Loire Valley Flashcards
Other than the Loire river, what are the other 2 primary rivers of the Lower Loire?
Le Sevre Nantaise
&
Le Petite Maine
AKA - Sevre & Maine
What defines “Caillotes”?
Little limestone pebbles
One of 3 soil types in the Centre Loire
What is “Passerillage”?
Passerillage is the technique of allowing grapes to wither and dry on the vine by pinching/twisting the stem
What style of wine is Coteaux de Saumur AOC?
It is a sweet, botrytized dessert wine
Which sweet wine producing sub-region lies within the Anjou Zone of Production?
Layon
What are the 3 distinct soil types in the Centre Loire?
Terres Blanches
Caillotes
Silex
The Pineau de la Loire grape is more commonly known as?
Chenin Blanc
What style of wine is made in the Rose-de-Loire AOC?
This is a dry rose’ made anywhere in the middle Loire
What 3 AOC’s in the Centre Loire make white wine only?
Pouilly-Fumé
Pouilly-Sur-Loire
Quincy
Which Loire sub-regions have a wholly continental climate?
The Centre and Upper Loire
What is the synonym for Cabernet Franc?
Breton
What is the difference between Cabernet d’Anjou and Cabernet de Saumur?
Cabernet d’Anjou is sweeter it must contain a minimum of 1% RS
Cabernet de Saumur must contain less than 1% RS
What two Centre Loire AOC’s are located on the Cher river?
Quincy & Reuilly
What is the principle red grape of Touraine?
Cabernet Franc (Breton)
What is “Mousseux”?
Mousseux means frothy or bubbly
These are Methode Traditionelle wines with at least 3 atmospheres of pressure
What Loire wine region is known for Kimmeridgean limestone?
The Centre Loire
What defines the term “Fines Bulles”?
It translates to fine bubbles and is a general term for all Loire sparkling wines
What category of Loire Sparkling wine does not have an aging requirement?
Petillant
The Muscadet grape is also known as?
Melon de Bourgogne
What 2 grapes dominate the Middle Loire?
Chenin Blanc (Pineau de la Loire) Cabernet Franc (Breton)
What style of wine is made in the Anjou Coteaux de la Loire AOC?
Sweet, botrytized dessert wines
The term “Silex” refers to?
Flint soils found in the Centre Loire
What are the primary grapes of the Sancerre AOC?
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
Which Middle Loire AOC is a Monopole?
Savennieres Coulee de Serrant
What style of wine is made in the Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?
Off-dry to sweet rosé made from both Cabernets
What Loire wine is frequently aged Sur Lie?
Muscadet
What is “Petillant”
The term means fizzy
These are Methode Traditionelle wines with 1 - 2.5 atmospheres of pressure
Where is Vouvray located?
Touraine (Middle Loire)
What style of wine is made in the Rose d’Anjou AOC?
Off dry rose’ made primarily of Grolleau
What is “Tuffeau”?
A porous chalk/limestone soil
Found in parts of the Middle Loire
What is “Terres Blanches”?
A marl rich in oyster fossils, one of three soils found in the Centre Loire
The Folle Blanche grape is also known as?
Gros Plant
For what type of wine is Saumur known for?
Sparkling
In which Loire sub-region is the Pays Nantes located?
Lower Loire
What 3 white grapes are grown in the Lower Loire?
Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne)
Folle Blanch (Gros Plant)
Pinot Gris
What area of the Loire has volcanic soils?
The Lower Loire
Gneiss dominates the top soils, igneous rock the sub-soils
What is the primary white grape of the Centre Loire?
Sauvignon Blanc
What style of wine is made in the Vouvray AOC?
Dry, off-dry and sweet white wines from Chenin Blanc
What is the principal grape used in rosé production in the Middle Loire?
Grolleau
What soil type gives wines a unique gun-flint/smoky finish?
Silex
What are the primary red grapes of the Upper Loire?
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Savennieres is best known for?
Dry Chenin Blanc, but Moelleux and Doux versions are also produced
What is Touraine Primeur?
A wine made from Gamay using semi-carbonic maceration
What style of wine is made in the Coteaux du Layon AOC?
Sweet, botrytized dessert wine
What grape is used to make sweet wine in the Middle Loire?
Chenin Blanc
What grape variety is used in Cour-Cheverny AOC?
Romorantin
What are the grapes of the Chinon AOC?
Cabernet Franc (Breton) Chenin Blanc (Pineau de la Loire)
What style of wine is made in the Bonnezeaux AOC?
Sweet, botrytized dessert wine
What are the 3 Cru’s of the Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC?
Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet
How long must Loire Crémant spend aging on its lees?
12 Months (vs 9 months for most other regions in France)
The Gros Plant grape is also known as?
Folle Blanche
What are the two principle white grapes grown in the Lower Loire sub-region around Pays Nantes
Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne)
Gros Plant
Who introduced formal viticulture into the Loire Valley and in what century?
The Romans in the 1st century AD
Who was the power couple of the Loire in 1152?
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Henry Plantagenet
Parents of Richard the Lionhearted
What did Jeanne d’Arc do in 1429 during the middle ages in Chinon in the Loire Valley?
She persuaded the Dauphin of France to defy the English
In the 15th to 17th century what did the French Nobility do in the Loire?
They began building the over 300 Chateaus along the Loire River (Golden Age)
What was the impact of Phylloxera on the Loire Valley?
The Loire Valley was one of the last areas to get hit and last to recover.
This put the Loire Valley behind the other regions once they recovered
What were the 3 challenges that the vignerons faced in the 18th century in the Loire?
The railway system
Phylloxera
The French Revolution
What are the advantages of having vineyards near a river?
Rivers will provide 2 - 4 degrees more warmth to the vineyards
From west to east what are the 4 sub-regions of the Loire Valley?
Pays Nantais
Anjou & Saumur
Touraine
Upper & Center Loire
Describe the Loire river…
Very shallow in general
Depth can vary greatly
Very difficult to navigate
What is the climate of the Lower Loire?
Maritime
What is the climate of the middle Loire?
Maritime with continental influences
What is the climate of the Center Loire?
Continental
What is the climate of the Upper Loire?
Continental
What region of the Loire is Pays Nantes in?
The lower Loire
Warming ocean influences with 2,000 hours of annual sunshine make it the warmest and sunniest area in the Loire
What is the main soil type in the Loire sub-region of Pays Nantes
Gneiss, a metamorphic rock
Very free draining which is good for this wet area
In the Loire what is the synonym for the Muscadet Grape?
Melon d’ Bourgogne
What grapes is Muscadet a cross of?
Gouis Blanc & Pinot
What is the Synonym for Gros Plant?
Folle Blanche
What are the 7 Muscadet AOC’s in the Loire Valley?
Muscadet AOC Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC - Clisson (Grand Cru) - Gorges (Grand Crus) - Le Pellet (Grand Cru) Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire AOC Muscadet-Cotes de Grandlieu AOC
Which of the Muscadet AOC’s in the Loire Valley produces the most wine?
Muscadet-Sevre et Maine AOC
In the Loire Valley what are the Sevre & Maine?
Rivers
In the Loire Valley which of the Muscadet AOC’s can be labeled Sur Lie?
Muscadet AOC
Muscadet-Sevre at Maine AOC
Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Muscadet-Cotes de Grandlieu AOC
NOT THE GRAND CRUS
What are the Lees?
Dead yeast cells
What characteristics are added to the wine if it is left in contact with the Lees (Sur Lie)?
Added creaminess to the mouthfeel
Comes from the Mano-proteins released by the yeast
What are the 4 main areas in the Middle Loire?
Anjou
Layon
Saumur
Touraine