Loire Flashcards
What is tuffeau
A type of porous limestone found in the middle Loire
What are Fines Bulles
Fine or small bubbles; reference to sparkling wines of the Loire
What is Pétillant?
Translates as “fizzy”, or delicately sparkling wines
These wines are semi-sparkling
What is Pétillant Originel?
A sparkling wine from Montlouis-sur-Loire that has no additions such as sugar or yeast. It has one fermentation, ages on Lees for 9 months and has no dosage after disgorgement.
What is Mousseux?
“Frothy” or “bubbly”; a category of French sparkling wines
- can be made with less demanding production standards, no min aging requirements
What is another name for flinty clays of Touraine and Centre Loire?
Argiles à silex
-or-
Perruches
What is the marl rich in oyster fossils in the Centre Loire called?
Terres Blanches
What are the clay/limestone soils of Touraine called?
Aubuis
What are caillottes and where are they found?
Small limestone pebbles of the Centre Loire
What is silex and where is it found?
Flinty clay soils of the Centre Loire
How long is the Loire?
620mi/1,000km
What was the Dutch influence on Loire wine?
Increased percentage of white varieties (Folle Blanche) so they could produce brandy (brandewijn)
In which Loire valley Château did Joan of Arc meet the Dauphin of France?
Chinon
What principal grape is used for dessert wines in the Loire?
Chenin Blanc
What 2 grape varieties are used for sweet wines in specific AOCs?
Malvoisie (Pinot Gris)
Romorantin
Must be overripe or boyrytized
Define Sec
Sec means “dry”
Wines contain less than 0.4%/4 grams per liter of residual sugar
Define demi-sec
Demi-sec means “medium dry”
Wines contain between 0.4%-1.2%/4-12 grams per liter of residual sugar
Define Moelleux
Moelleux means “medium sweet”
Wines contain between 1.2%-4.5% / 12-45 grams per liter of residual sugar
Define Doux
Doux means “sweet”
Wines contain more than 4.5% / 45 grams per liter of residual sugar
Fermentation is stopped by chilling to retain some sweetness in off-dry Rosé from which 2 AOCs?
Rosé d’Anjou
Cabernet d’Anjou
Rosé wines in Loire are made in what method?
Direct press and saignée
What are two synonyms for Melon de Bourgogne?
Melon
Muscadet
What grape is used to make semi-sweet wine in Coteaux d’Ancenis AOC?
Pinot Gris (aka Malvoisie)
What is a supplementary gris grape used in Fiefs Vendéens AOC?
Grolleau Gris
What is the dominant grape used in off-dry Rosé d’Anjou?
Grolleau Noir
What kind of wine is produced in Saumur AOC?
Dry red
Dry white
Sparkling
Rosé
What type of wines are produced in Savenniéres AOC?
Famous for dry white wines from 100% Chenin Blanc
(Semi-sweet and sweet are permitted too)
(Same with Savenniéres Roche Aux Moines AOC and Coulée de Serrant AOC)
What is the most important red wine AOC in Anjou-Saumur?
Saumur-Champigny AOC
What 2 AOCs of the middle Loire produce richer most complex red wines?
Anjou Brissac AOC
Saumur-Champigny AOC
What are the sweet wine AOCs in Anjou-Saumur?
Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Coteaux de L’Aubance AOC
Coteaux de Saumur AOC
(All produce semi-sweet to sweet wines)
Savenniéres AOC also makes some sweet wine
What are the 3 most important AOCs in Anjou-Saumur for rich, complex, semi-sweet, sweet, and dessert wines?
Coteaux du Layon AOC
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
Bonnezeaux AOC
What style of wine is produced in Anjou AOC
Dry white
Red
Semi-sweet to sweet white
Sparkling white and sparkling rosé
(Covers entire subregion)
What style of wine is produced in Rosé d’Anjou AOC?
Off dry rosé
From Grolleau Noir
What middle-Loire AOC has the largest Rosé production?
Cabernet d’Anjou
What style of wine is produced in Cabernet d’Anjou and what grapes are permitted?
Rosé wine with perceptible sweetness
Grapes used: Cab Sauv and Cab Franc
What style of wine is produce in Anjou Village AOC and what grapes are permitted?
Red wine
Grapes: Cab Sauv, Cab Franc
How many communes are permitted to produce Anjou Village red wine?
46
They are considered the best terroirs for red wine
What style of wine is produced in Rosé de Loire AOC?
Dry rosé
(Covers all of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine)
What area does Crémant de Loire AOc cover and what style of wine is produced there?
Covers all of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine
Produces sparkling wines in the traditional method