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