess sharing will promote underripe, overly green aromas
What is Sauvignon Blanc prone to?
Powdery mildew, botrytis, trunk diseases such as Esca, and Eutypa Dieback if cordon trained
What aromas do Sauvignon Blanc wines of the Central Valley convey?
Grass, bell pepper, asparagus, gooseberry, grapefruit, wet stone (cooler areas)
Riper, passionfruit (warmer areas)
What effect does row orientation in the Central Vineyards have on the character of Sauvignon Blanc wines?
Rows oriented to provide more shade will produce wines with greener aromatics
What percentage of plantings in the Central Vineyards is comprised of Sauvignon Blanc?
70%
What percentage of plantings in the Central Vineyards is comprised of Pinot Noir?
20%
What is the typical character of Pinot Noir wines from the Central Vineyards?
Medium ruby Dry High acid Medium alcohol Medium intensity raspberry and strawberry
How do white wine fermentation temperatures in the Central Vineyards compare to those in New World winemaking?
They are warmer, usually sitting in the upper part of cool and the lower part of the mid-range