Loire Valley Flashcards
What is the principal grape variety in Saumur-Champigny AOC wines and how much min percentage must it be?
Cab Franc - 85%
Describe wine from Saumur-Champigny AOC (SAT)
pale ruby in color
med to med + intensity
redcurrant, leafy aromas,
medium alcohol
high acidity
medium tannins
good to very good
inexpensive to mid-priced with a few premium examples
Max yield for Saumur-Champigny AOC
57 hl/ha - leads to some wines with low intensity
What are soils like in Saumur-Champigny AOC and what is the benefit
chalk, flint and clay: a combination of good drainage and water holding potential (valuable in dry periods)
When can Saumur-Champigny AOC wines be released?
as early as December of the year of the harvest
When are most Saumur-Champigny AOC wines intended to be drunk?
young for primary fruit flavors
What are the three key appellations in Saumur?
Saumur-Champigny AOC
Saumur AOC
Coteaux de Saumur AOC
What types of wines does the Saumur AOC include
red, white, rose, and sparkling
What varietal are white wines from Saumur AOC made from?
Chenin Blanc
What varietal are red wines from Saumur AOC made from?
principally Cab Franc
What varietal are rose wines from Saumur AOC made from?
Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon
What are the max yields in Saumur AOC
60 hl/ha for whites
57 hl/ha for reds and roses
leads to low flavor intensity
What types of wines (varietal) are made in Coteaux de Saumur AOC
sweet Chenin Blanc
How are Coteaux de Saumur AOC wines made
using overripe grapes with or without botrytis - picked with a number of passes through vineyard
What are the max yields in Coteaux de Saumur AOC
limited to 35 hl/ha
Describe sweetness and acidity of Coteaux de Saumur AOC wines
high acidity and lusciously sweet
What are the key Touraine Appellations?
Touraine AOC
Vouvray AOC
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Bourgueil AOC
Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil AOC
Chinon AOC
What types of wines are made in Touraine AOC?
white, red, rose, and sparkling
What is the principal variety used for white wines in Touraine AOC
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the principal varietals used for red wines in Touraine AOC
Cab Franc and Cot
Gamay is also grown and can be attached to the name Touraine AOC Gamay
What are the varietals used for rose wines in Touraine AOC
wide range of varietals including Cab Sauvignon, Cab Frac, Cot, Gamay, and Grolleau
Besides the basic Touraine AOC why can 6 other subzones names be added? Give an example
Allows for differences between varietals used reflecting what is locally grown EX: Touraine AOC Ambroise Blanc is made from Chenin Blanc not Sauvignon Blanc
what is the most important white wine appellation in Touraine?
Vouvray AOC
What are wines made from in Vouvray AOC?
minimum 95% Chenin Blanc but are typically 100%
What are the max yields for Vouvray AOC?
52 hl/ha
Where are the best vineyards in Vouvray AOC and why?
slopes that overlook the Loire - promotes ripening due to good sunlight interception with the river acting as a moderating influence on temps
what types of soils are in Vouvray AOC?
flinty, clay and limestone, over a tuff (allows good drainage)
What style wines of Vouvray are made?
dry = every vintage
some demi-sec most years
sweet - rarer
What are max yields for Montlouis sur Loire AOC
52 hl/ha
What varietal is Montlouis sur Loire AOC made from
100% Chenin Blanc
Where is the Montlouis sur Loire AOC appellation?
faces Vouvray appellation from across south bank of the Loire river; vineyards run from Loire Valley to the Cher
What are the 3 important appellations for red wines in Touraine?
Bourgueil AOC
Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil AOC
Chinon AOC
What type of wines are made in Bourgueil AOC
specializes in red wines but rose also made
what is the principal varietal used in Bourgueil AOC
Cab Franc with only 10% of Cab Sauvignon
What is the max yield in Bourgueil AOC
55 hl/ha - resulting in wines of high quality and lower yields
What varietal is used mainly in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC?
Cab franc in lighter style than Bourgueil AOC
what is SAT of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
Similar to Saumur Champigny AOC:
pale ruby in color
med to med + intensity
redcurrant, leafy aromas,
medium alcohol
high acidity
medium tannins
good to very good
inexpensive to mid-priced with a few premium examples
What is the Chinon AOC best known and regarded for?
red wines
white and rose also made from Chenin Blanc
what is principal varietal used in Chinon AOC
Cab Franc and only 10% of Cab sauvignon
what is the max yield for Chinon AOC
55hl/ha
could result in wines of low flavor intensity, many are high quality and lower yields
what is maceration ranges for Chinon AOC
short maceration (6-8 days) on the skins = light fruity earlier to drink
longer maceration (2-3 weeks) not released until up to 2 years following the vintage.
What soil types are found in Chinon AOC and what is the type of wine they produce?
clay and limestone = more concentrated and structured wines
sand and gravel = lighter styles
While cab Franc wines are typically drunk young explain why wines from Chinon AOC can age for 20+ years.
very good flavor intensity, high acidity, and medium to medium plus tannins
what is price and quality for Chinon AOC wines
good to very good quality
inexpensive to mid priced with a few premium examples
How much of their production do both Touraine and Anjou-Saumur export?
just under 20%
What type of soil is found in all three appellations: Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgeil and Chinon?
sand
gravel
clay-Limestone
In comparison to Touraine how much wine does Anjou-Saumur produce?
twice as much
Compare rose production in Anjou to rose production in Touraine
Anjou has 10 times more rose production than Touraine
Compare sparkling production in Anjou to sparkling production in Touraine
Anjou Saumur makes significantly more sparkling than Touraine
Compare red and white production in Anjou to red and white production in Touraine
Touraine makes significantly more white and red than Anjou-Saumur
what is the name given to the 8 AOCs that are further east of the main grape growing areas of the Loire Valley
Central Vinyards
Why are they called the Central Vineyards?
they are situated roughly halfway between the river’s source and mouth
What are the two best-known AOCs in the Central Vineyards
Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre (also have most hectares under vine
What is the climate of Central Vineyards?
continental - warm summers and cold winters
what are the main grape varietals in the Central Vineyards?
Sauvignon Blanc for whites
Pinot Noir for reds and roses
what are environmental threats of Central Vineyards?
spring frosts and summer hail storms
what is the average rainfall for Central Vineyards? and how does this impact the area
750 mm per year- high for a continental region (reduces threat of drought, but increases fungal disease threat)
Why is Sauvignon Blanc suitable to be grown in Central Vineyards?
late budding, relatively early ripening making it suitable to be grown in cool climates and regions with a threat of early autumn rains.
best grown in poor soils due to its vigor
what is sauvignon blanc susceptible to?
powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot, and trunk diseases
How is the canopy managed for Sauvignon blanc in Central Vineyard
avoid shading, cordon trained,
SAT for Sauvignon Blanc in Central Vineyard
the pronounced intensity of aromas of grass, bell pepper, asparagus, with gooseberry, grapefruit, and wet stone (cooler areas) to riper passion fruit (in warmer areas).
med body and alcohol
high acidity
how does row orientation and canopy management affect flavor profile of Sauvignon Blanc
fruit grown in shadier areas will result in more green pepper and grassy notes
fruit grown in more sunlight will have more tropical fruit
why is harvesting date important for Sauvignon Blanc
need to judge optimum ripeness but before acidity drops and flavors become overripe
how much of plantings in Loire Central Vineyard are Sauvignon Blanc?
70%
How much are planting in Loire Central Vineyard are Pinot Noir
20%
SAT for Loire Central Vineyard Pinot Noir
med ruby in color
light to medium intensity of raspberry, and strawberry fruit
high acidity
medium alcohol
mid to premium-priced
Describe fermentation temperatures in Loire Central Vineyards for white wines. why?
slightly higher than in new world for more restrained fruit expression
is Malolactic conversion used in Loire Central Vineyards?
no - it is often blocked - depending on vintage and style
how are higher quality wines aged in Loire Central Vineyards?
in old oak casks to fill out the body of the wine but not adding oak flavors
What varietals are used in Sancerre AOC?
whites = Sauvignon Blanc only
reds and roses = Pinot Noir only
what is the size of Sancerre AOC in comparison to rest of Central Vineyards in Loire?
It is the largest and most successful commercially
What provides moderating influences against spring frosts in Sancerre AOC?
steep hillside slopes (200-400m)
river
nearby forests
what are the max yields in Sancerre AOC
whites = 65hl/ha
roses = 63 hl/ha
reds = 59 hl/ha (reduced yields needed to produce flavor intense wines)
SAT for Sancerre AOC white wine
med intensity aromas of grapefruit and gooseberry
medium alcohol
high acidity
rarely have new oak flavors
good to outstanding
mid -premium priced with a few super premium
Name the three soil types in Sancerre AOC
Caillottes
Terre Blanches
Silexroducde
what are caillottes Soil?
very shallow soil over limestone;
fruits grown on these soils produce most aromatic wines that are ready to drink with less potential for aging
What is terre Blanches Soil?
the same limestone and marl found in Chablis\
fruits grown on these soils produce most structured wines that need long maturation and age well
what is Silex soil
flinty soils that accumulates heat and leads to early ripening
fruits grown on these soils produce stony or smokey aromas
what is the only grape variety used in Pouilly-Fume AOC?
sauvignon Blanc
What is the max yield for Pouilly-Fume AOC
65 hl/ha
what makes Pouilly-Fume AOC more susceptible to frost damage?
on flatter land than Sancerre AOC
what are the soils in Pouilly-Fume AOC?
Caillottes
Terre-Blanches
Silex
what is price and quality of Pouilly-Fume AOC wines?
good to outstanding
med to premium priced with a few super premium priced
What is the difference between Pouilly Fume and Sancerre wines?
Pouilly Fume tends to be more rounder and less aromatic than Sancerre and often needs a little more time in the bottle
what are the varietals for the styles of wines that come from Reuilly AOC?
white = Sauvignon Blanc only
red = PInot noir only
Roses = Pinot Gris and PInot Noir only
What are the Max yields for Reuilly AOC
whites = 65hl/ha
roses = 63 hl/ha
reds = 59 hl/ha
What are the varietals used for wines from Quincy AOC
white wines from Sauvignon Blanc (min 90%) and Sauvignon Gris
what are the max yields for Quincy AOC
whites = 65hl/ha
roses = 63 hl/ha
reds = 59 hl/ha
What are the varietals used for wines in Menetou-Salon AOC
whites = Sauvignon Blanc only
reds/roses = Pinot Noir only
what are max yields in Menetou-Salon AOC
whites = 65hl/ha
roses = 63 hl/ha
reds = 59 hl/ha
What is the quality and price point for wines of Reuilly AOC, Menetou-Salon AOC, and Quincy AOC?
good to very good
inexpensive to mid priced
how do the wines in Central Vineyards promote their wines
Bureau Interprofessionel des Vins du Centre (BIVC)
how are the % of wine sold by volume broken out by negociants, estates, and co-ops in Central Vineyards Loire Valley
negociants = 50% of all wines by volume
estates = 41%
co-op = under 10%
what is the largest channel in France for Loire AOC
specialist wine retail and hospitality sector (just under 44%)
supermarkets (36%)
How much wine is exported from Loire AOC and was is the largest export market?
20% top markets are US, UK and Germany
which appellation outperforms all other appellations in the Loire?
Sancerre - both by value and volume
Who founded the Renaissance des appellations/Return to terroir and who are they?
Nicolas Joly biodynamic producers
a group of producers from all over, but more from Loire than anywhere
What gives Loire Valley a long history of winemaking and trading
its ready access to the Atlantic, being home of French kings until Louis XIV and before the coming of the railway its proximity to Paris allowing wines to be transported by river