Loire Valley Flashcards by Christen Raanes

Name 11 key districts of the Loire from west to east.

Atlantic (west)
Muscadet
Anjou-Villages
Coteaux Du Layon
Saumur-Champigny
Chinon
Vouvray
Quincy
Menetou-Salon
Sancerre
Pouilly Fume (east)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What percentage of the total production of the Loire Valley comes from Touraine?

31%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What percentage of the total production of the Loire Valley comes from Anjou-Saumur?

37%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the main grape variety in the Pays Nantais region?

Melon

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the local name for the Folle Blanche grape variety?

Gros Plant

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What type of climate does the Pays Nantais region have?

Cool Maritime

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What type of weather is a particular hazard in the Pays Nantais region?

Spring Frost

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Which of the following is the Melon grape variety susceptible to?

Downy mildew
Botrytis bunch rot

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Up to what percentage ABV is chaptalization permitted in Pays Nantais?

12%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

In what kind of vessels is Muscadet typically fermented in?

underground Glass lined concrete vats

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Are Muscadet wines are often aged on the lees?

Yes

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Using bullet points, briefly describe the process of ageing the wines of Pays Nantais sur lie.

Lees aging is a multi-step process.
1) After the alcoholic fermentation is completed, the wine is racked off to remove the gross lees.
2) The wine then remains in contact with the fine lees, usually in a glass-lined concrete tanks.
3) The wine stays on the fine lees through the winter following harvest and until bottling.
4) Sur lie wines must be bottled between 1 March and 30 November of the year following harvest and in the winery in which they were made.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What effect does lees aging have on wines?

Ageing on the lees increases the body and mouthfeel of the wine while retaining freshness and sometimes a small amount of carbon dioxide, which is part of the style of these wines.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Name the two larger appellations in the Pays Nantais

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Name the two smaller appellations in the Pays Nantais?

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the most important grape varieties in the middle Loire?

Cabernet Franc
Chenin Blanc

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the name of the river in Anjou? The river’s multiple tributaries help to create the misty conditions ideal for the spread of botrytis at the end of the growing season.

River Layon

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Briefly describe why multiple passes may have to be done when handpicking Chenin Blanc grapes at harvest.

Chenin Blanc does not ripen evenly within a bunch and in certain vintages i.e. cooler vintages, this can be a particular issue. To ensure the grapes are fully ripe, several passes may be made during harvest to pick the riper berries. This variety is also susceptible to botrytis. Botrytis attacks berries and multiple passes are necessary to pick the berries affected by botrytis and depending on the desired sweetness levels required for the style of wine.

What region in Anjou specializes in wines made from botrytis-affected Chenin Blanc grapes. If botrytis fails to develop, the grapes may also be dried on the vine. The wines are sweet with high acidity, medium (+) body and medium alcohol. The prices range from mid-priced to premium.

Coteaux du Layon

What region in Anjou is a small but prestigious appellation mainly specialising in dry wine made from Chenin Blanc. They can be very austere in youth and historically have required many years in bottle before they became approachable.

Savennieres AOC

What region in Anjou produces rose made from a range of varieties including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay and Grolleau Noir. The wines are dry.

Rose de Loire AOC

What region in Anjou produces roses mainly made from Grolleau though other options include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Cot and Gamay. The wines are medium-dry.

Rose d’Anjou AOC

What region in Anjou produces roses made from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon only. The wines are typically a deeper colour than most rosé (medium pink) and medium-dry.

Cabernet d’Anjou AOC

What is the abv & max yield for Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru?

20 hL/ha
18% abv

What is the abv & max yield for Coteaux du Layon AOC Premier Cru Chaume?

25 hL/ha 16.5% abv

What is the abv & max yield for Bonnezeaux AOC?

25 hL/ha 15% abv

What is the abv & max yield for Coteaux du Layon + a named village?

30 hL/ha 15% abv

What is the abv & max yield for Coteaux du Layon?

35 hL/ha 14% abv

What Touraine region is this: For white wines, the principal variety is Sauvignon Blanc and for red, the principal varieties are Cabernet Franc and Cot. Gamay is also grown. Rosé and sparkling are also made. Some wines can use the six subzones within the appellation on the label.

Touraine

What Touraine region is this: The most important white wine appellation. The wines must be made from a minimum of 95 per cent Chenin Blanc but are typically 100 per cent. It is made in every vintage; some demi-sec in most years, while sweet is rarer.

Vouvray

What Touraine region is this:

What Touraine region is The vineyards run from the river Loire to the river Cher. Makes similar wine styles to Vouvray from 100 per cent Chenin Blanc.

Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC

What Touraine region is this: This appellation is best known and highly regarded for red wines. White wines from Chenin Blanc and rosé wines are also made. The principal variety is Cabernet Franc and only ten percent of Cabernet Sauvignon is allowed.

Chinon

What are the two most important grape varieties grown in the Central Vineyards?

Pinot Noir Sauvignon Blanc

Is Malolactic Conversion is usually blocked or carried out for the white wines made in the Central Vineyards?

blocked

Are fermentation temperatures for Sauvignon Blanc based white wines from the Central Vineyards are usually higher or lower than in the New World?

higher

What aromas and flavours would you typically expect from a white Sancerre?

Grapefruit Gooseberry

What soil in Sancerre is very shallow over limestone. Fruit grown on these soils are said to produce the most aromatic wines that are first to be ready to drink and to have less potential for ageing in the bottle.

Calliottes

What Sancerre soil is the same limestone and marl that is to be found in Chablis. Fruit grown on these soils are said to produce the most structured wines that need long maturation before they are ready to drink and age well.

Terre Blanches

What Sancerre soil is flinty and accumulates heat and leads to early ripening. Fruit grown on these soils are said to produce mineral and smoky wines.

Silex

Evaluate the role of négociants in the Loire Valley as a whole.

There has been some overlap of roles between negociants and estates, with many negociants vinifiying their own wine. Some prestige estates have been purchased with this goal in mind. For example: Grand Chais de France buying Château des Fesles in Bonnezeaux and Château de Cléray in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine. Ackerman buying Château de Varière in Anjou and Château de Sancerre. Some estates also have their hand in the negociant business.

What % of sales by volume do negociants make up in the Loire?

50%

What % of sales by volume do estates make up in the Loire?

40%

What % of sales by volume do co-op's make up in the Loire?

10%