Loire: Appellations Part 1 Flashcards
Rank the top ten AOCs of Loire from highest to lowest production.
- Cabernet d’Anjou AOC (15%)
- Touraine AOC (10%)
- Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC (9%)
- Sancerre AOC (9%)
- Cremant de Loire AOC (7%)
- Vouvray AOC (6%)
- Saumur AOC (5%)
- Rose d’Anjou AOC (5%)
- Pouilly-Fume AOC (4%)
-
Chinon AOC (3%)
Others (27%)
(2019)
Where is Pays Nantais located?
This is the westernmost sub-region in the Loire Valley. It is located near the city of Nantes. It lies directly on the Atlantic Ocean.
Where are the Pays Nantais vineyards planted?
- Generally flat
- slightly south-facing
- within 6-60mi/10-96km of the Atlantic coast.
What is the climate in Pays Nantais?
Maritime
What topographical feature influences the climate in Pays Nantais?
Atlantic Ocean
* moderates temperatures in winter & summer
* winds bring regular rainfall
What are the seasons like in Pays Nantais?
- Winters are mild & quite damp
- Springs are cool, damp & often cloudy
- Summers are warm and sunny with occasional rainstorms
- Autumns tend to be warm & mild
What threats to vines face in Pays Nantais?
- April frosts
- Humidity can cause rot & mildew outbreaks
Which Loire sub-region is usually the first to experience budbreak in the spring?
Pays Nantais
Also, always the first to begin the harvest.
Describe the topography in Pays Nantais.
- Predominantly flat coastline area
- Few topographical markers
- Bisected by the Sevre & Maine rivers
What geological formation does Pays Nantais rest upon?
Massif Amoricain
What soil types are found in Pays Nantais?
Soils here are derived from rocks of ancient & complex origin:
* Volcanic
* Igneous
* Metamorphic
They are predominantly acidic:
* Gneiss
* Mica schist
* With little limestone
Weathering & erosion have left them usefully free-draining with a multiplicity of mineral nuances which local growers believe affect wine flavour.
Why are porous soils essential in Pays Nantais?
- Natural humidity of the seashore
- Large/high subterranean water table
- Plethora of river systems
- Significant rainfall
Without porous soils, these factors would result in high-yielding vines that produce wines of very little extract.
Name the white grape varieties of Pays Nantais.
- Melon de Bourgogne: the most important grape here, represented by approx. 75% of its plantings
- Chardonnay
- Folle Blanche
- Chenin Blanc
- Colombard
- Montils
- Sauvignon Blanc
Name the rose/gris grape varieties of Pays Nantais.
- Pinot Gris: used to make sweet wine in Coteaux d’Ancenis
- Grolleau Gris: a supplemental variety used in Fiefs Vendeens
Name the red grape varieties of Pays Nantais.
- Gamay: represents about 5% of plantings; it is the primary grape for Coteau d’Ancenis.
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Negrette
- Pinot Noir
Name the appellations of Pays Nantais.
- Muscadet AOC (1937)
- Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC (1936)
- Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC (1936)
- Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC (1994)
- Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC (1954)
- Coteaux d’Ancenis AOC (1954)
- Fiefs Vendeens AOC (1984)
What area does the Muscadet AOC cover?
This sub-regional appellation covers the entire growing area of Pays Nantais.
The winegrowing area is mostly flat and closely overlaps the Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC.
What style of wine is produced under Muscadet AOC?
Dry White
Which grape varieties are permitted in the production of Muscadet AOC?
- [P] Melon de Bourgogne
- [S] Chardonnay: up to 10% is authorized as of the 2021 vintage
What restriction is placed upon the wines of Muscadet AOC?
Not permitted to produce wines sur lie.
How much wine is produced under the Muscadet AOC?
Only 20% of all Muscadet produced.
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC actually produces more wine, despite Muscadet AOC covering more ground.
Which appellations in Pais Nantais require the wines to be 100% Melon do Bourgogne?
- Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC
- Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
- Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC
Where is Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC located?
It stretches south and east of the city of Nantes and is situated on the south side of the Loire River.
What percentage of Muscadet is bottled under the Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC?
75%
What percentage of wines produced in Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC are aged sur lie?
90%
Where does Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC get its name?
From two Loire tributaries:
* Sevre Nantaise River
* Maine River
How many DGCs are there in Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC? Name them.
9 DGCs termed Crus Communaux:
1. Chateau-Thebaud
2. Clisson
3. Gorges
4. Goulaine
5. Monnieres-Saint-Fiacre
6. Mouzillon-Tillieres
7. Le Pallet
8. Vallet
9. La Haye-Fouassiere
What are the regulations for DGCs under the Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC?
- Lower yields
- Higher alcohol
- Longer min. sur lie aging requirements than other Muscadet AOCs
- may NOT put the term sur lie on their labels
Which of the Muscadet AOCs in Pay Nantais is the smallest and furthest from the sea?
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Where is Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC located?
Its zone of production is located northeast of Nantes, on both sides of the Loire River, and overlaps most of the Coteaux d’Ancenis AOC.
Where are the vineyards planted in Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC?
On hillsides. (The other Muscadet regions are planted to relatively flat terrain)
Does Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC have any DGCs?
One: Champtoceaux
In total, there are 10 DGCs in the Pays Nantais.
Where is Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC located?
This appellation is located southwest of Nantes along Lake Grand-Lieu. Of all the Muscadet sub-regions, it is closest to the ocean.
The terrain is flat.
How does the ocean influence the Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC region?
- Sea breezes chase away storm clouds
- Confers a touch of salinity to the finished wines
What are the rules behind wines labeled sur lie in the Muscadet producing regions of Pays Nantais?
Wine law mandates that wines labeled sur lie must be bottled in cellars between March 1st and December 31st of the year after harvest.
Because of this stipulation, other growing areas with longer lees aging cannot put sur lie on the label.
What style of wine is produced in Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC?
Dry White
They may label their wines sur lie if the wines have undergone aging on its lees.
Which grape varieties are permitted under Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC?
White:
* [P] Folle Blanche
* [S] Colombard, Montils
What is the Folle Blanche variety called in the Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC?
Gros Plant: this literally translates as “big plant”; the vine is quite vigorous and high yielding
Where are vineyards in Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC planted?
On the best parcels along the Sevre and Maine rivers in sandy soils peppered with gravel and granite.
What styles of wine are produced in Coteaux d’Ancenis AOC?
- Rose
- Red
- Semi-Sweet White: 2-4% (20-40 g/l) RS
Production is almost evenly divided between the 3 styles.
Which grape varieties are permitted in the Coteaux d’Ancenis AOC?
Rose/Gris:
* [P] Pinot Gris: locally called Malvoisie
Red:
* [P] Gamay: 65% of total vineyard plantings
* [S] Cabernet Franc
How are the semi-sweet white wines from Coteaux d’Ancenis AOC labeled?
Coteaux d’Ancenis Malvoisie
They are made from Pinot Gris, locally named Malvoisie.
What styles of wine are produced in Fiefs Vendeens AOC?
- Dry White
- Rose
- Red
Which grape varieties are permitted in Fiefs Vendeens AOC?
White:
* [P] Chenin Blanc
* [S] Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Rose/Gris:
* [S] Grolleau Gris
Red:
* [P] Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir
* [S] Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Negrette
Nearly 80% of the appellation’s vineyards are planted to red grapes.
Fiefs Vendeens labels are always coupled with what?
One of its 5 DGCs:
1. Brem
2. Chantonnay
3. Mareuil
4. Pissotte
5. Vix
Which grape is used in the production of white wines from Fiefs Vendeens AOC?
Chenin Blanc (majority)
Which grapes are used to produce red wines in which DGCs in the Fiefs Vendeens AOC?
- Brem & Pissotte: Pinot Noir
- Chantonnay, Mareuil & Vix: Cabernet Franc
Which grape are used to produce roses in Fiefs Vendeens AOC?
- Gamay
- Pinot Noir
Proportions differ from one DGC to the next.
Which sub-region in Loire Valley has the largest viticultural area?
Anjou and Saumur (Middle Loire)
Anjou and Saumur is dominated by which grape varieties?
- Chenin Blanc
- Cabernet Franc
What are the vinegrowing areas in Middle Loire?
Moving from west to east along the river:
* Anjou: the area around the city of Angers. It includes the Layon Valley, well known for its sweet wine production.
* Saumur: the area around the city of Saumur
What is the climate in Anjou and Saumur?
Maritime & Continental influences.
It is impacted by Atlantic winds; however, this declines with increasing distance from the ocean.
Seasonal temperature swings, common to continental climates, become more significant further inland.