France - Loire Flashcards
When was Muscadet commercially a huge success? Why did this change?
In the 1980s to the UK market, resulting in 13,000ha being planted.
The frost of 1991 saw production drop by two-thirds, which pushed prices up at a time when new world wines were becoming popular.
How has Muscadet recently tried to position itself?
As a source of terroir specific wines of high quality and offering good value for money
How much do export sales account for from the Pays Nantais?
15% by volume.
What role do negociants play in the Pays Nantais, what changes have there been to this recently, and who are key examples?
An important one, accounting for over half of sales, though this is less than in the past.
Many smaller negociants have been bought up by larger companies.
Castel, Grand Chais de France and the Loire-based Ackerman all account for a large proportion of Négoce sales.
How do the Pays Nantais promote their wines?
Together with Anjour-Saumur and Touraine via InterLoire.
What percentage of wine do Anjou-Saumur and Touraine export?
Both just under 20% of production.
What are the important comparisons between Anjou-Saumur and Touraine total production?
-Anjou-Saumur produces around twice as much wine as Touraine.
-Rosé production in Anjou-Saumur is over 10x higher than Touraine
-Anjou-Saumur makes significantly more sparkling than Touraine
-Touraine makes significantly more white and red than Anjou-Saumur.
What is the body that promotes wines in the Central Vineyards?
The Bureau Interprofessionnel des vins du Centre (BIVC)
What type of ownership do many estates have in the Loire?
Many are family owned businesses, able to trace back their ownership for many generations of the family that has tended vines and made wine.
There’s also a steady flow of French people from outside the valley choosing to change from working in large cities like Paris, and opting to set up as winemakers.
How are sales by volume of each business divided?
Negociants are very important, selling 50% (the top 10 account for 82% of sales within this figure). Estates sell 41% and co-operatives just under 10%
How would you describe the difference between negociants and estates?
The distinction has become increasingly blurred over the last 20 years. Negociants are increasingly opting to vinify wines themselves, rather than relying on buying finished wine.
The large negoce companies have wineries spread across the Loire from the Pays Nantais to Sancerre. Some have recently bought prestige examples, eg. Grand Chais de France buying Chateau des Fesles in Bonnezeaux and Chateau de Cléray in Muscadet Sevre et Maine).
Equally, an increasing number of family estates have a negociant side to their business. This tendency has accelerated with recent frosts and hail damage, reducing crop and resulting in buying grapes, juice or wine as a way of keeping their clients and avoiding financial problems.
What is the division of sales in domestic outlets for Loire AOC wines?
The largest channel is specialist wine retail and hospitality (44% of sales by volume) and then supermarkets (36%)
How much of Loire AOC wine is exported, and what are the top markets?
20%
USA, UK and Germany
What is significant about the exports by hL and €price ex-cellar pr litre between Sancerre and other regions?
Sancerre far outperforms all other AOCs. Sancerre is nearly twice as much as all Muscadet AOCs (and all other white appellations) by volume, and about 2.5x by value.
Sparkling wine is the biggest export.
What is significant about the Loire Valleys stance on organic, biodynamic and natural wine? How did this come about?
The Loire Valley hosts a number of well-known propents of these styles.
Nicolas Joly was the founder of the Renaissances des appellations/Return to Terroir group. Now a worldwide group of biodynamic producers but with more in the Loire than any other region.
The total production of certified organic wine is below the French average, but perhaps not surprising given the cool and damp climate.
The Loire is also a centre of natural winemaking, with wines often labelled as Vin de France.
