Loire Valley Flashcards
Describe the Loire Valley
By nature and nurture Loire is an aristocratic place, known as Le Gardin de la France, 4th most popular tourist destination- largest white wine region, second largest sparkling wine producer, France’s third largest producer of AOC wines
When did organized viticulture come to the Loire valley? What encouraged this?
As early as 1st century AD, climate favorable for wide selection of grape varieties, river traffic ensured wines’ commercial success
What continued Loire Valley wine success over history?
- When British became powerful presence in France wines of Loire served at King’s table in England and became increasingly popular in England
- Augustinian and Benedictine monks developed and maintained vineyards of region, promoted wine culter and quality through 1600s
- The Loire attracted royalty and nobility of France, foodstuffs and wines of Loire popularized
- Through 1600s Loire became key supplier of wine to England and the Netherlands, region grew wealthy
What impact did the Dutch have on the grapes planted in the Loire in the 1700s?
Dutch traders influenced producers to plant white Muscadet and Folle Blanche so Dutch could produce their newly created brandewijn (burnt wine), for next two centuries source of wildly popular French “Brandy wine”
What struggles did hte Loir valley face in the 1800s
Nationally railway system in mid 1800s created competition from wines of Southern France, Bordeaux, and Bourgogne; 1880s pylloxera struck- one of last areas to be stuck and one of last to recover
What impact did the introduction of the Appellation d’Origine Controlee legislation in 1935 have on the Loire valley?
Led to resurgence of Loire as fine wine producing region due to large number of AOCs it received (Quincy, Anjou, Muscadet, Sancerre, and Vouvray officially given AOC status in 1936 - today ~70 AOCs)
Where is the Loire Valley located?
Stretched 620 miles along Loire river from headwaters in Central France to delta on Atlantic coast, empties into Bay of Biscay; most vineyards flank Loire river or its tributaries; North of Cognac region, south of Normandy, east of Atlantic, and west of Bourgogne and Massif Central mountain ranges, Loire flows North then turns west at Orleans
What does “Loire” mean?
Taken from Latin word “Liger” which means silt/sediment, fitting, Loire has many sandbars
What direction do the vineyards of the Loire face?
When river is going north vineyards flank east and west facing slopes, when turns west they flank the north and south facing slopes; but slopes multifaceted and can fins south facing slopes regardless of where you are in Loire- south facing are most desired, optimize sun and exposure, key to ripening in Northerly region
What is the climate of the Loire?
River effect, river helps warm vineyards that flank it, temps near river are 2-4 degrees warmer, tributaries create favorable mesoclimates; Gulf Stream exerts influence, funnels breeze from Atlantic coast all the way to Orleans
- Pays Nantais/Lower Loire: Distinct maritime climate
- Anjou, Saumur, Touraine/Middle Loire: Maritime climate with continental influences
- Centre and Upper Loire: Continental climate
What percent of production in the Loire has AOC status?
75%
Approximately how many AOCs does the Loire have and white types of wine do they produce?
Approx 70 different AOCs, produce red wine, dry and semi-sweet rose and dry, sweet, and sparkling white
What percent of Loire wine is IGP production? What is the largest regional IGP and how does it rank compared to other French IGPs in size?
14% or Loire production is IGP, IGP Val de Loire is one of France’s largest regional IGPs
What percent of Loire wine is Vins Sans IGP?
11%
Where is the Pays Nantais (Lower Loire) located? What is the orientation of the vineyards there?
westernmost Loire Valley subregion, located near city of Nantes; vineyards are generally flat or slightly south facing, within 6-60 miles of Atlantic coast
What is the climate of Pays Nantais?
The most maritime of the Loire subregions, directly on Atlantic Ocean and influenced by Gulf stream which increases annual temperature, supplemented by river effect of Loire; 2000 hours of sunshine a year (slightly more than other subregions)
What are the seasons like in Pays Nantais?
- Winters are cold and damp with little snowfall, biggest threats are frost and ice storms
- Spring is cool and damp, often cloudy, sunshine hours build as spring progresses into summer
- Summer: warm and mild with plenty of sunshine, high humidity can cause rot and mildew outbreaks
- Autumn: Tends to be warm and mild, occasional rainstorms can be detrimental during harvest
When is chaptalization used in the Loire?
Permitted since Loire cna have inadequate sunshine and/or insufficient heat and excessive rain, chaptalize only when absolutely necessary to maintain necessary alcohol levels
What is the topography of Pays Nantais?
Predominantly flat coastline with few topographical markets, bisected by Sevre and Maine Rivers
What are the soils of the Pays Nantais?
Erosion of volcanic elements over time has created soils that are found in the area today; gneiss dominates top soil (very porous rock), provides critical drainage due to heavy rainfall, high sub-terrain water table, humidity of seashore, and plethora of rivers- without this vines would be very high yielding, wines would have little extract
Subsoil is mostly crystalline igneous rock- formed as molten lava cooled, high in mineral contect
What are the white grape varieties of Pays Nantais?
Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc (Pineau de la Loire, Gros Pineau), Folle Blanche (Gros Plant), Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne), Pinot Gris (Malvoisie), Sauvignon Blanc
What are the red grapes of Pay Nantais?
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Negrette, and Pinot Noir
What are the AOCs of Pays Nantais?
- Coteaux d’Ancenis (white, semi-sweet;red/rose, dry)
- Fiefs Vendeens + sub-regional designation (dry white, red, rose)
- Gros Plant du Pays Nantais (dry white, sur lie)
- Muscadet (dry white, sur lie/premieur)
- Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire (dry white, sur lie)
- Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu (dry white, sur lie)
- Muscadet: Glisson, Gorges, La Pallet (dry white)
- Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine (dry white, sur lie)
What are the five sub-regions of Fiefs Vendeens that are always appended?
Brem, Chantonnay, Mareuil, Pissotte, and Vix
What are the principle AOC of the Lower Loire? What is unique about their names?
The principal AOC of the Lower Loire is Muscadet AOC, it is also largest in size; in non-traditional fashion the Muscadet AOCs are all names after the grapes local name, all produce dry white wine from Melon de Bourgogne
What is the size and % of production of Muscadet AOC?
Regional AOC, zone of production encompasses entire Pays Nantais, only responsible for 20% of Muscadet production
What is the size style and location of Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire?
Smallest of regional Muscadet AOCs, located north of Nantes on both sides of Loire, pronounced minerality
What is the location and style of wine of Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC?
southwest of Nantes along Lake Grand-Lieu, wines are fresh and fruity
What percent of Muscadet AOC production is Muscadet Sevre et Maine responsible for?
75%
What was Muscadet Sevre et Maine named for?
The two rivers that run through it (La Sevre Nantaise and La Petite Maine), stretches south and east of the city of Nantes
How is Muscadet production carried out and where is it generally consumed?
Mostly consumed sur place (locally) but region’s largest client is Paris, most production is carried out by large negociants and cooperatives, wine is delicate, easy-drinking, inexpensive wine
What is the style of Muscadet
Easy-drinking, delicate, inexpensive; best examples streaked with fresh pink grapefruit and pepper, rounder on texture, nutties in flavor; all appellations can be aged sur lie
What are the special terroirs that Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC has selected and identified as crus within its borders to work towards unique distinctiveness? What are the added requirements?
1) Muscadet Sevre et Maine Clisson: granite gravels, dried fruit flavors, most concentrated flavors of the three, min 24 months sur lie
2) Muscadet Sevre et Miane Gorges: clay soil rich in quartz and green volcanic rock (gabbros), wines have minerality and touch of smoke, late maturing, 24 months sur lie
3) Muscadet Sevre et Maine Le Pallet: Gneiss and gabbros, pronounced floral elements, 17 months min sur lie
Have lower yields than Muscadet Sevre et Maine, achieve higher ripeness, hand harvested, longer minimum sur lie, but may not put term “sur lie” on labels
Where are Anjou and Saumur located and what areas does it include? What grapes dominate here?
Located in the Middle Loire, from west to east sub-region includes Anjou (area around Angers), Layon (along Layon river, tributary of Loire- lies within Anjou area of production but singled out for sweet wine production), and Saumur (area around city of Saumur)
What is the climate of the Middle Loire (Anjou, Layon, Saumur, and Touraine)?
Maritime climate with continental influences, experiences stormy weather and humidity due to proximity to sea, displays more significant seasonal temperature swings of continental climate; slightly warmer in summer and slightly colder in winter than Pays Nantais, much more temperate than Sancerre and Upper Loire
What direction do the better vineyard sites in Anjou and Saumur face? What qualities do the wines that face different directions have?
The better vineyard sites face south to maximize sun exposure, for those with other exposures, both red and white harvested with bright acidity of northern climates, red also display light tannins and light pigmentation
What are the two categories of soil in Anjou?
Dark schist and white chalk (tuffeau) most of the schist soils lie in western portion of appellation
Tuffeau- calcium rich soils, wines possess significant acidity, shining star in cremant production; sweet appellations of Anjou are on schist
What are the white grape varieties of Anjou and Saumur?
Arbois (Orbois, Menu Pineau)
Chardonnay: primarily sparkling
Chenin Blanc (Pineau de la Loire, Gros Pineau): Principle grape of Middle Loire
Sauvignon Blanc: used for still whites
What are the red grapes of Anjou and Saumur?
Cabernet Franc: principal red grape of Middle Loire
Cabernet Sauvignon: used in red blends
Gamay: used in sparkling, red, and rose blends
Grolleau (Groslot): indigenous, principal grape for rose
Grolleau Gris: Used in sparkling and rose blends
Pineau d’Aunis: Once highly popular, now used in blend to boost fruit
Pinot Noir: Used in sparkling, red, and rose blends
What is used for the cellars in Anjou and Saumur?
Man-made tunnels and caves that were formed as a result of excavating building stone from the limestone-subsoil, created ‘natural’ cellars for sparkling wine production
What are the categories of sparkling wine in the Middle Loire?
- Petillants: contain half the pressure of mousseux or cremant, 1-2.5 atms, made in methode traditionelle, petillant means fizzy
- Mousseux: Made with methode traditionelle, min 3 atms, less demanding production standards than cremant, min 9 months sur lie aging, Mousseux means frothy or bubbly
- Cremant: Methode traditionelle, 12 months aging on lees and one month in bottle
What is the style of sweet wines in Anjou/Saumur?
Made exclusively from Chenin grapes given long hang time and are affected by botrytis, Flavors of peach, quince, jam and apricot; medium to high levels of sweetness
What are the Anjou/Layon AOCs?
-Anjou (dry white, red)
-Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire (sweet white)
-Anjou Gamay (dry red)
-Anjou Mousseux (sparkling white, rose)
-Anjou Villages (dry red)
Anjou Villages Brissac (dry red)
-Bonnezeaux (sweet white)
-Cabernet d’Anjou (sweet rose)
-Cremant de Loire (sparkling white, rose)
-Coteaux du Layon Chaume 1er Cru (sweet white)
-Coteaux du Layon (sweet white)
-Coteaux du Layon + Villages (sweet white)
-Coteaux de l’Aubance (sweet white)
-Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru (sweet white)
-Rose d’Anjou (off-dry rose)
-Rose de Loire (dry rose)
-Savennieres (dry-sweet white)
-Savennieres Coulee-de-Serrant (dry-sweet white)
-Savennieres Roche aux Moines (Dry-sweet white)
Where are the vineyards of Anjou/Layo located?
Appelations scattered around town of Angers, overwhelming majority of vineyards on left bank, Savennieres and AOCs within it are significant exceptions to rule
What percent of Anjou’s total production comes from rose?
About half
What style of wine is Anjou Blanc AOC?
basic dry to off-dry white, min 80% Chenin Blanc, rest is Chardonnay and Sauvignon
What style of wine is Anjou Rouge AOC?
Red based on two Cabernet (70%)
What grapes make up Anjou Villages and Anjou Villages Brissac AOCs?
Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the style of wine in Anjou Gamay AOC?
Made from Gamay, characteristically light, fruity reds made for consumption within 1-3 years, can also be vinifies as Primeur
What is the style of wine in Anjou-Couteaux de la Loire AOC?
Sweet wines made from Chenin, long hang times and affected by botrytis
What is the style of wine in Anjou Mousseux AOC?
White and rose sparkling made from primarily Chenin, flavors of strawberry in roses and apricot, peach, linden, and honeysuckle in whites
What is the style of wine in Bonnezeaux AOC?
Sweet wines made from Chenin grapes with long hang times and botrytis
What is the style of wine in Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?
Rose from both Cabernets, by law off-dry to sweet and must have at least 1% residual sugar
What is the style of wine in Cremant de la Loire AOC?
White and rose sparkling, percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot d’Aunis must be les than 30%; flaovors of white blossoms, orchard fruits, complexity from aging on lees
What are the 6 Coteaux du Layon villages that may appear on the label?
Beaulieu (Beaulieu-sur-Layon), Faye (Faye d’Anjou), Rablay (Rablay-sur-Layon), Rochefort (Rochefort-sur-Layon), Saint Aubin (Saint Aubin-de-Luigne), Saint Lambert (Saint Lambert-du-Lattay)
What was the recent change in minimum residual sugar percent in Quarts du Chaume?
Previously 3.4%, now 8.5%; highest minimum residual sugar for any non-fortified dessert wine in France
What is the style of wine in Rose d’Anjou AOC?
Off-dry rose (min .7% RS), Grolleau is principal grape used; aromas of roses, red berries, bananas
What is the style of wine in Rose de Loire AOC?
Rose sourced from anywhere in Middle Loire, always dry
Where is Savennieres located and what is the soil type?
Located on the right bank of the Loire on soils of slate, schist, and clay
What is the style of wine in Savennieres?
France’s most age worthy whites, exclusively from Chenin Blanc, loaded with extract, minerality, and acidity, rich flavor concentration - linden, anise, grapefruit, pear, honey, quince paste, hazelnut, fresh grain, fresh straw, candied lemon or grapefruit; turns from pale straw to burnished goald with age; mostly dry; minimum alcohol of 11%
What are the % RS associated with each sweetness level label per EU law?
Dry: less than .3%
Demi-sec: .3%-1.8%
Moelleux: 1.8-4.5%
Doux: 4.5%+
What are the harvesting requirements for Savennieres AOC?
Fruit must be hand-harvested with at least two passes through the vineyard
What are the two climats of Savennieres that achieved independent AOC status in 2011?
Coulee de Serrant and La Roche aux Moines
What is unique about Savennieres Coulee de Serrant? Where is it located and how is it farmed?
17.5 acre monopole (single vineyard) belonging to Nicolas Joly, steep south/southeast facing slope of red schist; farmed biodynamically
Where is Savennieres Roche Aux Moines AOC?
Lies within Savennieres AOC, steep schist slope facing southeast, located between villages of Savennieres and Coulee de Serrant
What is Saumur known for?
Sparkling wines; single largest producer of sparkling wines in the Loire
What is Fines Bulles?
Translates to Fine Bubbles, general term for sparkling wine in the Loire
What are the Saumur AOCs?
- Cabernet de Saumur (dry, semi-sweet rose)
- Coteaux de Saumur (sweet white)
- Cremant de Loire (sparkling white, rose)
- Rose de Loire (dry rose)
- Saumur (dry white, red)
- Saumur-Champigny (dry red)
- Saumur Mousseux (sparkling white, rose)
- Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame (dry red)
What is the style of wine in Cabernet de Saumur AOC?
Rose in dryer lighter style than Cabernet d’Anjou, max .7% RS, crafted from both Cabernets
What is the style of wine in Coteaux de Saumur AOC?
White from Chenin, late harvest, hand-picked botrytized grapes vinified off-dry to sweet
What is the style of wine in Saumur Blanc AOC?
Still white from Chenin Blanc
What is the primary grape for the red wine appellations of Saumur Rouge, Saumur-Champigny and Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame?
Cabernet Franc
What is another name for Saumur Mousseux AOC? What are the wines made from?
Saumur Brut, Chenin Blanc blend, up to 40% other red/white grapes, no more than 10% Sauvignon Blanc, must age 9 months sur lie
What is the style of wine in Saumur Mousseux Rose AOC?
Uses same red grapes as Saumur Mousseux but Cabernet Franc must be at least 60%
Where is Touraine located?
In the Middle Loire, sandwiched between Anjou/Saumur and Sancerre
What is unique about the plantings of Touraine?
Some of the most diverse plantings within the Loire region on wide variety of different soils
What soils can be found in Touraine? Where?
Tuffeau on the hillsides, perruche (flint and clay) plus aubuis (limestone and clay) near the river- pockets of gravieres (gravel) and sand
- Vouvray, Montlouis, and Amboise: tuffeau (wine of vibrant acidity)
- Chinon and Azay-le-Rideau: Chalky, sandy, gravely soils; hillsides have clay
- Bourgueil and St.-Nicolas-de-Bourueil: patches of sandy gravels with chalk pebbles, slopes of pure tuffeau
What is the climate of Touraine?
Climate becomes more continental as vineyards move inland along Loire, still some maritime influences, mostly continental climate
What are the white grapes of Touraine?
Same as Anjou/Saumur (Arbois, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc) and Romorantin (grown exclusively in Cour-Cheverny
What are the red grapes of Touraine
Same as Anjou/Saumur (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, Pineau d’Aunis, and Pinot Noir) and Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier (Gris Meunier)- primarily for sparkling, Malbec (Cot), Merlot- in Haut-Poitou area, and Sauvignon Gris
What are the AOCs of Touraine?
- Bourgueil (dry red, rose)
- Cheverny (dry white, red, rose)
- Chinon (dry white, red, rose)
- Coteaux du Loir (dry white, red, rose)
- Coteaux du Vendomois (dry red, white, rose)
- Cour-Cheverny (dry white)
- Cremant de Loire (sparkling white, rose)
- Jasnieres (dry white)
- Haut-Poitou (dry white, red, rose)
- Montlouis-Sur-Loire (dry, sweet white)
- Montlouis-Sur-Loire Mousseux and Petillant (sparkling white)
- Orleans (dry red)
- Orleans-Clery (dry red)
- Saint-Nicolas-de-Bougeuil (dry red, rose)
- Rose de Loire (dry rose)
- Touraine (dry white, red, rose)
- Touraine Amboise (dry red, white, rose)
- Touraine Mesland (dry white red rose)
- Touraine Azay-le-Rideau (white, rose)
- Touraine Chenonceau (dry white, red)
- Touraine Oisly (dry white)
- Touraine Noble Joue (dry rose)
- Touraine Mousseux and Petillant (sparkling white, rose)
- Valencay (dry-sweet white)
- Vouvray (dry-sweet white)
- Vouvray Mousseux and Petillant (sparkling white)
What is the style of Bourgueil AOC and where is it located?
Lies to the north of Chinon; medium bodied, fairly tannic wines with intense aromas of strawberry adn graphite; primarily Cabernet Franc with max 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
How does wine law in Cheverny AOC differ from general wine law?
Mandates percentage of each grape variety planted, not the percentages of the grapes going into the bottle; whites mainly Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Gris, reds mainly Pinot Noir
What are the soils of Chinon?
Lie on soils of tuffeau and composites of sand, gravel and clay
What is the style of wine in Chinon AOC?
Red varieties grown on south facing tuffeau slopes deliver medium body wine similar to Bourgueil, grapes grown on sand/gravel/clay are more fresh and fruit; reds primarily made from Cabernet Franc; whites made from 100% Chenin
What is the style of wines in Coteaux du Loir AOC?
Located on right bank of Loir tributary of Loire, floral whites from Chenin Blanc, reds/rose from Pineau d’Aunis dominant blend (min 65%)
What are the wines in Cour-Cheverny AOC
100% Romorantin (dry white)
What is the style of wine in Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC? Where is it located
In Touraine AOC, bordered by the Cher and the Loire; dry or sweet wines from Chenin Blanc; sweet wines made from late harvest grapes
What are most whites in Orleans AOC?
100% Chardonnay
Where is Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil located and what are the soils there?
To the west of Bourgueil, warmer soils are high percentage of sand
What is the style of winein Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil?
Primarily Cabernet Franc with up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; densely pigmented, characterized by supple tannins and more generous fruit than Chinon and Bourgeuil, should be consumed on release
What is the law mandate in Touraine AOC?
Law mandated percentage of each grape planed, not percentage of grapes in bottle, whites are Sauvignon Blanc and Gris, reds primarily Cabernet Franc and Cot
What are the sub-zones of Touraine AOC?
Mesland, Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Oisly, Noble Joue, and Chenonceaux
What is the primary grape in Valencay red and rose blends?
30-60% Gamay
Where is Vouvray located?
Within the regional Touraine AOC on right bank of Loire facing Montlouis-sur-Loire
What is the style of wines in Vouvray?
Whites from Chenin Blanc, dry or sweet; sweet wines made from late harvest grapes, some with botrytis; viscous and syrupy (Sec 3.5%), Doux (>15%)
How long must the wines of Vouvray Mousseux and Vouvray Petillant AOCs age sur lie before release?
Chenin Blanc wines, must age 12 months sur lie before release
What are the Centre Loire’s claims to fame? What are the main grapes in this section of the Loire?
Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume (neighboring AOCs gaining traction), whites are almost exclusively Sauvignon Blanc and reds are almost exclusively Pinot Noir
How popular is the Upper Loire and what grapes are the wines here made out of?
Rarely seen outside of France, whites from Chardonnay and Sacy, reds/roses from Gamay and Pinot Noir
Where are the vineyards of the Centre Loire and Upper Loire located?
Small collection of AOCs dot riverbanks of Loire as it flows North and Northwest from source in Massif Central mountain range, vineyard orientation largely east or west
- 4 southernmost vineyards are Upper Loire
- 8 appellations of Centre Loire lie south of Orleans and west of Grand Auxerrois portion of Bourgogne
What is the climate of Centre and Upper Loire?
Distinct continental climate, largest diurnal and seasonal temperature swings of four Loire sub-regions; climate harsh, does not support diversity of vines in moderate Middle Loire
What are the seasons in the Upper and Centre Loire?
Winter: cold, prone to frost and ice
Spring: Short and highly variable, sunny and cloudy days
Summer: Hot and sunny which offsets short spring
Autumn: Temperate and mild through harvest, humidity and fog can be problematic
Why is Sauvignon Blanc well suited to the Upper Loire?
Hardy and resistant to fungal diseases which can be an issue here due to humidity and fog
What are the three distinct soil types in the Centre Loire and what style of wine do they produce? What base do they rest on?
Terres Blanches: Marl rich in oyster fossils (wines of vibrant acidity)
Caillottes: Little limestone pebbles (less structure/acidity)
Silex: Flint (vibrant acidity, gunflint/smoky finish)
Kimmeridgean limestone base level
What are the soils of the Upper Loire?
Limestone rich soils in the western appellations of Saint-Pourcain and Cotes d’Auvergne and granite soils in eastern appellations of Cote Roannaise and Cotes du Forez
What are the white grapes of Centre and Upper Loire?
Historically planted with Chasselas, currently Chardonnay, Chasselas, Sacy (Tressallier), and Sauvignon Blanc (Blanc Fume - smoky white): principal grape of Centre Loire
What are the red grapes of the Centre and Upper Loire?
Pinot Noir, Gamay, Gamay Saint Romain (small berried, spicy, peppery version of Gamay), Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Gris
What are the appellations of the Centre Loire and Upper Loire?
- Chateaumeillant (red, rose 212 acres)
- Cote Roannaise (Upper) (red, rose 531 acres)
- Cotes d’Auvergne (Upper) (white, red, rose 638 acres)
- Cotes du Forez (Upper) (red, rose 370 acres)
- Coteaux du Giennois (white, red, rose 494 acres)
- Menetou Salon (white, red, rose 1341 acres)
- Pouilly Fume (white 3227 acres)
- Pouilly sur Loire (white 74 acres)
- Quincy (white 694 acres)
- Reuilly (white, red, rose 576 acres)
- Saint-Pourcain (Upper) (white, red, rose 1482 acres)
- Sancerre (white, red, rose 7287 acres)
What is the style of wines in Menetou-Salon AOC?
Whites from Sauvignon Blanc, reds roses from Pinot Noir in style similar to Sancerre; Kimmeridgean soils impact nervy, racy, vibrant acidity and kinetic core of minerality; whites have hints of chamomile, white flowers, citrus, and spice; reds supple with silken tannins, roses medium bodied, surprisingly fresh
What is the style of wines in Pouilly-Fume AOC?
Produces only white wines, Sauvignon Blanc grown on flint has gunflint/smoky finish for which AOC is named (fume); gravel/sand soil Sauvignons are fruitier, lighter; clay adds depth of flavor and rouch creamy texture
What is the style of wines in Pouilly-sur-Loire AOC?
White wines from Chasselas and covers same zone of production as Pouilly-Fume
What is the style of wine in Quincy AOC?
Only white wine from Sauvignon Blanc, vineyards on plateaus near Cher river, characterized by fresh citrus, acacia blossom, white pepper, whiff of menthol; Kimmeridgean soil imparts vibrant piquancy to grapes
What is the style of wines in Reuilly AOC?
White wines from Sauvignon Blanc and reds from Pinot Noir, roses from Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris; flank Cher on Kimmeridgean soil, whites are floral, herbal, concentrated; reds/roses delicate and light bodied
What is the style of whites in Sancerre?
High acid Sauvignon Blanc marked by minerality and lemongrass
What is the style of reds/roses in Sancerre?
Elegant examples of Pinot Noir with cherry and plum flavors and soft, silky tannins
What soils are found in Sancerre?
All three soil types (Terres Blanches, Silex, and Caillottes)
What are the AOCs of the Upper Loire?
Cotes d’Auvergne: whites 100% Chardonnay, reds 50%+ Gamay
Cotes du Forez: Gamay on granitic sands and volcanic rock
Cote Roannaise: Reds/roses - 100% Gamay (mostly Gamay Saint-Romain
Saint-Pourcain: on west bank of Allier in heart of Massif Central
Where does the Loire lie geographically and how does that impact viticulture?
Lies close to northern limit for viable viticulture, for grapes to ripen often have to hang on vine late into growing season; harvest often falls at end of September or beginning of October
What have vignerons done since the 1980s to optimize grape ripeness?
Adopted new canopy management techniques to control vigor and optimize ripeness of fruit
What type of harvesting is required for late harvest wines? When are these grapes harvested?
Manual harvesting required, carried out in stages and continues well into November
What type of viticulture practices do many wineries in the Loire practice?
Sustainable, organic, and biodynamic viticulture practices- adhering to them challenging in cool areas of the Loire with significant rainfall and higher humidity
What is the process of making white wine in the Loire Valley?
Vinification carried out with focus on structural balance and preservation of wines natural acidity, winemaking tradition serves as common denominator in wines of the Loire, overwhelmingly low-tech approach; chaptalization permitted in certain years under certain conditions
What grape is used for the dessert wines of the Loire?
Chenin Blanc
What are the two types of grapes used to make dessert wines in the Loire?
Grapes infected with botrytis cinerea or dried and concentrated by passerillage (technique where grapes wither on vine due to over-extended hangtime, sun, and wind exposure
What is the process for making sweet wine in the Loire?
Grapes harvested with extreme care since skin is compromised
Once pressed, fermented slowly at low temperatures to retain intensity of fruit
Fermentation finishes naturally when alcohol levels kill off yeast, always residual sugar
Very little new oak used, slight oxidation of aging wines in wood result in slight oxidation that adds complexity
-Great wines spend time aging in cellar, wines mature slowly in bottle
What is the French name for sweet or dessert wines?
Vins Liquoreux
What processes are used to make rose wine in the Loire?
Direct press or saignee
What are all Loire valley sparkling wines referred to as?
Fines Bulles
When should you drink Loire wines?
- Chenin Blanc is age-worthy white due to searingly high acidity, can last decades; sweet versions and dry Savennieres are most often cellared
- Other Loire reds and whites made for more immediate consumption
What is unique about the Loire Valley outside of wine production?
Abundance of fruits and vegetables, called “Garden de France”
