Loire Valley

Question 1

Loire Valley map

Answer 1

Question 2

Pays Nantais AOPs

Answer 2

• Muscadet (sur lie aging)
• Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine

Question 3

Anjou Saumur AOPs

Answer 3

• Saumur (traditional method sparkling, red, white, sweet)
• Saumur-Champigny
• Savennieres
• Quarts-de-Chaume (sweet)
• Bonnezeaux (sweet)

Question 4

Tourraine AOPs

Answer 4

• Chinon
• Bourgueil
• Vouvray (sparkling, dry, off dry, sweet)

Question 5

Central Vineyards AOPs

Answer 5

• Sancerre
• Pouilley-Fume

Question 6

Muscadet grape varieties

Answer 6

Melon de Bourgogne

Question 7

Anou-Saumur grape varieties

Answer 7

Chenin Blanc, Cab Franc

Question 8

Touraine grape varieties

Answer 8

Chenine Blanc, Cab Franc

Question 9

Central Vineyards grape varieties

Answer 9

Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir

Question 10

Layon River

Answer 10

• Tributary of Loire River in Anjou-Saumur
• Vineyards on northern bank of river, south facing
• Steep slate, schist, and clay soils
• Sweet botrytis affected wines made from Chenin Blanc
• Botrytis affected (from river moisture) and sun
• AOPs: Bonnezeaux and Quarts-de-Chaume

Question 11

Silex (soil)

Answer 11

A type of flint made from microcystalline quartz formed from remains of sea sponge seletons that were once scattered over the ocean floor.

Gives one dramatic freshness and vivid minerality

Found primarily in Loire valley/Sancerre & Pouilley-Fume (effect: smokey flavor)

Question 12

Tuffeau

Answer 12

Found in Vouvray
Very porous limestone

Question 13

Cremant de Loire

Answer 13

• Grapes: Chard/Chenin/Cab Franc
• Aged for 1 yr on lees
• Generally vinified dry/brut

Question 14

Vouvray Petillant

Answer 14

• Sparkling wine made from Chenin Blanc
• Semi sparkling

Question 15

Moulleux (define and example)

Answer 15

Sweet wines made in Vouvray from Chenin Blanc

Question 16

Domaine Huet

Answer 16

Leading producer in the Vouvray region of the Loire Valley. It is known for its range of Chenin Blanc wines from that appellation, which are prized for their richness and concentration as well as their great ability to age.

Question 17

Nicolas Joly

Answer 17

• Pioneer of biodynamic wine
• Owns Coulée de la Serrant in the Savennières region of France’s Loire Valley

Question 18

Loire wine pairings (different levels of sweetness)

Answer 18

• Muscadet and oysters on the half shell (salinity, minerality mirrors ocean flavors)
• Demi sec Vouvray and spicy fried chicken (crisp acidity of vouvray cuts through breading and elevates chicken flavors - too high in alc for super spicy but good with a more mild spice level)
• Moulleux Vouvray with a orchard fruit tart (brings out pear and apple flavors in Moulleux)
• Sancerre or Pouilley-Fume with goat cheese