Loire Valley Flashcards
How many sparkling wine appellations exist in the Loire Valley?
Seven, 3 of which are part of the diploma:
- Crémant de Loire
- Vouvray
- Saumur
How large is the production of sparkling in the Loire?
- 13% of total wine production
- 1600ha -> 2600ha between 2012 and 2017
- 600 producers
Besides production, what connection does sparkling wine in the Loire have with Champagne?
Many large producers are owned by Champagne houses
- Bouvet-Ladubay (Taittinger)
- Gratien & Meyer (Alfred Gratien)
- Langlois-Chateau (Bollinger)
Historically, why is Saumur a large player in sparkling wine?
They had the largest availability of caves suitable for aging
What are the general characteristics of Crémant de Loire?
- 90% is white
- Mainly from Chenin Blanc
- Can develop honeyed notes with 2-3 years of age
- High acid
- Mostly Brut, but some Demi-Sec and Extra Brut
- Mid-priced
Where is the fruit for Crémant de Loire grown?
Anjou-Saumur and Touraine only (stretch of 200km along Loire river)
Mostly south and south-west of Saumur
How does the Atlantic Ocean affect Crémant de Loire production?
- Cooling influence through Tours, in Touraine (covers most of the AOC)
- Can cause fungal disease and untimely rain
What soils are common in the Loire Valley?
- Clay-Limestone
- Flint-Clay
- Sand
- Gravel
- Tuff
*Key properties will have some limestone for good balance of drainage and retention
What is tuff?
A soft, porous rock made from compacted dust/ash
Underlying soil in the Loire Valley, excavated for cellars and construction
What kinds of soils are more common in Anjou?
Schist and limestone
What kinds of soils are more common in Touraine?
Chalk-heavy soils
What kind of sun exposure do most vineyards for Crémant de Loire receive?
Less exposed than the vineyards used for still wine
How do clay soils play a role in Crémant de Loire?
- Sites with clay soils will generally be cooler (due to water retention regulating heat)
- Sites with too much clay aren’t classified within the appellation
How do lime-heavy soils play a role in Crémant de Loire?
- Risk of chlorosis
- Rootstocks such as Fercal and Riparia Gloire de Montpellier have a higher tolerance
What are the grapes permitted in Crémant de Loire?
- Chenin Blanc
- Cabernet Franc
- Grolleau Noir & Gris
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
- *Cabernet Sauvignon
- *Pineau d’Aunis
*No more than 30% together or separate
Why is Sauvignon Blanc not permitted in Crémant de Loire?
It’s aromatic profile isn’t well suited for traditional method
*10% allowed in Saumur Mousseaux
What are the max yields for Crémant de Loire?
74 hL/ha, larger than still wines
When do growers declare vineyards for Crémant de Loire production?
In July
What’s the most common type of press used for Crémant de Loire?
Pneumatic
What’s the most common type of fermentation vessel used for Crémant de Loire?
Stainless steel
Oak used for some top cuvées (Bouvet-Ladubay’s “Cuvée Trésor”)
When will you see assemblage in Crémant de Loire production?
- Large producers, for consistency
- Blending different vineyard sites
- Reserve wines (usually only for premium bottlings)
What is “Prestige de Loire”?
Premium tier of Crémant de Loire, launched in 2018
What are the requirements for Prestige de Loire?
- Applies across all Crémant de Loire AOC
- Only white
- Only Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- Min. 24 months lees aging
- Must be vintage dated
- Must be Brut (Extra and Nature included)
- Must achieve set of environmental standards, aimed at sustainability within 5 years
How is the production of Crémant de Loire divided?
19 NM
10 CM
~400 RM
80% of production split between 9 largest houses
What are some large houses making Crémant de Loire?
- Ackerman
- Bouvet-Ladubay
- Gratien & Meyer
- Veuve-Amiot
- Langlois-Chateau
Many use a combo of estate and bought fruit
Where is the majority of Crémant de Loire sold? What are the largest export markets?
50/50 Domestic & Export
Largest Export Markets:
- Germany
- USA
- UK
What is more common in Vouvray and Saumur? Still or Sparkling?
Sparkling wine (60/40)
- 1,300 ha for Saumur Mousseaux
- 1,200 for Vouvray Mousseaux
What grapes are allowed in Saumur Mousseaux?
- Chenin Blanc (min. 60%)
- Sauvignon Blanc (max. 10%)
- Cabernet Franc (min. 60% for rose)
What allows producers to offer Saumur Mousseaux at a lower price than Cremant de Loire?
- Machine harvesting allowed
- Higher yields (100hL/kg)
Lower quality
What are the max yields for sparkling wine in Saumur?
67 hL/ha (20% higher than still wine)
What grapes are permitted in Vouvray Mousseaux?
- Chenin Blanc
- Orbois (must be a minority of the blend)
What is Vouvray Petillant?
A lightly sparkling style
What’s a growing trend of sparkling within Vouvray?
Pet-Nat
What are the max yields for sparkling wine in Vouvray?
65 hL/ha (20% higher than still wine)
How do some still wine focused producers choose to make sparkling wine?
Through contracting a specialist.
- Producer makes base wine and ships in bulk to specialist
- Specialist bottles, ages, disgorges.
- Wine is brought back to producer for labelling and distribution
Why would a producer choose to have a specialist make their sparkling wine?
- Expertise
- Lack of equipment
What is Berger Elaborateur?
- A sparkling wine specialist
- Established in Saint-Martin-le-Beau (Cher Valley) in 1960’s
- Services growers from all over the Loire
What kinds of producers are most likely to make their sparkling wine in house?
- Sparkling Wine Houses
- Co-ops
