Loire General/History

Question 1

What is the longest river (and the last wild river) in Europe?
How long is it?
What direction and where does it start and where does it end?

Answer 1

Loire river at 629 miles.

—The headwaters in the Massif Central flow north and west to its mouth on the Atlantic Coast.

Question 2

When was Loire Valley (or Jardin de la France) designated a World Heritage Site?

Answer 2

2000

Question 3

What is Jardin de la France?

Answer 3

Another name for Loire Valley

Question 4

How far back does winemaking in the Loire date?

Answer 4

1st Century CE

Question 5

Where does Cabernet Franc originate?

Answer 5

Basque region

Question 6

When was Loire wine at it’s prominence?

When did Loire wines lose interest?

Answer 6

—Always been an important commodity in the cafes of Paris
—exported via Nantes to England by the 11th century.
—Wines of Sancerre, Anjou, and Saint-Pourçain succeeded each other in national repute during the High (after 1000) and Late Middle Ages (1250-1500), when the Loire Valley was the focus of French society.

—This focus shifted with King Louis XIV’s coronation at Reims (June 7, 1654) and his development of Versailles.
—Pastoral Loire Valley faded from view as the Industrial Age blossomed and swifter transit brought new wines to Paris.
—Phylloxera in the 1880’s and the rise of Bordeaux and other regions…Loire forgotten.

Question 7

Loire Valley primary (3) and secondary white varietals (5)

Answer 7

• Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne

- Chardonnay, Orbois, Romorantin, Gros Plant (Folle Blanche), and Chasselas

Question 8

What region produces more white wine and the second most sparkling wine than any other region in France?

Answer 8

Loire Valley: First in white wine and second in sparkling wine (behind Champagne)

Question 9

Loire Valley primary red varietal
What is it known as locally?

Secondary red varietals? (6)

Answer 9

Cabernet Franc (known locally as Breton)

Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec (Cot), Pineau d’Aunis, and Groslot (Grolleau)

Question 10

What is the geographical designation most (all?) Loire appellations can use?

Answer 10

“Val de Loire”

Question 11

Name three (there are 5) appellations in the Loire that allow for Pinot Gris?

Answer 11

Reuilly AOP (rose and red)
Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP (white 100% Malvoisie)
Orléans AOP (complentary white and rose)
Touraine Noble-Joué AOP (complementary) 
Châteaumeillant AOP (complementary)