Loire Valley Flashcards
Describe the path of the Loire River and its significance with regard to vineyard aspect
- The source is in central France from which it flows north until Orléans where it turns west.
- Whilst it flows north, the vineyards flank the east & west sides and whilst it flows west, the vineyards fland the north & south sides.
How does the Loire River impact temperatures?
- As all significant bodies of water do, the river helps to warm the vineyards that flank it.
- Temperatures near the river itself average 2-4 degrees warmer on any given day.
What are the main sub-divisions of the Loire Valley? What are the vineyards called here? What are the climates like
1) Lower Loire
- Pays Nantais (maritime)
2) Middle Loire
- Anjou, Saumur (both maritime with continental influences) & Touraine (continental with maritime influences)
3) Centre and Upper Loire (continental)
What percentage of Loire Valley wine is AOC?
75%
Describe the climate of the Lower Loire and what moderates temperatures.
- Maritime
- Moderated by the Gulf Stream and the river effects of the Loire and its tributaries
- Most annual sunshine in the Loire
Describe the seasons in the Lower Loire
Springs - Cool, damp and often cloudy. Sunshine hours build towrds summer.
Summers - Warm and mild with lots of sunshine. High humidity can cause disease pressure.
Autumns - Warm and mild with occasional thunderstorms which can be detrimental to harvests.
Winters - Cold and damp with little snowfall. Threats of frosts and ice storms.
Is chaptalization allowed in the Loire Valley?
Yes but it is only done when absolutely neccesary in order to maintain alcohol levels.
Describe the climate of Anjou and Saumur
- Maritime with continental influences
- Temps are slightly colder in winter and slightly warmer in summer than the Lower Loire.
Describe the climate of Touraine
- Continental with maritime influences
- Maritime influences dissipate the further east you go
Describe the climate of the Centre and Upper Loire
- Continental climate
- Largest diurnal and seasonal temperature swings of all the 4 sub-regions.
- Harsh climate does not support the diversity of vines found in the Middle Loire
Describe the seasons in the Centre and Upper Loire
Winter:
- Cold and prone to ice/frost
Spring:
- Short and highly variable.
Summer:
- Hot and sunny, off-setting the short spring
Autumn:
- Temperate and mild through harvest but with some humidity and fog.
Why are the humid conditions of the Centre/Upper Loire not a problem for Sauvignon Blanc?
Because the grape is hardy and resistant to fungal diseases.
Describe the soils of the Lower Loire
- Gneiss (porous) dominates the top soils
- Crystalline igneous rocks are the sub-soils (volcanic with high mineral content)
Describe the soils of Anjou & Samur
Anjou
- Dark schist and tuffeau (white chalk)
Saumur
- Tuffeau (calcium rich chalk is great for high acid sparkling wine)
What soils are the sweet wine appellations of Anjou based upon?
Schist
Describe the soils of the following areas within Touraine
Hillsides Near rivers Vouvray & Montlouis Chinon Bourgueil
Hillsides: Tuffeau
Near rivers: perruche (flint & clay) and aubuis (limestone & clay)
Vouvray, Montlouis and Amboise: Tuffeau
Chinon: Chalky (whites)/sandy (reds)/gravely (reds)soils
Bourgueil: Sandy gravels, chalk pebbles & tuffeau.
Describe the 3 main soil types of the Centre Loire and what base they rest upon
- Terres Blanche (marl rich in oyster fossils)
- Caillottes (little limestone pebbles)
- Silex (flint)
They rest upon a base of Kimmeridgean limestone
What effect does growing on soils of terres blanche, caillottes & silex have on the wines?
Terre blanche: vibrant acidity
Caillottes: less structured
Silex: vibrant acidity and smoky finish
Describe the soils of the Upper Loire
- Limestone
- Granite
What are the main tributaries of the Loire and where are they located?
Loir - join the Loire around the town of Angers in Anjou-Saumur
Layon - West of Saumur
Cher - In the Centre Loire joining from the south
Sévre & Maine - Both in the Lower Loire east of Nantes
Name the prominent wine cities along the river from east to west
Orléans, Blois, Amboise, Tours, Chinon, Saumur, Angers & Nantes
What was the impact of the Dutch on the Loire Valley?
- The Dutch were key players in the wine industry in the 17th century
- The Loire became a key supplier to them
- The Dutch influenced the French vignerons to plant more white varieties so they could produce their newly created brandewijn (burnt wine) which was distilled from Muscadet and Folle Blanche.
What are the synonyms of the following grapes:
- Muscadet
- Folle Blanche
- Chenin Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Cabernet Franc
- Pinot Meunier
- Malbec
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne)
- Folle Blanche (Gros Plant)
- Chenin Blanc (Pineau de la Loire, Gros Pineau)
- Pinot Gris (Malvoisie)
- Cabernet Franc (Breton)
- Pinot Meunier (Gris Meunier)
- Malbec (Côt)
- Chardonnay (Auvernat Blanc)
- Pinot Noir (Auvernat Noir)
- Sauvignon Blanc (Blanc Fumé)
What are the main white grapes of the Lower Loire?
- Muscadet
- Folle Blanche
- Pinot Gris
What are the main red grapes of the Lower Loire?
- Cab Franc
- Cab Sav
- Gamay
- Pinot Noir
- Négrette
What are the main white grapes of the Middle Loire?
- Chenin Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Romorantin (Cour-Cheverny)
What are the main red grapes of the Middle Loire?
- Cab Franc
- Cab Sav
- Gamay
- Pinot Noir
- Grolleau
What are the main white grapes of the Centre/Upper Loire?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Chasselas
- Sacy (Upper Loire)
What are the main red grapes of the Centre/Upper Loire?
- Pinot Noir
- Gamay
Historically, what was the preferred white grape of the Centre Loire? Why is this no longer the case?
- Chasselas
- Difficult to graft post phylloxera
What is the most used grape for rosé in the Middle Loire?
- Grolleau
What are the main grapes used for rosé in the Loire?
- Grolleau, Cab Franc, Cab Sav
What are the sweetness categories of the 4 different rosé appellations?
Rosé de Loire: Dry
Cabernet de Saumur: RS <0.7%
Rosé d’Anjou: RS>0.7%
Cabernet d’Anjou: RS >1%
What is the definition of Pétillant, Mousseux and Crémant?
Pétillant: fizzy (1-2.5 atms pressure)
Mousseux: frothy/bubbly (min 3 atms pressure and 9 months sur lie ageing)
Cremant: min 12 months sur lie ageing + 1 month in cellar.
All are traditional method sparkling wines.
Which alternative grape is permitted in Rosé d’Anjou
Malbec
Which alternative grape is permitted in Rosé de Loire
Pinot Noir
What term is used to describe sparkling wines from the Loire?
Fines bulles (fine bubbles)
What is the only grape that makes dessert wines? What are the two options for sweet wine making?
- Chenin
- Botryris or passerillage
Name the list of white AOCs that are Sauvignon based
- Touraine, Cheverny, Mentou-Salon, Pouilly-Fumé, Quincy, Reuilly & Sancerre
Name the list of white AOCs that are Chenin based
- Anjou, Bonnezeaux, Coteaux wines, Savenniéres, Saumur, Chinon, Montlouis-Sur-Loire, Vouvray
Name the list of red AOCs that are Cab Franc based
- Anjou, Saumur, Bourgueil, Chinon, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Touraine
Name the list of red AOCs that are Pinot Noir based
- Cheverny, Mentou-Salon, Reuilly, Sancerre
Which AOCs make sweet wines?
- All Coteaux AOCs, Bonnezeaux, Savenniéres, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, Montlouis-Sur-Loire, Vouvray
What are the names of the AOCs in the Lower Loire? What are the names of the three crus?
Muscadet AOC Muscatet Coteaux de la Loire AOC Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC - Clisson - Gorges - Le Pallet
What is the largest AOC in the Lower Loire?
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC (75%)
When must wines labelled Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur lie be bottled?
Between the 1st of April and 30th November the year after harvest
What can’t the 3 Muscadet crus be labelled as?
Sur lie
What grapes are the wines made from in Pouilly-Sur-Loire?
Chasselas
What grapes are the wines made from in Cour-Cheverny?
Romarantin
What is different about the wine laws of Cheverny?
Wine law mandates the % of vine plantings, not the % of which varieties are in the bottle
In Savennieres, what are the different RS requirements for: Sec Demi-sec Moelleux Doux
Sec - <3g/L
Demi-sec - 3-18 g/L
Moelleux - 18-45 g/L
Doux - >45g/L
How much of Anjou’s production is rosé?
50%
What is the only monopole AOC?
Savennieres Coulée de Serrant AOC
Which area is most well known for sparking wines?
Saumur
Which methods are used to make rosé?
Direct press & saignée
