FWS Loire Flashcards
What is the geographical location of the Loire River?
1000km from Massif Central to Atlantic, emptying into the Bay of Biscay. It is N of Bordeaux, S of Normandy, E of Atlantic and W/SW of Bourgogne.
What impact did Dutch traders have on the Loire wine industry in the 1600s?
Encouraged planting of white cultivars like Folle Blanche for brandewijn production.
How does the Loire River affect winemaking and wine transport?
Strong current allows only downriver traffic. Low water levels necessitate flat-bottomed boats. The river warms vineyards and tributaries create favourable mesoclimates.
What are the major tributaries of the Loire River?
- The Cher River
- The Sèvre and Maine Rivers
- Aubance
- Layon
What is the climate of the Pays Nantais sub-region of the Loire Valley?
Maritime.
What grape varieties are primarily grown in the Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine regions?
- Chenin Blanc
- Cabernet Franc
- Grolleau
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Gamay
What are the major soil types of the Pays Nantais and Anjou-Saumur sub-regions?
Soils of gneiss and mica schist transitioning to tuffeau.
What is the primary grape variety used for dry white wines in the Loire?
Melon de Bourgogne.
What are the principal dry white AOCs in the Loire?
- Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
- Sancerre AOC
- Pouilly-Fumé AOC
- Savennières AOC
- Touraine AOC
Which grape is mainly used for sweet white wines in the Loire?
Chenin Blanc.
What are the principal sweet wine AOCs in the Loire?
- Coteau du Layon AOC
- Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
- Bonnezeaux AOC
- Cour-Cheverny AOC
How is rosé produced in the Loire Valley?
Via direct press or saignée, with fermentation techniques to create off-dry styles.
What are the main rosé AOCs in the Loire?
- Cabernet d’Anjou AOC
- Rosé d’Anjou AOC
- Rosé de Loire AOC
- Touraine Noble Joué AOC
- Saumur AOC
What are the key characteristics of red wine production in the Loire?
Destemmed and macerated for 1-4 weeks, malolactic conversion encouraged.
What are the main red AOCs in the Loire?
- Chinon AOC
- Bourgueil AOC
- Saint Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
- Saumur-Champigny AOC
- Saumur AOC
What sparkling wine methods are used in the Loire?
Primarily méthode traditionnelle.
Name the major sparkling AOCs in the Loire.
- Crémant de Loire AOC
- Vouvray AOC
- Saumur AOC
- Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
- Touraine AOC
Which wines are produced using botrytis in the Loire?
- Coteaux du Layon AOC
- Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
- Bonnezeaux AOC
- Savennières Roche aux Moines AOC
What are the effects of botrytis on wine grapes?
Desiccates the berry and concentrates sugars and flavors. Requires cool, moist nights followed by warm, dry afternoons.
What is the definition of ‘fines bulles’?
Refers to sparkling wines with fine bubbles.
Fill in the blank: Sec = _______ RS.
under 0.4%
Fill in the blank: Demi-sec = _______ RS.
0.4-1.2%
Fill in the blank: Moelleux = _______ RS.
1.2-4.5%
Fill in the blank: Doux = _______ RS.
4.5% +
What is the climate of the Upper Loire?
Continental.
What grape varieties are primarily grown in the Centre-Loire?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Noir
What are the primary soil types found in the Centre-Loire?
- Caillottes
- Terres Blanches
- Silex
- Argiles à Silex
What is the principal grape variety used in Sancerre AOC?
Sauvignon Blanc.
What is unique about the Pouilly-Fumé AOC?
Sauvignon Blanc is known as Blanc Fumé, noted for gunflint aromas.
What is the primary grape variety used in the Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC?
Chenin Blanc.
What is the climate of the Anjou and Saumur regions?
Mild oceanic influences.
What are the main grapes used in Anjou AOC?
- Chenin Blanc
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the main grape in Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?
Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
What types of wines are produced in Reuilly AOC?
Whites, pale rosés and reds
Located on the Cher river, featuring Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
What is the climate like in the Upper Loire, Auvergne region?
Continental climate with three sets of mountains
Includes the Chaine des Puys, creating a rain shadow.
What are the main grape varieties in the Upper Loire, Auvergne?
Chardonnay and Gamay
Vineyards are near Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand and Roanne.
What does ‘sur lie’ mean in wine production?
Wines ageing on dead yeast cells
Must be bottled between March and December of the year after harvest.
What is ‘Pétillant’?
Has no authorised style
Refers to a type of sparkling wine.
Describe ‘Pétillant originel’.
A sparkling wine from Montlouis-sur-Loire with no additions
It undergoes one fermentation, is aged on lees for 9 months and has no dosage.
What is ‘passerillage’?
Twisting stalks to stop the flow of sap and desiccate grapes on the vine
A technique used in grape production.
What does ‘monopole’ refer to in wine terms?
A single vineyard
Example: Coulée de Serrant AOC in Anjou.
What is ‘sélection de grains nobles’?
Only on Coteaux du Layon and Coteaux de l’Aubance label if Chenin Blanc is affected by botrytis
Must achieve 19% potential alcohol and be vintage dated.
What are ‘dénominations géographiques complémentaires’?
Similar to village level in Bourgogne
A classification in French wine regions.
What does ‘primeur’ mean in wine terminology?
Released shortly after harvest (nouveau)
Refers to a style of wine that is available early.
What are ‘argiles à silex’?
Flinty clays from Touraine and Centre-Loire
Found in regions like Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.
What is ‘aubuis’?
Clay / limestone soils in Touraine
Important for certain wine productions.
What is ‘tuffeau’?
Turonian chalk used to build chateaux and for caves
Used for growing mushrooms, aging wines, and as troglodyte dwellings.
What are ‘caillottes’?
Small limestone pebbles
Found in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé regions.
What does ‘terres blanches’ refer to?
Marl rich in oyster fossils in Centre-Loire
Commonly found in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.
Loire A map
Loire B map
Loire C map
