France - Loire Flashcards
What is Loire Valley’s latitude?
47 degrees
What are the Loire Valley’s primary geographical features?
The Loire river & its many tributaries run 300 miles, and the Mauge Hills between Pays Nantes & Anjou-Saumur
What geographical feature is the source of the Loire river?
The Massif Central, high plains of central France
Fine Bulles
Local term for traditional method sparkling wine from the Loire
Quarte de Chaume
Grand Cru AOC
Coteaux de Layon AOC
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.
What problems do winemakers face growing grapes in the Loire
Vintage variation
Fungus & mildew from excessive rainfall from the gulf stream (maritime)
Spring frosts (continental)
What are the best growing sites in the Loire valley?
mid-slope (superior drainage)
Southerly aspect (maximize noon solar radiation)
Close to river (warmth, reflection)
Why is sur lees aging common in Muscadet?
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.
What are the sub-appellations of Muscadet?
Sevre et Maine, Cotes de Grandlieu, Coteaux de la Loire
How do wines from Muscadet’s sub appellations differ from those of Muscadet’s larger AOC?
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.
Is anything but Melon (and Chard) grown in the Pays Nantais?
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
What is the most widely planted grape of the loire?
Cabernet franc! Melon is most widely planted white
What is Côt? Pineau de la Loire? Breton? Malvoisie?
Local names for malbec, chenin blanc, cab franc, & pinot gris
What are the top red & white grapes of the loire?
Cab franc, gamay, pn, cab, grolleau, pineau d’aunis, négrette.
Melon blanc, chenin, sauvignon blanc, chard, folle blanche, pinot gris.
What wine styles are covered by the Anjou AOC?
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
What are Anjou’s special AOCs?
Rose d’anjou off-dry from grolleau
Cabernet d’anjou is sweeter, made from cab and/or cab franc
Rose de la Loire
Typically dry rose made from a variety of grapes across anjou, saumur, & touraine.
What is Savennières?
Described as the most cerebral wine in the world, it’s a varietal chenin blanc subappellation of Anjou on the northern river bank.
What becomes a big threat to vineyards the farther east you go up the Loire?
Spring frosts
What is the climate of the haut Loire/central vineyards?
Cool Continental
Where do vines tend to be planted in the haut loire?
Planted mid slope along river bank to maximize drainage and warmth from reflected sun
Do vines in the haute loire suffer from too much rainfall?
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
What are the AOCs of the upper Loire?
Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Pouilly-sur-la-Loire, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, Quincy,
Discuss the difference of soil between Sancerre & Pouilly Fumé
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.
Discuss the difference between Sancerre & Pouilly Fumé compared to Menetou-Salon
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
Discuss why sauvignon blanc’s well suited to the central vineyards
It’s well suited to a cool climate due to early ripening.
What grape is grown in Pouilly-Sur-la-Loire?
Chasselas!
