Loire Valley Flashcards
Why does the Loire Valley have a long history of winemaking?
Good access to the Atlantic and proximity to Paris before railways
Home of French kings until Louis XIV
What is the principal grape variety in the Pays Nantais?
Melon (aka Melon de Bourgogne, Muscadet)
What are the 4 main sub regions of the Loire?
Pays Nantais
Anjou Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards
Which sub region is the Loire is the largest producer and what percentage of production does it account for?
Anjou-Saumur = 48%
What is the climate in the Pays Nantais?
Cool maritime - cool springs, warm humid summers and risk of rain at any time through the year which can disrupt flowering in March/April and harvest in September
What helps to offset the level of rainfall in the Pays Nantais?
Well drained soils
What is the biggest weather hazard in the Pays Nantais?
Spring frost a huge problem - producers investing in all kinds of prevention measures
What are the main characteristics of Melon?
Fairly hardy
Early budding
Relatively early ripening
High yielding
Resistant to powdery mildew
Susceptible to downy mildew and botrytis bunch rot which can thrive in the humid climate
What can producers do in Pays Nantais to encourage ripeness in the marginal climate?
Canopy management - making sure the canopy is open for ventilation and using leaf removal to maximise sunlight exposure
What kind of fermentation and aging vessel is typically used for Muscadet?
Large, shallow, underground glass lined concrete vats
Describe the ‘sur lie’ technique and why it is used
Technique typical of the Pays Nantais - used for creating extra body in what can be extremely light wines
The gross Lees are racked off and the wine remains in contact with the fine Lees until bottling
What are the two largest appellations in the Pays Nantais?
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC
When and where must sur lie wines be bottled?
Between 1 March and 30 November in the year following harvest
Must be bottled in the winery in which the wine was made
What are the principle grape varieties in the Middle Loire (Anjou Saumur) and Touraine?
Middle Loire - Chenin Blanc (wines at all sweetness levels) and Cab Franc (red and rosé)
Touraine - Sauvignon Blanc
Describe the climate in Anjou Saumur and Touraine
Moderating influence of the Atlantic decreases progressively
A-S is more maritime
Touraine is continental with cold winters and warm summers (although not as extreme as the Central Vineyards)
What is the main weather hazard in Anjou Saumur and Touraine?
Rainfall (700mm a year) falling at any time during the growing season affecting flowering, fruit set and harvest as well as creating humidity in summer which increases disease pressure
Describe the main characteristics of Chenin Blanc
Early budding
Late ripening
Vigorous
Prone to downy mildew, botrytis (good and bad) and trunk disease
Ripens unevenly and so picking often involves several passes through the vineyard, adding to cost
What styles of wine does Chenin Blanc produce in the Loire Valley
Full range of styles - sparkling, dry, off dry, sweet
Medium intensity aromas of green apple and lemon, often with steely/smoky character and noticeably high acidity (sometimes balanced with residual sugar)
Describe the main characteristics of Cabernet Franc
Early budding
Mid ripening
Prone to coulure
Can give too much leafiness if not fully ripe
Red fruit and floral aromas, medium tannin and high acidity
Which 3 grape varieties are sometimes used for blending in Anjou Saumur/Touraine?
Grolleau Noir
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the usual Chenin Blanc winemaking process
Cool to mid range ferment
Large oak / stainless steel vessels
No MLF
Aim is usually to preserve primary fruit
What is the usual Cab Franc winemaking process?
Fermented in concrete or old wood vats which allow punching down and pumping over
Ambient yeast
Oak barrels in a range of sizes (some new oak may be used for higher quality wines)
Aim is to retain primary fruit character
What are the 3 main regional appellations in the middle Loire ?
Anjou AOC
Saumur AOC
Touraine AOC
What are the 3 important appellations for sweet wine in Anjou?
Coteaux du Layon AOC
Bonnezeaux AOC
Quarts de Charme AOC (officially the Loire’s first Grand Cru since 2019)
What is the main influence which permits high quality sweet winemaking in Anjou?
Mists which come from the Layon river
Why does Chenin Blanc naturally lend itself to sweet winemaking?
Naturally high acidity which gives excellent balance to high sugar levels
What style of wine does Savennieres AOC specialise in?
Prestigious dry white wines from Chenin Blanc
What growing conditions in Savennieres AOC support the production of high quality dry Chenin Blanc wines
South facing slopes
Low fertility, Rocky schist soils - give low yields
What are the 3 rosé appellations in Anjou Saumur?
Rosé de Loire AOC - range of grape varieties
Rosé d’Anjou AOC - mainly Grolleau
Cabernet d’Anjou AOC - Cab Franc + Sav
What are the two key Saumur appellations?
Saumur AOC - white, red, rosé, fizz
Saumur-Champigny AOC - red wine from Cab Franc (min 85%)
What are the main growing conditions in Saumur-Champigny AOC?
Chalk, flint and clay soils which give a good combination of drainage and water retention
Max yield 57 hl/ha (can create wines with low flavour intensity)
What are the five key appellations in Touraine?
Touraine AOC - white, red, rosé, sparkling
Vouvray AOC - most important white appellation. 95-100% Chenin in a full range of sweetness
Montlouis sur Loire AOC - similar to Vouvray
Bourgueil AOC - reds from Cab Franc
Chinon AOC - most important red appellation
Describe the main characteristics of Vouvray AOC
Best vineyards on slopes overlooking the Loire - maximum sunlight interception and moderation of temperatures (important in continental climate)
More clay in soil further away from the river which can inhibit ripening
Wines must be min 95% Chenin and are usually 100%
What soils do the 3 important red wine appellations of Touraine (Bourgueil, St Nicolas de Bourgueil, Chinon) have in common?
Three types - sand, gravel and clay limestone
Sandy soils are said to produce the lightest, early drinking wines whereas clay limestone are the most structured and long lived
How much time will a young Cab Franc intended for early drinking spend on the skins in comparison to more structured and powerful examples?
Young wine - 6-8 days
Powerful & structured - 2-3 weeks
What are the two largest wine style categories in Anjou Saumur?
Sparkling (207k hl) and rosé (nearly half a million hectolitres)
What is the largest wine style category in Touraine?
White (198000 hl)
Where are the Central Vineyards located?
Furthest east from the Atlantic ocean - roughly halfway between the river’s source and mouth
What is the climate in the Central Vineyards?
Continental - cold winters and warm summers
What are the main weather hazards in the central vineyards?
Spring frost
Summer hailstorms
Unusually high rain for a continental climate (750mm) - prevents drought but increases fungal disease pressure
What factors in the central vineyards contribute to restrained flavours in the final wines?
Long growing season day lengths
Low light intensity
Low heat
What are the two main grape varieties grown in the central vineyards?
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
What are the main characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc?
Late budding
Relatively early ripening (good in cool climates and regions where autumn rain is a problem)
Vigorous - best grown on poor soil
Prone to powdery mildew, botrytis and Esca
How does row orientation and canopy management in the vineyard affect the flavour profile of Sauvignon Blanc?
Fruit grown in shadier conditions will have more grass and bell pepper notes
More sunlight = more tropical fruit flavours
What percentage of the central vineyards is planted with Sauvignon Blanc?
70%
Why are fermentation temperatures in the central vineyards slightly warmer (higher end of cool to mid range) in comparison to New World regions?
To achieve more restrained fruit character
Which factors in Sancerre moderate the effects of spring frosts?
Steep hillside slopes (200-400m altitude)
Loire river
Nearby forests
Describe the 3 main soil types in Sancerre
Caillottes = shallow soil over limestone. Good for aromatic, early drinking styles
Terre Blanches = same limestone and marl as Chablis. Most structured wines with longest aging potential
Silex = flint which accumulates heat and aids early ripening. Produces mineral, smoky wines
What is the maximum yield for white wines in Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé?
65 hl/ha
What is the main topographical difference between Sancerre and Pouilly Fume?
Pouilly Fume is generally on flatter land meaning spring frosts are more of a problem
What are the 3 ‘other’ key appellations in the central vineyards?
Reuilly AOC
Quincy AOC
Menetou-Salon AOC
What percentage of plantings in the central vineyards does Pinot Noir account for?
20%
Co-ops are extremely important of the Loire - what % of wine sales do they account for (by volume)?
50%
Why have an increasing number of family estates in the Loire branched out into negociant business?
Can hedge against the problems caused by frost and hail damage - buying in grapes allows them to keep fulfilling orders and avoid financial difficulties
Why is organic and biodynamic viticulture challenging in the Loire valley?
Cool, damp climate
