Loire Flashcards
What region is known as the Jardin de la France?
The Loire
When does winemaking in the Loire date to?
1st centurty CE
Which events took the spotlight away from the Loire in the high and Middle Ages?
King Louis XIV’s coronation at Reims and his development of Versailles
When did phylloxera hit the Loire?
1880
What region produces the most white wine in France?
The Loire and it is second to champagne in sparkling wine production
What are the classic white varietals of the Loire?
Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne
A host of secondary white regional and in- ternational grapes can be found throughout the valley, including Chardonnay, Orbois (Arbois/Menu Pineau), Romorantin, Gros Plant (Folle Blanche), and Chasselas.
What is Breton
A name for Cab Franc in the Loire Valley
What is the most important red varietal in the Loire?
Cabernet Franc
Followed by Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec (Côt), Pineau d’Aunis, and Groslot (Grolleau)
What is Pays Nantais climate like?
A cool, wet maritime region planted primarily to the Melon de Bourgogne grape. This is Muscadet country
What are the 4 Muscadet appellations in Pays Nantais?
Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP.
What ABV does Muscadet generally show best at?
12% ABV or below
Muscadet AOP is the basic appellation for Melon de Bourgogne, what are the characteristics of their wine?
The wines are neutral, bone dry to dry, high in acid, and designed for youthful consumption
The appellation is seldom used, as most producers qualify for one of the other three sub-appellations.
Which Pays Nantais region accounts for over 80% of Muscadet production?
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
How many Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine communes can grapes be sourced from?
23 communes around the Sèvre and Maine Rivers
What are the typical soil types found in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
Gneiss, silica, clay, and granite
In order for Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine muscadet to be labeled Sur Lie, what are the requirements?
In order to label Muscadet as sur lie, the wine must originate from land qualifying for one of the three sub-appellations. Sur lie wines are aged on their lees over the winter and are bottled directly off the fine lees (without filtering) between March 1 and November 30 of the year following the harvest. The process adds complexity, richness, and a slight sparkle to the finished wines.
Nearly 50% of Sèvre-et-Maine muscadets are labeled Sur Lie.
What is the newest Muscadet AOP, when was it created?
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
1994
Where is Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP located in relation to Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine? What are the differences in character between the two?
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP is further north, and the wines are correspondingly leaner. In warmer vintages, the area is an excellent source for grapes.
In Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, what does Hermine d’Or, represent?
“Hermine d’Or,” is an unofficial label term that promotes terroir and stresses ageability
What are the three subzones for Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
The three subzones for Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine are
Clisson
Le Pallet
Gorges
What are the minimum sur lie aging requirements for Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine three sub zones?
Clisson
Le Pallet
Gorges
18 months
Which region is the Loire’s largest?
Anjou
Which is the center for the Loire’s sparkling wine production?
Saumur
What is Pineau de la Loire?
Another name for Chenin in the Loire
Is Anjou’s Chenin produced in sweet or dry styles?
Both Sweet and Dry styles are produced
45% of Anjou’s total production is reserved for which type of wine? What is the dominate variety?
Rose
The blend is dominated by Grolleau grapes
Nearly 1/3 of Anjou’s plantings are which varietal?
Cab Franc
Anjou AOP, an umbrella designation for the region is a designation for which types of wines?
Anjou AOP, a designation for red, white, and sparkling wines,
Can Saumur wines be bottles as Anjou AOP?
Yes, but Anjou wines cannot be bottles as Saumur AOP.
What are descriptors for Savennières AOP? Which grape(s) is it produced from?
100% Chenin
Savennières AOP develop great complexity and honeyed richness with age. Produced from 100% Chenin Blanc and generally dry, the wines of Savennières are austere and rigid in their youth.
Where is Savennieres AOP situated? What are its soil types?
Savennières is situated on the north bank of the Loire. Savennières enjoys a steep southern exposure and a unique soil structure com- posed of blueschist mixed with volcanic debris.
Which two sub-appellations were long regarded as the unofficial grand crus of Savennières and in 2011 received their AOC status?
Roche Aux Moines and Coulée de Serrant
Coulée de Serrant is a monopole of which producer?
The rigidly biodynamic Nicolas Joly
Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP produce from Chenin in which style?
Botrytis affected Chenin for sweet wine.
What does it mean to harvest in tries?
Harvesting in tries (multiple passes through the vineyard) is mandatory in both appellations ( Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP), resulting in either healthy grapes with pure late-harvest flavors or the selection of grapes gripped by noble rot.
What is the minimum sugar content for Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP ?
34 grams/liters
Bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts de Chaume AOP are located within which AOP?
Coteaux de Layon AOP
What commune is Bonnezeaux AOP located in?
Thouarcé
What commune is Quarts de Chaume AOP located in?
Rochefort-sur-Loire
Quarts de Chaume AOP is entitled to the grand cru moniker from which harvest forward?
2010
Quarts de Chaume AOP is located on the banks of which river? What soil types are prominent?
Layon river
The soil types are sandstone and schist
How many hectares is Quarts de Chaume AOP?
45 Hectares total, producing approximately 10,000 cases a year
Name two Quarts de Chaume AOP producers that are reliable for good sweet wine.
Domaine des Baumard and Château Pierre-Bise are both highly regarded Savennieres produces but also produce great sweet wine from the Quarts de Chaume region
What is one of the most respected estates in Bonnezeaux?
Château des Fesles
What are the seven villages that are entitles to add their names to the basic Coteaux du Layon AOP?
1. Beaulieu-sur- Layon 2. Rochefort-sur-Loire 3. Faye d’Anjou 4. St. Lambert du Lattay 5. St. Aubin de Luigné 6. Rablay-sur-Layon 7. Chaume
What is the minimal sugar content in Chaume dessert wines?
80 grams/liter
Does Anjou-Villages AOP produce red or white wine?
Anjou-Villages AOP is a red wine only appellation.
Anjou-Villages producers typically bolster Cabernet Franc with a proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in sturdier and fuller wines.
What does the Saumur AOP cover?
The Saumur AOP covers red, dry white, sparkling white, and sparkling rosé wines.
Prior to 2016, Saumur Blanc permitted the addition of which varietals?
Prior to 2016, Saumur Blanc permitted the addition of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, but now requires 100% Chenin Blanc.
Since what year does Saumur Blanc require 100% Chenin?
2016
Saumur Rouge wines allow for which varietals?
Saumur Rouge wines allow Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pineau d’Aunis
Are still rose wines permitted in Saumur?
No, still rose wines are not, although still sparkling are.
Crémant de Loire AOP allows blending across which regions? What style is this make in?
Touraine and Anjou-Saumur.
Traditional method.
What is tuffeau?
A soft limestone found in Saumur and Tourraine
What varietal is produced by Saumur-Champigny?
Cabernet Franc
It’s a a light, bright, and elegantly floral expression of Cabernet Franc.
Tthe “field of fire” near the commune of Champigny has which type of soil?
A harder limestone that is, iron-rich, and inflected with shale
Which two regions in the Loire produce attractive, expressive reds?
Chinon and Bourgueil in Touraine
Chinon AOP
Bourgueil AOP
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOP
These three AOPs set the standard for classic Loire Cabernet Franc
Brimming with raspberry and green tobacco aromatics and framed by silky tannin, the wines demonstrate remarkable terroir distinctions—especially in Chinon.
Chinon soils are broadly divided into three types, what are they?
tuffeau, clay, and varennes.
The sandy, alluvial varennes soils are closest to the river Vienne—a Loire tributary—whereas tuffeau is more common on the slopes. The vins de tuffe originating from these limestone south-facing slopes carry the most promise for depth and ageworthiness.
What Loire tributary is Chinon located on?
The Vienne River
What are the soil characteristics of Bourgueil?
Like Chinon, Bourgueil soils are divided between sand and limestone, but Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil is situated almost wholly on lighter alluvial soils, with a cor- responding lighter style of wine.
What types of wine are produced in the below AOPs? What are the varietals?
Chinon AOP
Bourgueil AOP
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOP
Reds must be majority Cab Franc in the final wines.
Chinon AOP - produces red (cab franc) and white (Chenin)
Bourgueil AOP - red and rose
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOP - red and rose
Chinon and Bourgueil are located in which region?
Touraine
What is Touraine’s largest and most impor-
tant white wine district?
Vouvray
What is the subsoil of Vouvray
Tuffeau
The tuffeau limestone subsoil of
Vouvray provided soft material for excavation, resulting
in an impressive network of cellar tunnels running un-
derneath the eight delimited communes of Vouvray.
What grapes are permitted in Vouvray
Chenin Blanc
Orbois is allowed but seldom encountered.
What sweetness levels are is Vouvray produced in?
sec sec-tendre (off-dry) demi-sec (half dry) moelleux liquereux
The final decision on residual sugar is usually a response to the vagaries of each vintage, not a consistent stylistic choice.
Can Vouvray producers wame sparkling wine?
Yes.
Vouvray producers may choose to make a sparkling
wine, a successful strategy in cooler years. The sparkling
wines are made by méthode traditionnelle and may be
either pétillant or mousseux.
Montlouis-sur-
Loire AOP are very similar to which other Loire region?
Vouvray. Montois-sur-Loire AOPused to be part of Vouvray AOP.
Unlike Vouvray, Orbois is not permitted in Montlouis-sur- Loire.
What is the dominate white wine in Touraine?
Chenin Blanc
What reds dominate Touraine?
Below are the dominate reds in Touraine, but Touraine is not limited to these.
Gamay
Groslot
Pineau d’Aunis
Cabernet Franc
What type of wine does Touraine Noble-Joué AOP produce?
Rose
Blended from:
Gris Meunier (Pinot Meu- nier)
Malvoisie (Pinot Gris)
Pinot Noir.
The Coteaux du Loir AOP lands on which tributary?
The Loir (no “e”) tributary
What type of wine does the Coteaux du Loir AOP produce?
Red blends and rosés are based on Pineau d’Aunis
White wines are exclusively produced from Chenin Blanc
What is the Jasnières AOP subappellation of Coteaux du Loire AOP known for producing.
High quality Chenin
Similar in style to Vouvray, yet often more green and herbaceous in character
Northeast of the
Coteaux du Loir is Coteaux du Vendômois AOP, a newer appellation specializing in which type od wine?
dry rosé of Pineau d’Aunis.
Cheverny AOP and Cour-Cheverny AOP are on the eastern edge of Touraine. Cheverny’s light reds are based on which two red grapes? Their whites?
Reds based on Pinot Noir and Gamay
Whites based on Sauvignon Blanc
Cour-Cheverny AOP bottles which local grape varietal as Cour-Cheverny?
Romorantin
The Valençay AOP covers by with wine and what other product?
What wine varietals does it produce from?
Goat cheese
Reflecting the proximity of Reuilly and Quincy to the east, Valençay’s whites are predominantly composed of Sauvignon Blanc. Red and rosé wines from the ap- pellation are based on Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Côt (Malbec).
What is another name for Côt?
Malbec
Describe the classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc style
classic Loire style: steely, pungently herbaceous, mineral-laden Sauvignon Blanc made for youthful drinking. Vibrant but not lean, the best exam-
ples have subtle complexity and a focused, lengthy finish
In Sancerre, what are the three main soil types?
Silex
Terres blanches
Caillottes
Terres blanches is a continuation of the same Kim- meridgian clay that extends into Chablis, whereas caillottes is a stony soil, littered with fossils. Silex
has a higher proportion of flint, continuing into the communes of Pouilly-Fumé across the river, where a certain “gunflint” character is implied in the wines.
Sancerre AOP and Pouilly-Fumé AOP are produced in stainless steel or oak?
Whereas classic Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines are produced in stainless steel, Didier Dagueneau and others have experimented with new oak. The resulting wines can be more akin to white Bordeaux than classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc
Can Pouilly-Fumé AOP produce red wines?
No, only white. 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Can Sacerre AOP produce red wines?
Yes, Pinot Noir may be vinified as Sancerre Rouge or Rosé. These tend toward extreme lightness, and generally have less body and higher acid than even Côte Chalonnaise Pinot Noirs.
The Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP, named after the central commune of Pouilly- Fumé, is reserved for whites produced from which grape?
The Chasselas grape.
The Quincy AOP is notable for?
Quincy, a white
wine-only AOP, is notable for being the second demarcated appellation in France, following only Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Reuilly AOP produces red and whites from which varietals?
100% Pinot Noir and 100% Sauvignon Blanc, respectively
Which appellation is Didier Dageaneau located in?
Pouilly Fume
Can Sancerre AOP produce sparkling wine?
No
Which grape is used to produce Savennières AOP?
Chenin Blanc
Can Vouvray produce sparkling wine?
Yes
Extended lees contact is most commonly used in the Loire with which grape variety?
Melone de Bourgogne
In which region is the Muscadet AOP located?
Pays Nantais
True or False: The Loire Valley produces the most AOP white wine in France
True
Which grape is used to produce Muscadet AOP?
Melone de Bourgogne
Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire are separated by which river?
The Loire
The 3 geographical designations of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine are:
Gorges
Clisson
Le Pallet
What is “pourriture noble?”
A French snyonym for botrytis cinera
What is the grape of Jasnières AOP?
Chenin Blanc
What is the only permitted grape of Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP?
Chenin Blanc
In which appellation is Francois Chidaine located?
Montlouis-sur-Loire
True or False: Vouvray may only be produced from 100% Chenin Blanc
False. Orbois is also permitted.
Which region is the Quincy AOP located in?
The Central Vineyards
What is the red grape of Reuilly AOP?
Pinot Noir
What is the synonym in Pays Nantais for Gros Plant?
Folle Blanche
In which direction does Touraine Noble-Joué AOP lie from the Loire River?
South
Both the Cher and Indre Rivers run through the region
Which of the following contains the most residual sugar by law? A. Sec B. Moulleux C. Demi-Sec D. Quarts de Chaume
D. Quarts de Chaume
Minimum Residual Sugar: 85 g/l
Which region is Coteaux d’Ancenis located in?
Pays Nantais
Which region is Coteaux de l’Aubance located in?
Anjou-Saumur
Which region is Jasnières located in?
Touraine
Which region is Quincy located in?
Central Vineyards
White wine only region: Sauvignon Blanc, plus a max. 10% Sauvignon Gris
The minimum amount of Cabernet Franc required in Saumur-Champigny is?
85%
Principal Variety: Cabernet Franc
Accessory Varieties: Max. 15% combined Cabernet Sauvignon and Pineau d’Aunis
How would Vouvray with 35 g/l of residual sugar be labeled? A. Sec B. Sec-Tendre C. Moulleux D. Doux
C. Moulleux
Sec (less than 4 grams per liter)
Demi-Sec “off dry” (4 to 12 grams per liter)
Moelleux (12 to 45 grams per liter)
Doux or Liquoreux (45 grams per liter) of residual sugar.
Breton is a synonym for which grape?
Cab Franc
What are the three primary soils of Sancerre?
Caillottes
Terres Blanche
Silex
Which are the parent grapes of Melon de Bourgogne?
Gouais Blanc X Pinot Blanc
Phillippe Foreau produces wine at which of the following estates? A. Clos la Néore B. Clos de Beaujeu C. Clos Naudin D. Clos du Bourg
C. Clos Naudin
What is the sole permitted style in Anjou-Villages Brissac AOP?
Red
Based off of Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon
What is the minimum ABV % for Vouvray still wines?
11% - Still
9.5% mousseux / Pétillant
What is the primary grape used to produce Coteaux du Loir Vin Gris?
Pineau d’Aunis
Domaine Huet produces “Cuvee _____ ,” a botrytised, hand-picked dessert wine from 3 estate vineyards.
Constance
In what year did Fiefs Vendéens became an AOP?
2011
With the elimination of the VDQS tier in 2011, three new regions in Pays Nantais gained AOC status: Gros Plant du Pays Nantais, Coteaux d’Ancenis, and Fiefs Vendéens.
Le Mont and Clos de Bourg are Vouvray vineyards owned by which producer?
Huet
Who is the producer of “Clos du Papillon” (Savennieres)?
Domaine du Closel (correct answer according to guildsomm)
Domaine des Baumard
Which region is the Quincy AOP located in?
Central Vineyards - it’s a white wine only AOP - Sauvignon Blanc
What is the red grape of Menetou-Salon?
Pinot Noir
What is the maximum residual sugar in grams per liter of Vouvray sec?
8g/l
The Malvoisie grape is generally found in which Pays Nantais AOP?
Coteaux d’Ancenis
Pouilly-sur-Loire produces from which grape?
Chasselas (though it does better in Switzerland)
Cour-Cheverny AOP produces wine from which grape?
Romoratin
Silex is a soil in Sancerre composed of sand and ….
Flint
What is the IGP of the Loire Valley?
Val de Loire IGP
What is the grape of Quincy AOP?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is the red grape of Menetou Salon?
Pinot Noir
The white grape is Sauvignon Blanc
What is the grape of Jasnieres AOP?
Chenin Blanc
Where is Chanturques located?
Côtes d’Auvergne AOP of Central Loire
Domaine Huet produces “Cuvee _____ ,” a botrytised, hand-picked dessert wine from 3 estate vineyards.
Constance
Sacy in St-Pourçain is also known as…
Tresallier
Asteroide is produced by who?
Didier Dagueneau
Cuvée Granit is produced by who?
Guy Bossard
Clos la Neore is produced by?
Edmond Vatan
In what year did Fiefs Vendéens became an AOP?
2011
Fiefs Vendéens is located in Pays Nantais
Vix is a geographical designation of which AOP? A. Coteaux du Layon B. Côtes d'Auvergne C. Fiefs Vendéens D. Touraine
C. Fiefs Vendéens
What is the sole permitted style in Anjou-Villages Brissac AOP?
Red
What is the minimum ABV for Vouvray still wines?
11% ABV
Sacy in St-Pourçain is also known as _____.
Tressalier
Malvoisie is a synonym for…?
Pinot Gris
The Quincy AOP lies along which river?
The Cher River
There Quincy produces white wines from Sauvignon Blanc (max 10% Sauvignon Gris is permitted)
What is the minimum vine age in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP?
6 Years
The owners of Domaine _____ also possess the Kiralyudvar estate in Hungary.
Domaine Huet
Where is Chanturques located?
In the Côtes d’Auvergne.
It produces red wines only from min 50% Gamay with Pinot Noir as a blending partner
What is the maximum yield in hl/ha of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Clisson?
45 hl/ha
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine max yield in hL/ha is 55 hl/ha, however when there’s a subzone designation, such as Clisson, Gorges or Le Pallot, the designation drops to 45hl/ha
What is the soil type of St. Nicolas de Bourgeuil?
Alluvial
What is the primary grape used to produce Coteaux du Loir Vin Gris?
Pineau d’Aunis (min 65% of this grape, Cot, Gamay and Grolleau can be added as well for vin gris)
For reds, Pineau d’Aunis is the principal grape again at 65% and the blending partners are Cab Franc, Cot and Gamay
Pineau d’Aunis produces both the reds and roses of the Coteaux du Loir and the Jasnieres AOP produces the varietal Chenin Blancs of the region
What AOP does the Pascal Jolivet estate produce wine in?
Sancerre
Touraine Noble-Joué AOP exclusively produces which kind of wine?
Dry rose from a min of 40% Pinot Meunier with additions allowed from Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir
In which appellation does the Moulin-Touchais estate produce wine?
Coteaux du Layon
What AOP contains “Les Monts Damnés?”
Sancerre
Which geographic designation of Touraine is based entirely on Sauvignon Blanc?
Oisly
In what year did Fiefs Vendéens became an AOP?
2011
In 2011 the elimination of the VDQS brought about three new regions: Gros Plant du Pays Nantais, Coteaux d’Ancenis, and Fiefs Vendeens