Loire Valley Flashcards
What are the 3 main white and red grapes, respectively, in Loire?
Melon de Bourgogne (30%)
Sauvignon Blanc (28%)
Chenin Blanc (27%)
Cabernet Franc (“Breton”) (56%)
Gamay (18%)
Pinot Noir (8%)
What grape is used to make Muscadet?
Melon de Bourgogne
Why did Melon de Bourgogne become successful in Loire Valley?
It was varietal that resisted severe winter of 1709
T or F: Loire is #1 producer of white wines in FR
True
T or F: Loire is #1 producer of sparkling wines in FR
False. Champagne #1, Loire #2
T or F: Loire is #1 producer of rosé wines in FR
False. Provence #1, Loire #2
What are the main wine regions of Loire Valley, and respective climates?
West to East:
Pays Nantais (oceanic)
Anjou-Saumur (oceanic)
Touraine (oceanic-continental)
Centre Loire (continental)
Auvergne (continental-mountainous)
T or F: Loire is #1 largest wine region in FR
1 Languedoc
False
#2 Rhone Valley
#3 Loire Valley
What is “autolysis”
The process of fine lees breaking down into amino acids during maturation, that then combine with other molecules to develop rich aroma and flavor compounds
What local tradition is Pays Nantais known for?
“Vins sur lies”
Lees contact originated in Pays Nantais
What is dominant grape in AOP Gros Plant du Pays Nantais?
Folle Blanche (Dutch origin 1600s; minimum 70% )
What is Pays Nantais’ core appellation?
AOP Muscadet
T or F: AOP Muscadet makes only dry white wine
True
What is grape 100% used in AOP Muscadet?
Melon de Bourgogne
What are the 2 distinctive soil compositions in the AOPs of Anjou?
Anjou noir (slate schist)
Anjou blanc (limestone)
Anjou red wines are predominantly made with what grape(s)?
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Gamay
Anjou white wines are predominantly made with what grape(s)?
Chenin Blanc
Anjou famous for its sweet white wines
T or F: AOP Savennières only makes white wine
True
T or F: AOP Savennières whites can only be made with Chenin Blanc
True
T or F: AOP Savennières only makes dry white wines
False
Dry and sweet
What is the only “Premier Cru” in the Loire?
AOP Coteaux du Layon Premier Cru Chaume (1950)
What is the only “Grand Cru” in the Loire?
AOP Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru (2014)
T or F: AOP Saumur is in the Anjou Blanc
True
T or F: AOP Saumur makes red, white, rosé and sparkling
True
What is the best terroir of AOP Saumur?
Brézé
T or F: AOP Saumur-Champigny only makes red wine
True
Cabernet Franc (minimum 85%) & Cabernet Sauvignon
T or F: AOP Coteaux de Saumur is the only sweet wine of Saumur
True
Which Touraine AOP makes exclusively rosé?
AOP Touraine Noble-Joué
T or F: AOP Chinon is best known for its white wines?
False
Chinon known for its red wines. The best Chinon wines are produced on tuffeau (soft limestone) vineyards
What are the best known AOPs in Touraine?
- Vouvray (white)
- Borgeuil (red, rosé)
- Chinon (red, white)
T or F: AOP Anjou makes every kind of wine
True
Dry red wines
Dry and sweet white wines
Dry and sweet rosé wines
Sparkling white and rosé wines, Pet’ Nat’, Crémants
What are the best known AOPs in Anjou?
Savennières
Saumur (Champigny)
T or F: Pétillant and Sec are the only regulated terms in AOP Vouvray
True
What is the flagship wine of the Chenin Blanc grape in Touraine?
AOP Vouvray
What is most notable about Touraine region’s white-only AOP Cour-Cheverny?
Romorantin is the only grape allowed
What are the best known AOPs in Centre Loire?
- AOP Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc for whites, Pinot Noir for red and rosé)
- AOP Pouilly-Fumé (only Sauvignon Blanc, locally called “Blanc Fumé”)
What is unique about the soil types of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé?
Silex (flint) known for the distinctive, smoky “pierre à fusil” (gunflint) aroma found in some Sauvignon from this part of the Loire Valley
