Loire Valley Flashcards
1
Q
Is the Loire river the longest river in France?
A
Yes
2
Q
What is the Loire Valley known as?
A
Jardin de la France
3
Q
What are the main wine regions of the Loire Valley from West to East?
A
Pays Nantais
Anjou- Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards
4
Q
Winemaking in the Loire dates to at least…..
A
the first century CE
5
Q
conclusive evidence of the grape’s presence in the Loire Valley does not arrive until the….
A
16th century
6
Q
When did phylloxera hit the Loire Valley?
A
1880’s
7
Q
True or False: The Loire Valley produces more white wine than any other French region and is second only to Champagne in sparkling wine production.
A
True
8
Q
What the classic white varietals for the Loire Valley?
A
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne
9
Q
What international white grapes can be found throughout the valley?
A
Chardonnay Orbois (Arbois/Menu Pineau) Romorantin Gros Plant (Folle Blanche) Chasselas
10
Q
What is Cabernet Franc locally known as?
A
Breton
11
Q
What are the main red grapes of the Loire Valley?
A
Cabernet Franc (Breton) Pinot Noir Gamay Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec (Côt) Pineau d’Aunis Groslot (Grolleau)
12
Q
Where are the Pays Nantais vineyards?
A
The vineyards of the Pays Nantais sweep from the south toward the northeast of the city of Nantes near the Atlantic coast.
13
Q
What is Pays Nantais known for?
A
Muscadet
14
Q
What is the climate of Pays Nantais?
A
a cool, wet maritime region planted primarily to the Melon de Bourgogne grape.
15
Q
What is the main grape of Pays Nantais?
A
Melon de Bourgogne
16
Q
Today, four appellations exist for Melon de Bourgogne. What are they?
A
Muscadet AOP
West to East
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
17
Q
At what abv does Muscadet show best at?
A
12% or under
18
Q
What is the basic appellation for Melon de Bourgogne?
A
Muscadet AOP
19
Q
Does the Muscadet AOP appellation get used often and why?
A
No because most producers qualify for the other 3 appellations
20
Q
Which AOP accounts for over 80% of Muscadet produced?
A
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
21
Q
How many communes are in the Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP?
A
23 communes near the confluence of the Sèvre and Maine Rivers
22
Q
What are the soil types of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP?
A
gneiss, silica, clay, and granite
23
Q
What one must do in order to label their Muscadet Sur lie?
A
In order to label Muscadet as sur lie, the wine must originate from land qualifying for one of the three sub-appellations.
Sur lie wines are aged on their lees over the winter and are bottled directly off the fine lees (without filtering) between March 1 and November 30 of the year following the harvest.
24
Q
Where is Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP?
A
is further north, and the wines are correspondingly leaner.
25
Which AOP in Muscadet is the newest appellation and what year was it created?
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
| 1994
26
What does “Hermine d’Or” mean?
an unofficial label term that promotes terroir and stresses ageability
27
Who has adopted the term "Hermine d'Or"?
Guy Bossard
28
When was the Cru Communaux designation?
proposed in 2001
29
What are the rules for the Cru Communaux designation?
requiring eligible wines from specified schist soils to spend a minimum 18 months sur lie—longer than the actual sur lie term allows.
30
When did the Cru Communaux actually start boring fruit and what was introduced?
2011
| 3 subzones were introduced
31
What are the 3 subzones of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
Clisson, Le Pallet, and Gorges
32
4 more subzones were added in 2019 to Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine. What are they?
Château Thébaud, Goulaine, Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, and Mouzillon-Tillières
33
What are the 7 total subzones of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
Clisson, Le Pallet, and Gorges. Château Thébaud, Goulaine, Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, and Mouzillon-Tillières
34
What tier was eliminated in 2011?
VDQS (Vin délimité de qualité supérieure)
35
Three new regions gained AOC status in 2011. What are they? Pays Nantais
Gros Plant du Pays Nantais - west coast
Coteaux d'Ancenis - inland east
Fiefs Vendéens - in the south
36
What are the 7 AOP's of Pays Nantais?
Muscadet AOP - all over, not really used
```
West to East
Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP
```
Fiefs Vendéens AOP - in the south
37
What is the Loire's largest region?
Anjou
38
Where is Anjou -Saumur located?
Between the Pays Nantais and Touraine
39
What is Saumur?
Saumur is an eastern subregion of Anjou, adjacent to Chinon in Touraine.
40
Saumur is the Loire’s center for what kind of wine?
sparkling wine production
41
What styles of Chenin Blanc are produced in the Anjou?
Sweet and Dry
42
45% of Anjous total production is devoted to what kind wine?
Rose
43
What is the main grape that is used in rose production in the Anjou?
Grolleau grapes
44
What is the main red grape of the Anjou?
Cabernet Franc
45
What wines was are made under the Anjou AOP label?
Sparkling
White
Red
46
True or False: Many Saumur wines may be bottled as Anjou AOP, but not vice versa.
True
47
Is Chenin Blanc slow or quick to ripen?
slow
48
What grape is used in Savennieres AOP?
100% Chenin Blanc
49
What style of wine is made in the Savennieres AOP?
100% Chenin blanc
| generally dry, but sweet styles can be made
50
What is the soil type in Savennieres?
blue schist
| volcanic debris
51
There are two sub-appellations in Savennieres that became AOC's and when?
Roche Aux Moines and Coulée de Serrant
| 2011
52
Coulée de Serrant is a monopole and who is the producer of the monopole?
Nicolas Joly
rigidly biodynamic producer
53
What is the exposure of Savennieres?
southern exposure
54
What style of wine is Coteaux de Layon AOP and Coteaux de l'Aubance make?
chenin blanc, botrytis style sweet wine
55
How do the grapes need to be harvested for Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP?
Harvesting in Tries
| - multiple passes through the vineyards
56
What is the minimum residual sugar content for the wines of Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP?
34 grams per liter
57
Which two AOP's are within Coteaux du Layon?
Bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts de Chaume AOP
58
What style of wine are Bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts de Chaume AOP known for?
sweet wine
59
Whats the exposure of these two AOP's?
Bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts de Chaume AOP
south facing
60
Whats the soil type of Quarts de Chaume AOP?
sandstone and schist hillsides on the bank of the Layon river
61
Quarts de Chaume AOP lays on the bank of what river?
Layon river
62
Name some high quality producers who make wine from Quarts de Chaume AOP?
Domaine des Baumard and Château Pierre-Bise
63
Where does Château des Fesles make wine?
Bonnezeaux
64
What are the seven villages who re entitled to add their names to the basic Coteaux du Layon AOP?
Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Faye d’Anjou, St. Lambert du Lattay, St. Aubin de Luigné, Rablay-sur-Layon, and Chaume
65
At a minimum (blank) of residual sugar, the wines of Chaume are exceptionally rich, yet vociferous complaints by the producers of Quarts du Chaume
80 grams per liter
66
Anjou-Villages AOP is a (blank) only appellation.
red wine
67
What are the main grapes of Anjou - Villages AOP?
Cabernert Franc
a little Cabernet Sauvignon
68
What are the soil tyes of Anjou Noir and Anjou Blanc?
"Anjou Noir": dark schist
| "Anjou Blanc": limestone
69
What is the other red grape grown in the Anjou?
Gamay but it cannot be blended
70
What style of wines does Saumur AOP make?
dry white
rose
red
sparkling wines
71
Prior to 2016, Saumur Blanc permitted the addition of (Grape and Grape) but now requires 100% Chenin Blanc.
Sauvignon blanc and chardonnay
72
What are the red grapes for Saumur AOP?
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pineau d’Aunis
73
Rosé from the region was formerly designated as (Blank), but the appellation was incorporated into the Saumur AOP as of 2016.
Cabernet de Saumur AOP
74
What does Mousseux mean?
Sparkling
75
What are the requirements for Cremant de Loire?
Traditional Method Secondary Fermentation
The wines must spend a min. 9 months on the lees prior to dégorgement, and may not be released for a min. 12 months after the date of tirage
Min. 4 atmospheres of pressure
76
What is the soil type of Saumur?
soft tuffeau limestone soils
77
What style of wine is Saumur-Champigny?
a light, bright, and elegantly floral expression of Cabernet Franc
78
What is the soil type in the commune of Champigny?
the limestone is harder, iron-rich, and inflected with shale
79
What does Champigny mean?
The field of fire
80
the Loire’s best and most ageworthy red wine has historically been produced in the two regions of (Region and Region).
Chinon and Bourgueil in Touraine.
81
Which 3 AOP's set the standard for classic cabernt franc?
Chinon AOP, Bourgueil AOP, and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOP
82
What are the 3 soil types in Chinon?
- tuffeau
- clay
- varennes (sandy, alluvial)
83
Where are the 3 soil types located in Chinon?
varennes soils are closest to the river Vienne—a Loire tributary—whereas tuffeau is more common on the slopes.
84
What are the soil types of Bourgueil?
divided between sand and limestone
85
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil is situated almost wholly on (soil), with a corresponding lighter style of wine.
lighter alluvial soils
86
Which of the three AOP's offers some Chenin Blanc?
Bourgueil
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
Chinon
Chinon
87
Which is Touraine's largest and most important white wine district?
Vouvray AOP
88
What is the soil of Vouvray?
tuffeau limestone
89
What are the grapes of Vouvray?
Chenin Blanc
| the rustic Orbois grape is allowed but seldom encountered.
90
What are the sweetness styles of Vouvray?
```
sec
sec-tendre (off-dry)
demi-sec
moelleux
liquoreux
```
91
True or False: Vouvray producers may also choose to make a sparkling wine, a successful strategy in cooler years.
True
92
The wines of (AOP), formerly part of Vouvray, are very similar in style and may be made across the same spectrum of styles.
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP
93
Which grape is not permitted in Montlouis-sur-Loire?
Orbois
94
What do pétillant or mousseux mean?
pétillant - slightly sparkling
| mousseux - sparkling
95
What are the main white grapes of Touraine?
Chenin Blanc has dominated Touraine white wines, a more recent encépagement mandates Sauvignon Blanc and a maximum 20% Sauvignon Gris
96
What are the main red grapes of Touraine?
Gamay, Groslot, Pineau d’Aunis, and Cabernet Franc.
97
What does primeur mean in Touraine?
Its how the Gamay can be sold and if it sold like that it is in the nouveau style
98
5 villages are allowed to add their name to the Touraine AOP. What are they?
```
Mesland
Azay-le-Rideau
Amboise
Oisly
Chenonceaux
```
99
What style of wine does Touraine Noble-Joué AOP?
recreates a historical style of vin gris, a blend of Gris Meunier (Pinot Meunier), Malvoisie (Pinot Gris), and Pinot Noir.
100
Where is the Coteaux du Loir AOP?
North of the Loire Valley
101
What AOP is the Coteaux du Loir's best white wines come from?
Jasnières AOP
102
What AOP is Jasnières AOP similar to?
Vouvray AOP
103
What rose does Coteaux du Vendômois AOP specialize in?
100% Pineau d’Aunis
104
Where are Cheverny AOP and Cour-Cheverny AOP located?
eastern edge of Touraine
105
To the south is Valençay AOP, a French appellation for both (blank and blank)
wines and goat milk cheeses.
106
What are the main grapes of Valencay AOP?
Sauvignon Blanc
Gamay
Pinot Noir
Cot
107
Where are the Central Vineyards located?
The Loire’s Central Vineyards are a noncontiguous stretch of vineyards in the center of France, where the Loire curves from its northward path to bend toward the Atlantic.
108
What is the climate of the Central Vineyards?
Continental
| cold winters and brisk days during harvest
109
What are the vitcultural threats to the Central Vineyards?
budbreak bring the danger of frost, and short summers do not assure easy ripening.
110
What are the main grapes of the Central Vineyards?
Nonetheless, the Loire’s best Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are found here, and Pinot Noir, while light in style, can be exceptional in warmer vintages.
111
The two main appellations of the Central Vineyars are?
Sancerre AOP
| Pouilly-Fume AOP
112
What is the main grape of Sancerre AOP and Pouilly-Fumé AOP?
Sauvignon Blanc
113
What style of Sauvignon Blanc is made in the Central vineyards?
The two appellations straddle the river and provide the classic Loire style: steely, pungently herbaceous, mineral-laden Sauvignon Blanc made for youthful drinking. Vibrant but not lean, the best examples have subtle complexity and a focused, lengthy finish.
114
What are the three soils of Sancerre AOP?
silex - has a higher proportion of flint, continuing into the communes of Pouilly-Fumé across the river.
terres blanches - Terres blanches is a continuation of the same Kimmeridgian clay that extends into Chablis
caillottes - is a stony soil, littered with fossils.
115
The late (producer) famously appropriated the Silex moniker for his top Pouilly-Fumé bottling.
Didier Dagueneau
116
Whereas classic Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines are produced in stainless steel, Dagueneau and others have experimented with new oak. The resulting wines can be more akin to white Bordeaux than classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc.
117
True or False: Pouilly-Fumé AOP wines must be white
True
118
Pinot Noir may be vinified as (blank)
Sancerre Rouge or Rosé
119
The Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP, named after the central commune of Pouilly-Fumé, is reserved for whites produced from the (blank) grape.
Chasselas
120
Orléans-Cléry AOP, a sister appellation, is reserved for red wines produced solely from (grape).
Cabernet Franc
121
Several other wine regions surround the Loire closer to its source and have little in common with the other appellations. The red and rosé wines of Côtes du Forez AOP and Côte Roannaise AOP are exclusively produced from (grape).
Gamay
122
In which region is the Muscadet AOP located?
Pays Nantais
123
Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire are separated by the
| (blank) river.
Loire
124
What is the primary grape of Chinon?
Cabernet Franc
125
True or False: Sancerre AOP may produce sparkling wine.
False
126
True or False: The Loire Valley produces the most AOP white wine in France.
True
127
What is the most common soil in Vouvray AOP?
Tuffeaux
128
Which appellation is Didier Dageaneau located in?
Pouilly-Fume
129
Which grape is used to produce Muscadet AOP?
Melon de Bourgogne
130
The Loire Valley is ______ of Bordeaux.
North
131
True or False: Sancerre may produce red wine.
True
132
What process does sur lie refer to?
Aging
133
Which term indicates a sweet wine?
Moulleux
134
What is the IGP of the Loire Valley?
Val de Loire
135
```
Which of the following AOPs does NOT produce white wine?
Muscadet
Vouvray
St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
Chinon
Coteaux de l'Aubance
```
St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
136
The minimum amount of Cabernet Franc required in Saumur-Champigny is
(blank) %.
85%
137
Breton is a synonym for which grape?
Cabernet Franc
138
What is the red grape of Reuilly AOP?
Pinot Noir
139
True or False: Vouvray may only be produced from 100% Chenin Blanc.
False
140
Select the permitted wine style(s) in Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP.
```
Dry white
dry red
dry rose
sparkling
off dry white
```
141
```
Which is NOT a geographical designation of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
Fiefs Vendéens
Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet
```
Fiefs Vendéens
142
What is the red grape of Menetou-Salon?
Pinot Noir
143
Caillottes, Terres Blanches, and _____________ are 3 primary soils found in Sancerre.
Silex
144
What is the grape of Jasnières AOP?
Chenin Blanc
145
Which region is the Quincy AOP located in?
Central Vineyards
146
What is the grape of Quincy AOP?
Sauvignon Blanc
147
How would Vouvray with 35 g/l of residual sugar be labeled?
Moulleux
148
What is the synonym in Pays Nantais for Gros Plant?
Folle Blanche
149
The geographic designations of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine lie along the _____________ river.
Sevre
150
What is the only permitted grape of Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP?
Chenin Blanc
151
Where is Chavignol?
Famous hill in Sancerre where the best vineyards are
152
Name a Lieu Dits of Chavignol?
Les Mont Damnes
153
Name a famous producer who makes wine on Chavignol?
Francois Cotat
