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WSET 3 - Fall 2023 > Loire Valley > Flashcards

Loire Valley Flashcards

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1
Q

What is France longest river ?

A

Loire

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2
Q

How can you define the general style of wines of the Loire Valley ?

A

Very varied region
No one signature style
Diverse range of white, red, and rosé still wines

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3
Q

What are the four sub-regions of the Loire Valley ?

A

From West to East
1. Nantais
2. Anjou-Saumur
3. Touraine
4. Central Vineyards

They are not regional appellations

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4
Q

Explain the wine laws of the Loire Valley

A

No Regional generic appellation for the whole Loire
IGP that covers the whole region : Val de Loire
Wines are typically straightforward, diplaying freshness, light body and simple fruit flavours

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5
Q

What is the Loire Valley climate ?

A

Maritime climate in the Nantais Region
Continental climate in the inland regions as Central Vineyards

Generally cool

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6
Q

Where is located the Loire valley ?

A

In the northern part of France, less north than champagne
, at the limit where the grape varieties can grow

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7
Q

What are the climatic hazards of the Loire Valley ?

A

High levels of rainfall leading to risk of fungal disease

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8
Q

What factors are influencing the climate of the vineyards of the Loire Valley ?

A

TheLoire river reflects sunlight on vineyards
Slopes with southerly aspects optimize warmth and sunlight
High variations in the weather patterns, vintages can differ widely

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9
Q

What are the most important white grape varieties of the Loire Valley ?

A

Sauvignon blanc
Chenin Blanc
Melon Blanc

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10
Q

What are the most important black grape varieties of the Loire Valley ?

A

Cabernet Franc
Grolleau
Cabernet Sauvignon

Gamay is the second most planted
Small amount of Pinot noir

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11
Q

What pretigious appellations for sauvignon blanc are in Central Vineyards of the Loire?

A

Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

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12
Q

Where is mainly grown Sauvignon blanc the Loire Valley ?

A

Central vineyards and Touraine

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13
Q

On what soils is Sauvignon blanc grown in Central Vineyards ?

A

well-drained
stony
limestone-based soil

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14
Q

Describe the sauvignon blanc of Central Vineyards

A

Dry, high acidity, hints of green apple, wet stones
Pouilly-Fumé sometims have smoky notes
Some are very expressive wines that evolve in bottle
Although often not wines for ageing.

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15
Q

What are the winemaking techniques used for Sauvignon Blanc of the Loire Valley

A
  • Gentle pneumatic pressing
  • Temperature controlled stainless stel vats
  • Some ferment or mature in old oak vessels, a few use new oak.
  • Some malolactif conversion may take place depending on style, sometimes to reduce acidity
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16
Q

What is the generic appellation for sauvignon blanc in Touraine region ?

A

Touraine

Sometimes appears as Sauvignon de Touraine

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17
Q

What is the character of Touraine AOC wines?

A

Less concentration than those from more pretigious appellation.
Made in a simple fruity style

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18
Q

What are the 4 most important Sauvignon blanc appellations of the Loire Valley ?

A

Sancerre AOC (centre-loire)
Pouilly-Fumé AOC (centre-loire)
Menetou-Salon AOC (Centre-loire)
Touraine AOC (Touraine)

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19
Q

What is the character of Chenin blanc of the Loire Valley

A

High acid, Non aromatic,
Sweet, dry, still or sparkling

Young wine : fresh apple to tropical fruit stelly, smoky character
Sweet wine : Aprivot and citrus peel flavours of noble rot
aged wine : nohey, hay, richer and rounder

Different levels of ripeness in a same bunch resulting in herbaceous aromas if unripe berries are not excluded during harvest
Several Pass may be needed during harvest

20
Q

What is the grape responsible for the greatest white wines of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine ?

A

Chenin Blanc

21
Q

The variety of styles that a chenin blanc grape produces is related to what ?

A

The variety of styles is related to the degree of ripeness

Sparkling wines : Use of barely ripe fruit with enough sugar to produce 10-11% abv

Dry-medium-sweet style : ripe berries including those shrivelled in the sun or affected by noble rot

22
Q

Describe Vouvray AOC soils and style of wines

A

Vouvray is located in Touraine Region,to the east of the city of Tours
Still wines from dry to lusciously sweet depending on vintage
Cool climate and clay soils mean that wines tends to be light to medium in body fresh fruity and floral notes
Rarely fermented or matured in oak.

23
Q

Name the appellations for Chenin Blanc wines of Loire Valley

A

Vouvray (touraine)
Saumur (anjou-saumur)
Anjou (anjou-saumur)
Savennières (anjou-saumur)

24
Q

Describe Saumur and Anjou AOC soils and style of wines

A

Located in Anjou-Saumur region
Clay soils

Saumur: renowned for Sparkling chenin blanc by tradionnal method
Anjou: knowned for dry wines, sometimes matures in new oak

25
Q

Describe Savennières AOC soils and style of wines

A

Located in Anjou-Saumur
Relatively warm dry climate compared with touraine
Full bodied chenin blan, in dry style, complex
Air circulation impedes the development of noble rod but enable late harvested grapes
Can evolve in theh bottle

26
Q

Describe Côteaux du Layon AOC soils and style of wines

A

Most renowned sweet wines in the region
Located in a sheltered vally of the river Layon to the south of the Loire,
Noble rots develop well
Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux have their own appellations

27
Q
A
28
Q

Where can you find Sauvignon Blanc in the same style as Sancerre, just south west of Sancerre ?

A

In Menetou-Salon

29
Q

What are the other names of Melon Blanc variety?

A

Muscadet or Melon de Bourgogne

30
Q

What climate is well suited for Melon blanc ?

A

Melon blanc ripens early and is frost resistant making it well suited to cool climate

31
Q

Where is Melon blanc grown in the Loire valley ?

A

in the Nantais region , whichlies to the south of the Loire as it reaches the Atlantic.

32
Q

What are the Melon Blanc appellations in the Loire Valley ?

A

Muscadet : Widest area
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine : More specific appellations in Muscadet

33
Q

What are the characteristics of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC ?

A

Dry with medium alcohol (around 12%)
Traditionally Fermented in large old oak , but now concrete or stainless steel vats are more common
High acidity, light body, subtle green fruit, drunk young

34
Q

What is the second appellation of Muscadet sèvre et maine

A

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie
Specialty of the area
The wine is bottled in the year following the vintage, having spent winter on its lees.
Richer texture, handled very little to retain delicacy and freshness

35
Q

What are Loire Valley Cabernet Franc Appellations?

A

Chinon (Touraine)
Bourgeuil (Touraine)
Saumur-Champigny (Anjou-Saumur)

36
Q

Describe the soils and wine styles of Chinon AOC and Bourgueil AOC

A

Chinon (south of Loire)
Bourgueil (North of Loire)

Light, fruity wines for early drinking come from Sandy soils

Fuller-bodied, tanninc versions comes from South-Facing slopes with limestone and clay soils

Some choose to mature their wines in oak
Best have the capacity to evolve in bottle

37
Q

Describe the soils and wine styles of Saumur-Champigny AOC

A

Located south of loire in Anjou-Saumur
Cabernet Franc
Floral (violet) character, fuller bodied, more tannic styles, suitable for ageing.

38
Q

What other black varieties are grown in Loire Valley ?

A

Gamay
- Mainly in Touraine and Anjou
- Fruity early drinkin wines

Grolleau ,
cabernet sauvignon for rosé

39
Q

What are the Rosé wine appellations of the Loire Valley ?

A

Rosé de Loire
Cabernet d’anjou (best)
Rosé d’Anjou

40
Q

Describe Rosé de Loire AOC

A
  • Can be produed in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine.
  • Always dry
  • made frm range of grapes including Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
41
Q

Describe Cabernet d’Anjou AOC

A

highest quality of Anjou-saumur Rosé
Medium dry- to medium-sweet
Made from blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon

42
Q

Describe Rosé d’Anjou AOC

A

Less sweet
prodominently Grolleau (local high yielding grape) blended with Cabernet franc and other local varieties.

43
Q

Ho can you discribe rosé wines of Touraine ?

A

Made from a wide array of black grape varieties
usually dru, fresh and fruity

44
Q

Sancerre rosé is made of which grape variety?

A

Must be made from Pino Noir
pale in colour, light in body, dry with delicate fruit flavours

45
Q

What is the winemaking techniques used for Loire rosé ?

A

Direct pressing or a short maceration on the sking
Fermented in inert remperature-controlled vessels to retain fruit flavours

WSET 3 - Fall 2023 (42 decks)

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