FWS Loire Flashcards by Sarah Horton

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.

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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.

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How does the Loire River affect winemaking and wine transport?

Strong current - only downriver traffic. Low water levels - flat-bottomed boats.
The river warms & creates favourable mesoclimates.

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What are the major tributaries of the Loire River?

The Cher River
The Sèvre and Maine Rivers
Aubance
Layon

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What is the climate of the Pays Nantais sub-region of the Loire Valley?

Maritime.

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Which are the 5 most important grape varieties in the Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine regions?

Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc
Grolleau
Melon de Bourgogne
Gamay

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What are the major soil types of the Pays Nantais and Anjou-Saumur sub-regions?

gneiss
mica schist
transitioning to tuffeau

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What is the primary grape variety used for dry white wines in the Pays Nantais?

Melon de Bourgogne.

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What are the 5 principal dry white AOCs in the Loire?

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
Sancerre AOC
Pouilly-Fumé AOC
Savennières AOC
Touraine AOC (SB)

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Which grape is mainly used for sweet white wines in the Loire?

Chenin Blanc.

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What are the 4 principal sweet wine AOCs in the Loire?

Coteaux du Layon AOC
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
Bonnezeaux AOC
Cour-Cheverny AOC

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How is rosé produced in the Loire Valley?

direct press
saignée
with fermentation techniques to create off-dry styles.

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What are the 5 main rosé AOCs in the Loire?

Cabernet d’Anjou AOC
Rosé d’Anjou AOC
Rosé de Loire AOC
Touraine Noble Joué AOC
Saumur AOC

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What are the key characteristics of red wine production in the Loire?

Destemmed
macerated for 1-4 weeks,
malolactic conversion encouraged.

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What are the 5 main red AOCs in the Loire?

Chinon AOC
Bourgueil AOC
Saint Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
Saumur-Champigny AOC
Saumur AOC

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What is the main sparkling wine method in the Loire?

méthode traditionnelle.

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Name the 5 major sparkling AOCs in the Loire.

Crémant de Loire AOC
Vouvray AOC
Saumur AOC
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Touraine AOC

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Which 5 AOCs in the Loire produce wines using botrytis?

Coteaux du Layon AOC
Coteaux de l’Aubance AOC
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
Bonnezeaux AOC
Savennières Roche aux Moines AOC

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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)

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What is the definition of ‘fines bulles’?

Refers to sparkling wines with fine bubbles.

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In the EU for still wine / Loire Sec = _______ RS?

under 4g/l

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In the EU still wines / Loire, Demi-sec = _______ RS?

4-12g/l

In EU still wine / the Loire, Moelleux = _______ RS?

12-45g/l

In EU still wines / the Loire, Doux = _______ RS?

45g/l +

Which 2 grape varieties are primarily grown in the Centre-Loire?

* Sauvignon Blanc * Pinot Noir

What are the 4 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 ‘La douceur angevine’?

Mild Anjou, oceanic influences (not near the sea)

What are the 3 main grapes used in Anjou AOC?

* Chenin Blanc * Cabernet Franc * Cabernet Sauvignon

What are the main grapes in Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?

Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

What types of wines are produced in Reuilly AOC?

Whites, pale rosés and reds ## Footnote On the Cher river Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

What is the climate like in the Upper Loire, Auvergne region?

Continental climate with three sets of mountains ## Footnote Includes the Chaine des Puys, creating a rain shadow.

What are the 2 main grape varieties in the Upper Loire, Auvergne?

*Chardonnay *Gamay ## Footnote Vineyards are near Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand and Roanne.

When can a Loire wine have ‘sur lie’ on the label?

If aged on dead yeast cells If bottled between March and December of the year after harvest.

What is 'Pétillant'?

Has no authorised style ## Footnote Refers to a type of sparkling wine.

What is 'Pétillant originel'? Where in the Loire is it produced?

A sparkling wine Montlouis-sur-Loire ## Footnote one fermentation aged on lees for 9 months no dosage.

What is 'passerillage'?

Twisting stalks to stop the flow of sap and desiccate grapes on the vine ## Footnote A technique used in grape production.

What does 'monopole' refer to in wine terms?

A single vineyard ## Footnote Example: Coulée de Serrant AOC in Anjou.

What is 'sélection de grains nobles' in the Loire?

A label on Coteaux du Layon & Coteaux de l’Aubance if affected by botrytis ## Footnote Must achieve 19% potential alcohol and be vintage dated.

What are 'dénominations géographiques complémentaires'?

Similar to village level in Bourgogne ## Footnote A classification in French wine regions.

What does 'primeur' mean in wine terminology?

Released shortly after harvest (nouveau) ## Footnote Refers to a style of wine that is available early.

What are 'argiles à silex' and in which 2 parts of the Loire are they found?

Flinty clays Touraine Centre-Loire ## Footnote Found in AOCs like Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.

What is 'aubuis'?

Clay / limestone in Touraine ## Touraine, Chinon, Vouvray

What is 'tuffeau'?

Turonian chalk used to build chateaux and for caves ## Footnote Used for growing mushrooms, ageing wines, and as troglodyte dwellings.

What are 'caillottes'?

Small limestone pebbles ## Footnote Found in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

What does 'terres blanches' refer to?

Marl rich in oyster fossils in Centre-Loire ## Footnote In Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.

Loire A map

Loire B map

Loire C map

By what other name is ‘Malvoisie’ known?

Pinot Gris (Chenin is the main grape for sweet wines in the Loire, some Malvoisie & Romorantin)

Which 2 Loire AOCs produce sweet rosé?

Semi-sweet: Cabernet d’Anjou Rosé d’Anjou (Grolleau).

Which are the 3 most important AOCs that produce dry rosé in the Loire?

Rosé de Loire (Cabernets) Touraine Noble Joué (Vin Gris: Meunier + Pinots) Saumur (Cabernets)