Loire : Pays Nantais

Question 1

Pays Nantais: Climate

Answer 1

• Cool, maritime climate
• threat of rain in spring and autumn
• well draining soils
• spring frosts are an issue
• burning straw bales and using wind machines to prevent frost

Question 2

Pays Nantais : Melon

Answer 2

• hardy, buds early prone to frost
• ripens early, high yielding
• tight bunches are susceptible to powdery mildew
• spraying is needed

Wines are high is acid ,light bodied, low end of medium alcohol . Low aromatic intensity of apple, acceptable to good , inexpensive tpo mid priced
Muscadet AOC may have max. 10% Chardonnay

Question 3

Pays Nantais: Vineyard management

Answer 3

• humid climate
• sprayu agaisnt fungal disease
• canopies are open to help ripen fruit
• struggle to ripen fruit and and skins etc without sugar accumulationan and sunburn

Question 4

Pays Nantais: Wine Making

Answer 4

1. Chaptalisation is allowed up to 12% for cooler years
2. Muscadet is fermented in large, underground, shallow glass line concrete and ss tanks
3. Wine needs to be neutral and then aged on lees
4. MLFC is avoided to maintain acidity
5. Some alternative pods, amphora etc
6. **Sur Lie - ** - fills body, one racking is done to remove gross lees. Wine remains with fine lees though winter until bottling. Freshness is retained and some CO2 remains.

Question 5

Pays Nantais: Wine Law, AOC Regulations

Answer 5

• Two large appellations , Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC and **Muscadet AOC ** 70hl/hc
• Two small , Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC and Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC
• Su Lie and 3 AOCS are limited to 55h/hc
• Wines are dry, green apple and grassy notes high acid and light in body
• Sur Lie may be added to any of the 4 AOC but must be bottled between March 1-Nov 30 of the year following harvest and in the **same winery ** meaning Negociants can only buy grapes, must or bottled wine. Not sur lie wine.
• 10 Muscadet Cru Commanaux inc. Clisson, Gorges, Le Pallet
• small defined areas with max. **45hl/hc **
• Wines must be kept on lees for 18 months in Le Pallet and 24 months in Goges and Clisson
• these wines are not considered sur lees as they are aged for too long - round complex with longer finishes.

Question 6

Pays Nantais: Wine Business

Answer 6

• huge success in the 80s in UK
• Prices pushed up when frost decimated the vines
• repositioning itself as a source of terroir specific wines with good value for money
• Negociants play an important role
• promotion through InterLoire