Loire Flashcards
How long is the Loire River?
629 Miles
Main regions of Loire valley
Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
The Central Vineyards
Main white grapes of Loire Valley
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne
Chardonnay Orbois Romorantin Gros Plant Chasselas
Main red grapes of Loire valley
Cabernet Franc Pinot Noir Gamay Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec (côt) Pineau d’Aunis Groslot (Grollesu)
Four appellations for Melon de Bourgogne
Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP
Number of communes in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
23 Communes
Classic soils of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
Gneiss
Silica
Clay
Granite
What is Sur Lie and what are the rules?
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
Classic soils of Sancerre
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
Top three vineyards in Sancerre
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
Didier Dagueneau’s son
Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau
Central Vineyard Appellations of note
Sancerre Pouilly Fumé Mentor-Salon Quincy Reuilly
Main central town in Central Vineyards
Pouilly-sur-Loire
Size of Clos de la Coulée de Serrant
17 acre
7 hectare
Main appellations of Touraine
Chinon
Bourgueil
St.-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
Vouvray
Montlouis
Central city in Touraine
Tours
Appellations of Anjou-Saumur
Savennières Quarts de Chaume Bonnezeaux Coteaux du Layon Coteaux de L’Aubance
“Type” of wine made at Clos de la Coulee de Serrant
Savennières
Grapes of Rose d’Anjou
Primarily Grolleau
Gamay Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Côt (Malbec) Pineau d’Aunis
What does ‘tender’ mean in local description
Slight residual sugar (1-1.5%)
Sweetness levels in Vouvray
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%
Three areas allowed to append their name to Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine
Gorges
Clisson
Le Pallet
% of Muscadet Production of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
80%
What is “Hermine d’Or?
An unofficial label that promotes terroir and stresses age-ability. Guy Bossard is an early founder
Local name for Chenin Blanc?
Pineau de la Loire
Two unofficial grand crus of Savennières
Roche Aux Moines
Coulée de Serrant
What are ‘tries’ and why are they important
Multiple passes through vineyards to harvest botritized grapes
Communes of Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume
Thouarcé and Rochefort-sur-Loire
Vineyard aspects in Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume
South
Appellations within Coteaux du Layon
Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume
What river are Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume on?
Layon
Soil types in Quarts de Chaume. General climate?
Sandstone and Schist hillsides
Protected from winds
Morning mists in vineayrds from Layon
Is mechanical harvesting allowed in Quarts de Chaume?
NO! Hand harvest in tres only
Size and production of Quarts de Chaume
45 hectares - 10,000 cases
Tops Producers of Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux
Domines des Baumard
Chateau Pierre-Bise
Top two QDS - Also producers of Savennières
Chateau des Fesles
Number and name of villages allowed to append their name to Coteaux du Layon
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
Wines produced in Saumur
Red
Dry white
Sparkling white
Sparkling rose
Grapes of Saumur Blanc
100% Chenin (Post 2016)
Prior to 2016 could allow addition of Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
Crémant de Loire production
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
Soil types of Saumur and Champigny
Limestone rich - similar to Touraine.
Champigny (field of fire) - harder limestone, iron rich, inflected with shale
Saumur-Champigny villages
8 different villages (light Cabernet Franc)
Soils of Chinon
Three Types
Tuffeau - close to slopes
Clay
Varennes - close to river
What are Varennes soils
Sandy, alluvial soils closest to the river Vienne (Loire Tributary)
Bourgueil soils
Sand and Limestone
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil soils
Lighter, alluvial soils - produces a lighter style of wine
Can Chinon produce white wine?
Yes - Bourgueil and StNdB are only red and rose
Soil types in Vouvray and their influence
Tuffeau limestone subsoils
Soft material for excavating tunnels
Number of communes of Vouvray
8
How is sweetness in Vouvray typically decided
The vintage - rather than a stylistic choice.
Usage of Orbois in Touraine
Can be included in Vovuray
Not allowedin Montlouis-sur-Loire
White grapes of Touraine
As of 2016 - Mandates Sauvignon Blanc - max 20% Sauvignon Gris
