France - Loire

Question 1

What is Loire Valley’s latitude?

Answer 1

47 degrees

Question 2

What are the Loire Valley’s primary geographical features?

Answer 2

The Loire river & its many tributaries run 300 miles, and the Mauge Hills between Pays Nantes & Anjou-Saumur

Question 3

What geographical feature is the source of the Loire river?

Answer 3

The Massif Central, high plains of central France

Question 4

Fine Bulles

Answer 4

Local term for traditional method sparkling wine from the Loire

Question 5

Quarte de Chaume

Answer 5

Grand Cru AOC

Question 6

Coteaux de Layon AOC

Answer 6

Chenin blanc dessert wine subregion of Anjou, with 2 better-known subappellations QdC (Loire’s first and only grand cru) & Bonnezeux. There’s also a Coteaux du Layon Village (28 villages & townships) AOC & a Coteaux de Layon Premier Cru Chaume AOC. All hand-harvested, botrytis optional, 100% chenin, amidst a smaller & smaller area.

Question 7

What problems do winemakers face growing grapes in the Loire

Answer 7

Vintage variation
Fungus & mildew from excessive rainfall from the gulf stream (maritime)
Spring frosts (continental)

Question 8

What are the best growing sites in the Loire valley?

Answer 8

mid-slope (superior drainage)
Southerly aspect (maximize noon solar radiation)
Close to river (warmth, reflection)

Question 9

Why is sur lees aging common in Muscadet?

Answer 9

Melon blanc in muscadet is high acid, light bodied (12% alcohol), and neutral. Sur lees aging tempers acidity, adds texture from manoproteins, and adds tertiary aromas & flavors, complexity.

Question 10

What are the sub-appellations of Muscadet?

Answer 10

Sevre et Maine, Cotes de Grandlieu, Coteaux de la Loire

Question 11

How do wines from Muscadet’s sub appellations differ from those of Muscadet’s larger AOC?

Answer 11

Muscadet AOC allows up to 10% Chard blended into the Melon. The sub-appellations are considered higher quality and are often labeled “sur lie” indicating they spent the winter prior to release resting on their lees.

Question 12

Is anything but Melon (and Chard) grown in the Pays Nantais?

Answer 12

Yes. Small amounts of chenin, pinot gris, folle blanche, & gamay grow there, but if they’re used in wine it’ll be Val de Loire IGP or the obscure AOCs of gros plant and coteaux de d’ancenis

Question 13

What is the most widely planted grape of the loire?

Answer 13

Cabernet franc! Melon is most widely planted white

Question 14

What is Côt? Pineau de la Loire? Breton? Malvoisie?

Answer 14

Local names for malbec, chenin blanc, cab franc, & pinot gris

Question 15

What are the top red & white grapes of the loire?

Answer 15

Cab franc, gamay, pn, cab, grolleau, pineau d’aunis, négrette.
Melon blanc, chenin, sauvignon blanc, chard, folle blanche, pinot gris.

Question 16

What wine styles are covered by the Anjou AOC?

Answer 16

Dry red from cab &/or cab franc

Dry white from chenin blended with up to 20% chard or sauv blanc

Anjou mousseaux and petillant can be white or rose with gamay

Anjou Gamay must be 100% gamay

Question 17

What are Anjou’s special AOCs?

Answer 17

Rose d’anjou off-dry from grolleau
Cabernet d’anjou is sweeter, made from cab and/or cab franc

Question 18

Rose de la Loire

Answer 18

Typically dry rose made from a variety of grapes across anjou, saumur, & touraine.

Question 19

What is Savennières?

Answer 19

Described as the most cerebral wine in the world, it’s a varietal chenin blanc subappellation of Anjou on the northern river bank.

Question 20

What becomes a big threat to vineyards the farther east you go up the Loire?

Answer 20

Spring frosts

Question 21

What is the climate of the haut Loire/central vineyards?

Answer 21

Cool Continental

Question 22

Where do vines tend to be planted in the haut loire?

Answer 22

Planted mid slope along river bank to maximize drainage and warmth from reflected sun

Question 23

Do vines in the haute loire suffer from too much rainfall?

Answer 23

They can. It’s less of a risk than closer to the shore but they still see increased precipitation due to gulf stream. Can dilute berries and cause mildew

Question 24

What are the AOCs of the upper Loire?

Answer 24

Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Pouilly-sur-la-Loire, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, Quincy,

Question 25

Discuss the difference of soil between Sancerre & Pouilly Fumé

Answer 25

Both plant vines on very chalky soil that drains well, but Sancerre is stony, while Pouilly-Fumé is flinty with silex, which is said to lend it a smokey tone.

Question 26

Discuss the difference between Sancerre & Pouilly Fumé compared to Menetou-Salon

Answer 26

Menatou-Salon is quite flat compared to the other more famous hillside mideval towns. Their wines tend to be simpler and less expensive due to inferior growing sites

Question 27

Discuss why sauvignon blanc’s well suited to the central vineyards

Answer 27

It’s well suited to a cool climate due to early ripening.

Question 28

What grape is grown in Pouilly-Sur-la-Loire?

Answer 28

Chasselas!