general study 2

Question 1

What is Tuffeau?

Answer 1

soft limestone - located on the slopes of Chinon. In the Touraine.

Question 2

What are varennes soils?

Answer 2

sandy soils - close to the Vienne River. In the Touraine

Question 3

How long is the Loire River?

Answer 3

629 miles

Question 4

What is the path of the Loire River Valley?

Answer 4

headwaters are in the Massif Central and it travels north and then west to the Atlantic.

Question 5

What is another name for the Loire River Valley?

Answer 5

Jardin de la France

Question 6

What was the Loire River Valley named in 2000?

Answer 6

World Heritage Site

Question 7

How would you describe the Loire River Valley wines in general to a guest?

Answer 7

Incredible range of food-friendly wines, typically lighter in style with low oak influence.

Question 8

What style of wine is the Loire River Valley famous for?

Answer 8

The Loire produces more white wine than any other French region. It is second only to Champagne in sparkling wine production.

Question 9

What are the 3 main white grapes for the Loire River Valley?

Answer 9

Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne

Secondary grapes:
Orbois
Romarantin
Gros Plant (Folle Blanche)
Chasselas

Question 10

What are the main red grapes for the Loire River Valley?

Answer 10

Cabernet Franc (Breton)

Pinot Noir
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Malbec (Cot)
Pineau d'Aunis
Groslot (Grolleau)

Question 11

What is the recommended abv % for Muscadet wines?

Answer 11

They show best at 12 % abv or below.

Question 12

When did a devastating frost occur in Pays Nantais?

Answer 12

1709 - transformed the region into a white wine region - red grape vines were replanted.

Question 13

What is the basic appellation for Melon de Bourgogne wines?

Answer 13

Muscadet AOP

Question 14

What are the 4 distinct districts of the Loire River Valley?

Answer 14

Pays Nantais
Anjou-Sumur
Touraine
The Central Vineyards

Question 15

How much wine is released to market as Muscat Sevre-et-Maine?

Answer 15

80%

Question 16

What does Sur Lie indicate on a wine label?

Answer 16

wine must originate from land qualifying as one of the 3 sub appellations

wine is aged on lees over the winter and is bottled directly off the lees between March 1 and November 30 - no filtration

Question 17

What does Sur Lie aging do for a wine?

Answer 17

Adds complexity, richness, and a slight sparkle to the finished wines.

Question 18

What is the most northerly sub appellation of Pays Nantais?

Answer 18

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire

Question 19

What is the newest sub appellation of Pays Nantais?

Answer 19

Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu

Question 20

What is Hermine d’Or?

Answer 20

unofficial label term that promoted terroir and stresses age-ability - created by Guy Bossard of Domaine de L’Ecu

Question 21

What is Cru Communaux?

Answer 21

a designation proposed in 2001 requiring eligible wines from schist soils to spend a minimum of 18 months sur lie. This is longer than the term allows.

Question 22

When did the Cru Communaux get approved?

Answer 22

In 2011

Question 23

What are the 3 subzones for Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine?

Answer 23

Clisson
Le Pallet
Gorges

Question 24

What is the Loire’s Valley’s largest and most diverse wine region?

Answer 24

Anjou-Saumur

Together they deliver every style of wine the Loire offers.

Question 25

Where is the center of sparkling wine for the Loire Valley?

Answer 25

Saumur.

Question 26

What is the Anjou synonym for Chenin Blanc?

Answer 26

Pineau de la Loire