LOIRE VALLEY

Question 1

Longest river in France?

Answer 1

Loire

Question 2

4 subregions?

Answer 2

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

*These are not appellations and there is NO regional generic appellation for the whole of Loire

Question 3

Where does production of Rose de Loire and Cremant de Loire take place?

Answer 3

Anjour and Saumur

Question 4

What is Val de Loire?

Answer 4

IGP that covers whole region, straightforward wines

Question 5

Climate?

Answer 5

Overall cool
Central Vineyards- Are well inland and have a continental climate

Nantais- Coastal location and has maritime climate

Question 6

Best vineyards?

Answer 6

Southern aspect, mid slope, facing the river for extra heat and reflected light

Question 7

Where is Sauv B mainly grown?

Answer 7

Central Vineyards and Touraine

Question 8

Sub region with smallest production?

Answer 8

Central Valley, but has 2 of the most prestigious wine appellations for Sauv B

1. Sancerre
2. Pouilly Fume

Question 9

Characteristics of wines from Sancerre and Pouilly Fume

Answer 9

Well drained, stony, limestone based soils
Dry, high in acid with green apple and wet stone

PF-subtle smoky notes

Question 10

What is used to create fresh and fruity wines?

Answer 10

Gentle pneumatic pressing and temp controlled stainless steel vats

Question 11

When is MC used?

Answer 11

Cooler vintages to lower acidity of wines

Question 12

Most important appellation South West of Sancerre?

Answer 12

Menetou Salon

More affordable Sauv B than Sancerre and PF

Question 13

Where does majority of Sauv B come from?

Answer 13

Touraine region

Question 14

What is White Touraine?

Answer 14

Generic appellation that covers the whole of the Touraine region

Often appear under varietal label
Less concentration than those from more prestigious appellations

Usually simple and fruity

Question 15

Chenin Blanc characteristics

Answer 15

-High acid non aromatic
-Greatest white wine of Touraine and Anjou Saumur

-Common for grapes to reach different levels of ripeness from the same bunch

-Dry, sweet, still, sparkling–Depends on ripeness

-Barely ripe- Sparkling wines

-Young- Flavors of fresh apple, tropical fruit

-Dry- Steely, smoky character

-Sweet- Apricot, citrus peel flavors from Noble rot

Question 16

What is Vouvray known for?

Answer 16

-Still and sparkling Chenin Blanc

-Cool climate and clay soils
-Light-Med body with fresh fruity floral notes
-Rarely fermented or matured in new oak

-Still- Dry to lusciously sweet depending on vintage

Question 17

What is Saumur known for?

Answer 17

Sparkling Chenin Blanc made by traditonal method

Question 18

What is Anjou known for?

Answer 18

Dry wines, sometimes matured in new oak

Question 19

What is Savennieres known for?

Answer 19

Full bodied Chenin Blanc in a dry style

Question 20

What is Coteaux du Layon known for?

Answer 20

Renowned sweet wines

Question 21

What is Melon Blanc aka?

Answer 21

Muscadet or Melon de Bourgogne

Question 22

Melon Blanc characteristics?

Answer 22

Ripens early
Frost resistant
Good for cool climate
Mainly grown in Nantais region

Question 23

All wines from Muscadet appellations?

Answer 23

-Dry with med alcohol
-Traditionally fermented in large oak vessels, but now concrete or stainless steel vats more common
-High acid, light body, subtle green fruit flavors
-Drink young

Question 24

What is Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur lie?

Answer 24

-Wine is bottled in the year following the vintage, having spend the winter on its lees—Richer texture
-Wine is handled very little to retain delicacy and freshness

Question 25

In Touraine, where is Cab Franc grown?

Answer 25

Chinon and Bourgueil

Light and fruit wines for early drinking with sandy soils

Fuller bodied more tannic versions from south facing slopes with limestone and clay soils

Question 26

Where else is Cab F grown?

Answer 26

Saumur
Saumur-Champigny–>Floral/violet character

Lighter bodied style, best drunk young and served chilled

Question 27

2nd most planted black grape variety in Loire?

Answer 27

Gamay

Mainly in Touraine and Anjou- Fruity/early drinking wines

Question 28

Where is a small amount of Pinot Noir grown?

Answer 28

Central vineyards, but best sites are reserved for Sauv B

Question 29

Where is rose produced?

Answer 29

Anjou-Saumur, with some in Touraine

Question 30

What is Rose de Loire?

Answer 30

Can be produced in both Anjou-Saumur and Touraine, but usually from Anjou-Saumur

Always dry, can be made from range of grapes including Cab F and Cab Sauv

Question 31

Anjou-Saumur has another 2 appellations for different styles of Roses, what area they?

Answer 31

1. Cabernet d’Anjou–> Med dry-med sweet and made from Cab F and Cab Sauv
2. Rose d’Anjou–> Less sweet, mainly from Grolleau(Local/high yield black grape) and blended with Cab F and other local varieties

Question 32

In Sancerre, what must rose be made from?

Answer 32

Pinot Noir

Question 33

How are rose wines made?

Answer 33

Direct press or short maceration on the skins
Usually fermented in inert temp controlled vessels to retain fruit flavors