Loire

Question 1

How long is the Loire River?

Answer 1

629 Miles

Question 2

Main regions of Loire valley

Answer 2

Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
The Central Vineyards

Question 3

Main white grapes of Loire Valley

Answer 3

Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne

Chardonnay
Orbois 
Romorantin
Gros Plant
Chasselas

Question 4

Main red grapes of Loire valley

Answer 4

Cabernet Franc
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Malbec (côt)
Pineau d’Aunis
Groslot (Grollesu)

Question 5

Four appellations for Melon de Bourgogne

Answer 5

Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP

Question 6

Number of communes in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Answer 6

23 Communes

Question 7

Classic soils of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Answer 7

Gneiss
Silica
Clay
Granite

Question 8

What is Sur Lie and what are the rules?

Answer 8

Wine must originate from land qualifying for one of three sub appellations

Wines are aged on lees over winter and are bottles directly off fine lees (no filtering) between March 1 - November 30 of year following harvest

Sur Lie adds complexity, richness and slight sparkle

Question 9

Classic soils of Sancerre

Answer 9

Kimmeridgian era limestone
Portlandian-era limestone
Terres Blanches (white earth) - chalk on top of clay
Les Caillottes - gravel intermixed with limestone
Silex - flint and sandstone based

Question 10

Top three vineyards in Sancerre

Answer 10

Le Grand Chemarin
Chêne Marchand
Clos de la Poussie

NOTE: not allowed to be listed on bottles. I.e Jean-Max Roger’s Cuvée GC

Question 11

Didier Dagueneau’s son

Answer 11

Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau

Question 12

Central Vineyard Appellations of note

Answer 12

Sancerre
Pouilly Fumé
Mentor-Salon
Quincy
Reuilly

Question 13

Main central town in Central Vineyards

Answer 13

Pouilly-sur-Loire

Question 14

Size of Clos de la Coulée de Serrant

Answer 14

17 acre

7 hectare

Question 15

Main appellations of Touraine

Answer 15

Chinon
Bourgueil
St.-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

Vouvray
Montlouis

Question 16

Central city in Touraine

Answer 16

Tours

Question 17

Appellations of Anjou-Saumur

Answer 17

Savennières 
Quarts de Chaume
Bonnezeaux 
Coteaux du Layon
Coteaux de L’Aubance

Question 18

“Type” of wine made at Clos de la Coulee de Serrant

Answer 18

Savennières

Question 19

Grapes of Rose d’Anjou

Answer 19

Primarily Grolleau

Gamay
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Côt (Malbec)
Pineau d’Aunis

Question 20

What does ‘tender’ mean in local description

Answer 20

Slight residual sugar (1-1.5%)

Question 21

Sweetness levels in Vouvray

Answer 21

Sec (very dry)
0%-.8%

Classic or Demi-Sec (perceived as dry)
.8%-1.2%

Moelleux (mellow / medium sweet)
1.2%-4.5%

Doux (quite sweet)
More than 4.5%

Question 22

Three areas allowed to append their name to Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine

Answer 22

Gorges
Clisson
Le Pallet

Question 23

% of Muscadet Production of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Answer 23

80%

Question 24

What is “Hermine d’Or?

Answer 24

An unofficial label that promotes terroir and stresses age-ability. Guy Bossard is an early founder

Question 25

Local name for Chenin Blanc?

Answer 25

Pineau de la Loire

Question 26

Two unofficial grand crus of Savennières

Answer 26

Roche Aux Moines | Coulée de Serrant

Question 27

What are 'tries' and why are they important

Answer 27

Multiple passes through vineyards to harvest botritized grapes

Question 28

Communes of Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume

Answer 28

Thouarcé and Rochefort-sur-Loire

Question 29

Vineyard aspects in Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume

Answer 29

South

Question 30

Appellations within Coteaux du Layon

Answer 30

Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume

Question 31

What river are Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume on?

Answer 31

Layon

Question 32

Soil types in Quarts de Chaume. General climate?

Answer 32

Sandstone and Schist hillsides Protected from winds Morning mists in vineayrds from Layon

Question 33

Is mechanical harvesting allowed in Quarts de Chaume?

Answer 33

NO! Hand harvest in tres only

Question 34

Size and production of Quarts de Chaume

Answer 34

45 hectares - 10,000 cases

Question 35

Tops Producers of Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux

Answer 35

Domines des Baumard Chateau Pierre-Bise Top two QDS - Also producers of Savennières Chateau des Fesles

Question 36

Number and name of villages allowed to append their name to Coteaux du Layon

Answer 36

``` Beaulieu-sur-Loire Rochefort-sur-Loire Faye d'Anjou St. Lambert du Lattay St. Aubin de Luigné Rablay-sur-Loire Chaume ``` All must have higher minimum must weights and lower maximum yields

Question 37

Wines produced in Saumur

Answer 37

Red Dry white Sparkling white Sparkling rose

Question 38

Grapes of Saumur Blanc

Answer 38

100% Chenin (Post 2016) Prior to 2016 could allow addition of Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay

Question 39

Crémant de Loire production

Answer 39

Min 9 months on lees May not be released for a min of 12 months after date of draw Manual harvest of grapes is mandatory Allows blending across communes - may be a blend of multiples grapes

Question 40

Soil types of Saumur and Champigny

Answer 40

Limestone rich - similar to Touraine. Champigny (field of fire) - harder limestone, iron rich, inflected with shale

Question 41

Saumur-Champigny villages

Answer 41

8 different villages (light Cabernet Franc)

Question 42

Soils of Chinon

Answer 42

Three Types Tuffeau - close to slopes Clay Varennes - close to river

Question 43

What are Varennes soils

Answer 43

Sandy, alluvial soils closest to the river Vienne (Loire Tributary)

Question 44

Bourgueil soils

Answer 44

Sand and Limestone

Question 45

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil soils

Answer 45

Lighter, alluvial soils - produces a lighter style of wine

Question 46

Can Chinon produce white wine?

Answer 46

Yes - Bourgueil and StNdB are only red and rose

Question 47

Soil types in Vouvray and their influence

Answer 47

Tuffeau limestone subsoils Soft material for excavating tunnels

Question 48

Number of communes of Vouvray

Answer 48

8

Question 49

How is sweetness in Vouvray typically decided

Answer 49

The vintage - rather than a stylistic choice.

Question 50

Usage of Orbois in Touraine

Answer 50

Can be included in Vovuray | Not allowedin Montlouis-sur-Loire

Question 51

White grapes of Touraine

Answer 51

As of 2016 - Mandates Sauvignon Blanc - max 20% Sauvignon Gris