Loire Valley

Question 1

France’s Longest River?

Answer 1

The Loire - also the last wild river in Europe

Question 2

White varietals of Loire

Answer 2

Main: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne
Secondary: Chardonnay, Orbois, Romorantin, Gros Plant, Chasselas

Question 3

Red Varietals of the Loire

Answer 3

cabernet Franc (Breton)
pinot noir, gamay, gab sauv, malbec (cot), Pineau d'Aunis, and Groslot (grolleau)

Question 4

Describe Pays Nantais terroir and style

Answer 4

sweep from the south toward the NE city of Nantes near the atlantic coast. Muscadet country - cool, wet, maritime, planted primarily w/ Melon de bourgogne. neutral, bone dry -dry, high acidity, and meant to drank young

Question 5

Local term for Chenin Blanc in Anjou

Answer 5

Pineau de la Loire

Question 6

Rose production in Anjou is made with what grapes?

Answer 6

Grolleau and Cab Franc

Question 7

Describe Chenin in the Anjou - Saumur

Answer 7

slow to ripen, high acidity, can have astringency. - best in Savennieres.

Question 8

Describe Savennieres style and terroir

Answer 8

steep southern exposure and a unique soil of blue schist and volcanic debris. - meant to age, high acidity, and asutere in youth.

Question 9

Describe Saumur-Champigny

Answer 9

a light, bright, elegantly floral expression of Cab Franc made in Saumur

Question 10

Where is the best and most ageworthy red wines in the Loire Valley produced? - classic characeristics?

Answer 10

Chinon and Bourgueil

raspberry and green tobacco on the nose, silky tannins - terroir specific on palate.

Question 11

Describe Vouvray terroir and style.

Answer 11

tuffeau limestone, may be produced in a range of sweetness levels. - full bodied chenin blanc, also sparkling made in methode tradtitionelle

Question 12

Grapes of Touraine

Answer 12

chenin blanc dominates, sauvignon blanc and max 20% sauv gris.
red and rose include: gamay, groslot, pineau d’Anis, Cab franc.

Question 13

Describe the terroir of the Central Vineyards

Answer 13

climate is continental, cold winters and brisk days during harvest and budbreak bring the danger of frost, short summers don’t aid in ripeness. Loire’s Best Sauv Blanc is here and warm vintage Pinot Noir can be exceptional

Question 14

Describe Sancerre style and terroir

Answer 14

Sauv Blanc - 3 main soils
silex- higher concentration of flint - fume
terres blanches- kimmeridgian clay like chablis
caillottes - stony and fossily soil

Question 15

Varietals of Cotes du Forez and Cote Roannaise

Answer 15

exclusively made w/ Gamay and similar to lighter styles of Beaujolais.

Question 16

What does Moulleux indicate?

Answer 16

Sweet wine

Question 17

What is the permitted style of Muscadet AOP

Answer 17

dry white

Question 18

What is the most common soil in Vouvray

Answer 18

Tuffeaux

Question 19

What grape is grown in Montlouis-sur Loire?

Answer 19

Chenin Blanc

Question 20

Breton is a synonym for what grape?

Answer 20

Cab Franc

Question 21

max RS in g/L of Vouvray sec?

Answer 21

8

Question 22

Who produces Clos du Papillon and where?

Answer 22

Baumard

Savienneres

Question 23

what direction is Touraine Noble Joue AOP of the Loire River?

Answer 23

South

Question 24

Vouvray sweetness levels?

Answer 24

Dry (sec)
Semi sweet (demi sec)
sweet (moelleux)
Sweetest (Quarts de chaume)

Question 25

What is pourriture Noble?

Answer 25

French term for botrytis

Question 26

minimum amount of cab franc in chinon?

Answer 26

85%