Loire Valley Flashcards
1
Q
France’s longest river
A
Loire
2
Q
Origin of the Loire River
A
Massif Central
3
Q
Loire River end point
A
Bay of Biscay
4
Q
Breton AKA
A
Cabernet Franc
5
Q
Pineau de la Loire is a grape most commonly known as…
A
Chenin Blanc
6
Q
Middle Loire was known as …. during the French Renaissance
A
Jardin de la France (Garden of France) – lush gardens
7
Q
What happened in 1709?
A
Severe frost killed many vines in Pays Nantais – Melon B was planted
8
Q
Unifying style of Loire Valley wine
A
Lighter body + vibrant acidity
9
Q
How many grape varities are permitted in Loire Valley?
A
24
10
Q
Most planted grapes of Loire Valley
A
Cab Franc, SB, Chenin Blanc
11
Q
Chenin Blanc is native to..
A
Anjou
12
Q
t/f: Chardonnay is not a permitted grape in Loire Valley
A
false. used primarily as a blending grape; often in support of Chenin Blanc or Melon B
13
Q
What is Grolleau?
A
red grape used a fruity blending grape for rose wine
14
Q
Much of the Loire is prone to…
A
spring frost
15
Q
t/f: hail during the growing season is a big concern
A
true
16
Q
How are the vineyards situated in the Loire?
A
Vineyards lay on slopes and plateaus lining the Loire River
17
Q
When were the first AOCs established?
A
1936
18
Q
IGP for Loire Valley
A
Val de Loire
19
Q
The only Grand Cru of Loire Valley
A
Quarts de Chaume AOC
20
Q
The only Premier Cru of Loire Valley
A
Chaume AOC
21
Q
T/F: Most Loire Valley wines require extensive barrel aging before being released to market.
A
False. Low elevage requirements in the Loire; most wines can be released Sept 1 following harvest, many sooner than that
22
Q
Cremant de Loire covers trad method sparkling wines produced in…
A
Anjou-Saumur & Touraine
23
Q
Where is production of Cremant de Loire focused?
A
Saumur
24
Q
Generally, Cremant wines have lower …. than Champagne
A
bottle pressure
25
What style is Rose de Loire?
bright pink, dry; made from Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Grolleau, and other reds
26
What style of Rose d'Anjou?
medium-dry rose based on Grolleau
27
What style of wine is Cabernet d'Anjou?
medium-dry based on Cab Sauve + Cab Franc; high acid, ageworthy
28
Loire Valley is France's _____ largest region by production volume
3rd
29
Sweet wine should be paired with a ____er dessert
sweet
30
Because of their great _____, sweet wines in Loire can pair well with savory dishes
acidity
31
"fume" translates to..
smoky
32
"liquoreux" means...
sweet, rich wine style
33
Red and Rose wines in Central Loire are made from this grape
Pinot Noir
34
Where is Coteaux du Giennois located?
Central Loire. Whites are similar in style to Sancerre. Reds based on Gamay
35
Growing season in Central Loire begins _____ than the rest of Loire
later
36
Sauvignon Blanc has been historically known as ... in Central Loire
Blanc Fume (smoky white)
37
What is Pouilly-sur-Loire?
town on opposite bank to Sancerre. Two AOCS: Pouilly-sur-Loire for Chasselas grape; Pouilly-Fume for SB
38
Pinot Noir from Central Loire compared to Burgundy.
PN from Central Loire is lighter in nature and intended for early consumption
39
Who was Didier Dagueneau?
Important historical figure in Central Loire. Emphasized terroir-focused wines + early adopter of biodynamic farming.
40
France's 2nd AOC
Quincy
41
Historically, Central Loire focused on Pinot Noir production. What happened?
Oidium + phylloxera hit; replantings focused on Sauvignon Blanc
42
What is silex?
flint soil
43
Sancerre's three important soils
Terres Blanches (white limestone clay)
Caillottes (gravelly limestone)
Silex (flint)
44
t/f: sancerre does not allow rose production
FALSE
45
Up to __% of red wine in Sancerre can be made with Gamay
0%. Pinot Noir only
46
The wines of Pouilly-Fume are said to have a _____ quality to them
smoky
47
Pouilly-Fume AOC reds are made with...
Pouilly-Fume AOC is white only
48
Sancerre is on the .... bank of the Loire River
left
49
The same area that cultivates SB under Pouilly-Fume AOC also cultivates Chasselas under this AOC
Pouilly-sur-Loire
50
Menetou-Salon is located ____ of Sancerre
west
51
Of the Central Loire AOCS, Reuilly and Quincy are the ______ & ______
warnest and driest
52
Quincy sits on ____ soil
sandy
53
Quincy sits on the left bank of this river
Cher River
54
Quincy SB is ..... compared to SB produced further east
softer (lower acid); intended for early consumption
55
Reuilly straddles this river
Arnon River
56
"coteaux" means ...
hillsides
57
What is tuffeau?
chalky limestone
58
Much of Toraine's wine is stored in...
subterranean caves; caves are a result of centuries of mining
59
Most of Touraine's white wines are based on these two grapes
Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc
60
Touraine's red wines are based on...
Cab Franc, Cot, Gamay
61
t/f: Sparkling and rose production is more important in Touraine than Anjou Saumur
false
62
t/f: before phylloxera, Touraine was the major producer of wine to Paris
true
63
Many of Loire Valley's most famous _____ are located in Touraine
castles
64
Touraine is based around this city
Tours
65
mousseux means..
fully sparkling
66
Touraine AOC white is going to be based on this grape
Sauvignon Blanc
67
Within Touraine, _____ has the most maritime-influenced climate and is also the warmest and driest region
Chinon
68
t/f: Chinon also produces a white wine
true (chenin blanc)
69
Where is Chinon located?
Western Touraine; surrounding the Vienne river
70
What grape is used to make white Chinon?
chenin blanc
71
Where is Vouvray located?
Central Touraine; north of the Loire River; east of Tours
72
Harvest in _____ is one of the latest in France; often lasting into November
Vouvray
73
this river runs north-south thru Vouvray
Brenne River
74
How does Vouvray produce its sweet wines?
Overripeness of noble rot (pourriture noble)
75
Sparkling Vouvray is made using the ____ method
traditional
76
Sparkling wine is often more than ___ of Vouvray's production
half
77
Vouvray allows still and sparklings wines up to _% this grape
Arbois
78
t/f: there is no red Vouvray produced
true
79
Where is Jasnieres AOC located?
North of Tours. White wine only based on Chenin Blanc, typically dry
80
What kind of wine is made in Jasnieres AOC?
white wine made from Chenin Blanc; typically dry but can be sweet
81
What is Pineau d'Aunis?
Red grape. Adds peppery spicyness to Rose wines; star red grape of Coteaux du Loir
82
Jasnieres AOC is nested within this AOC
Coteaux du Loir
83
This AOC is located north of Chinon
Borgueil
84
Cabernet Franc is originally from..
Basque Country
85
This AOC is south of Vouvray. Wines are produced with 100% Chenin Blanc similar to Vouvray but with less acidity
Montlouis-Sur-Loire
86
Where is Valencay AOC located?
Touraine
87
What can you tell me about Valencay AOC?
Located in Touraine. Whites based on Sauvignon Blanc; Reds based on Cot, Cab Sauv, Pinot Noir, Gamay
88
Where is Cheverny AOC located?
Touraine.
89
What is unique about Cheverny AOC?
The wines of Cheverny are required to be a blend
90
Cheverny AOC white wines are based on this grape
Sauvignon Blanc
91
Cheverny AOC red and rose wines are based on this grape
Pinot Noir
92
Where is Orleans AOC?
NE Touraine
93
What kind of wines does Orleans AOC produce?
Burgundy influenced. Whites based on Chardonnay. Red and rose based on Pinot Meunier.
94
What is Touraine-Noble Joue?
Historic AOC of Touraine. Produces only dry vin gris based on min. 40% Pinot Meunier
95
The wines of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil tend to be ____ compared to Bourgueil
lighter
96
Sweetness levels for Vouvray still wine
Sec (dry; minerality)
Tendre (touch off-dry; more intense fruitiness)
Demi-sec (sweet and fruity)
Moelleux (rich, sweet dessert wine)
97
Anjou is centered around this city
Angers
98
The 2 most important tributary rivers in Anjou-Saumur
Layon
Aubance
99
The Massif des Mauges offers protection to.... from the SW
Anjou-Saumur (especially Saumur)
100
What represents the bulk of production in Anjou-Saumur?
Rose + Sparkling
101
Red wines in Anjou-Saumur are principally made with this grape
Cabernet Franc
102
t/f: Pre-phylloxera, Anjou-Saumur was mostly white wine territory
true. replantings post phylloxera introduced a significant amount of red grape plantings
103
t/f: Anjou AOC covers the entire region of Anjou-Saumur
TRUE
104
____ AOC covers the entire region of Anjou-Saumur
Anjou
105
The two important soils of Anjou-Saumur
Anjou Noir (dark schist; west)
Anjou Blanc (clay limestone; east)
106
The two methods used for rose production in Anjou-Saumur
Direct Press
Saignee
107
mousseux means...
fully sparkling
108
The production rules for Cremant are .... than other sparkling wine AOCs
stricter
109
Rose d'Anjou and Cabernet d'Anjou are REQUIRED to have minimum residual sugar levels of __ and __ g/l, respectively
7
10
110
These two AOCs cover fine red wines made in Anjou
Anjou-Villages
Anjou-Villages-Brissac
111
Anjou-Villages and Anjou-Villages-Brissac make wines entirely from these two grapes
Cab Franc and/or Cab Sauv
112
What kind of wine does the generic Anjou AOC cover?
red, white(dry and sweet), sparkling (NO still rose wine)
113
What geographical feature shelters Saumur from the west?
Massif des Mauges
114
The soils of Saumur are a continuation of the chalky ____ soils of Touraine
Aubuis
115
Why does Saumur focus on sparkling wine production?
grapes struggle to ripen in Saumur
116
How are sparkling wines made in Saumur?
Trad method + aged on lees for 9 months
117
most common style of wine produced in Saumur
sparkling
118
Where will you find Puy-Notre-Dame (subregional destination) wines?
Saumur, as in Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
119
Where will you find Puy-Notre-Dame (subregional destination) wines?
Saumur, as in Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
120
Chenin Blanc from Savennieres tends to be mroe ___ than that of Vouvray
Oxidative
121
t/f: Savennieres often has flavors contributed by botrytis
true
122
t/f: hand harvesting is required in Savennieres
true
123
These two comparitively warmer and early-ripening vineyards within Savennieres were given their own AOCs in 2011
Savennieres Roche Aux Moines AOC
Coulee de Serrant AOC (monople - Nicolas Joly)
124
The Savennieres Roche Aux Moines AOC and Coulee de Serrant AOC vineyards were establed in the 12th century by..
Cistercian Monks
125
Savennieres overlooks this river
Loire
126
Soil of Savennieres
Schist
127
Coteaux du Layon AOC produces exclusively...
sweet wine made from Chenin Blanc
128
Coteaux du Layon AOC utilizes either noble rot or...
passerillage (dehydration)
129
SGN indicates...
botrytis
130
AOCs nested within Coteaux du Layon
Coteaux du Layon-Villages
Coteaux du Layon 1er Cru Chaume
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru
Bonnezeaux
131
Where is Haut-Poitou
50 miles south of Saumur, near the town of Poitiers.
132
What kind of wine does Haut-Poitou produce?
Most white wine based on Sauvignon Blanc and Gris. Some red + rose based on Cabernet Franc
133
What does "passerillage" mean?
dehydration of grapes on the vine
134
define "moulleux"
literally "soft"; delicatetly sweet or semi-sweet
135
Which term indicates a sweeter wine: moulleux or doux?
doux
136
Which vineyard is a monople owned by the Joly family?
Coulee de Serrant
137
The red grape of Nantais
Gamay
138
Desribe the white wines of Nantais
Just-ripe tree fruit; citrus; salinity
139
t/f: about 50% of Nantais production is white
false; about 96%
140
Two most important rivers of Nantais
Sevre and Maine
141
Soil structure of Nantais
Sandstone, igneous, alluvial
142
Law for "sur lie" label in Nantais
Wine must be kept on the lees until at least March (lastest by November) of year following harvest
143
The general AOC of Nantais
Muscadet AOC
144
About 2/3rd of Muscadet is bottled under this AOC
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOC
145
The (first) 3 crus of Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine
Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet
146
Where will you find the grape Gros Plant (aka Folle Blanche) planted?
Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC
147
What is lees?
Sediment at the bottom of a barrel or bottle; comprised of yeast, bacteria, and grape particles
148
How are the crus of Muscadet define?
Extended aging, restricted yields, geology
149
Pays Nantais is centered around this city
Nantes
150
The 4 Muscadet AOCs
Muscadet AOC
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOC
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
151
White Cherverny AOC is based on this grape
Sauvignon Blanc
152
Red Cheverny AOC is based on this grape
Pinot Noir
153
Didier Dagueneau is best known for his contributions for this variety
Sauvignon Blanc
154
lees aging results in
fuller & creamier mouthfeel; flavors + aromas of toasted nuts and bread
155
The variety of Cour-Chaverny
Romarantin
156
What is Romarantin?
neutral grape; half sibling of Chardonnay
