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WSET LVL 4: Sparkling > Loire Valley > Flashcards

Loire Valley Flashcards

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1
Q

How many sparkling wine appellations exist in the Loire Valley?

A

Seven, 3 of which are part of the diploma:

  • Crémant de Loire
  • Vouvray
  • Saumur
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2
Q

How large is the production of sparkling in the Loire?

A
  • 13% of total wine production
  • 1600ha -> 2600ha between 2012 and 2017
  • 600 producers
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3
Q

Besides production, what connection does sparkling wine in the Loire have with Champagne?

A

Many large producers are owned by Champagne houses

  • Bouvet-Ladubay (Taittinger)
  • Gratien & Meyer (Alfred Gratien)
  • Langlois-Chateau (Bollinger)
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4
Q

Historically, why is Saumur a large player in sparkling wine?

A

They had the largest availability of caves suitable for aging

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5
Q

What are the general characteristics of Crémant de Loire?

A
  • 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
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6
Q

Where is the fruit for Crémant de Loire grown?

A

Anjou-Saumur and Touraine only (stretch of 200km along Loire river)

Mostly south and south-west of Saumur

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7
Q

How does the Atlantic Ocean affect Crémant de Loire production?

A
  • Cooling influence through Tours, in Touraine (covers most of the AOC)
  • Can cause fungal disease and untimely rain
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8
Q

What soils are common in the Loire Valley?

A
  • Clay-Limestone
  • Flint-Clay
  • Sand
  • Gravel
  • Tuff

*Key properties will have some limestone for good balance of drainage and retention

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9
Q

What is tuff?

A

A soft, porous rock made from compacted dust/ash

Underlying soil in the Loire Valley, excavated for cellars and construction

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10
Q

What kinds of soils are more common in Anjou?

A

Schist and limestone

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11
Q

What kinds of soils are more common in Touraine?

A

Chalk-heavy soils

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12
Q

What kind of sun exposure do most vineyards for Crémant de Loire receive?

A

Less exposed than the vineyards used for still wine

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13
Q

How do clay soils play a role in Crémant de Loire?

A
  • 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
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14
Q

How do lime-heavy soils play a role in Crémant de Loire?

A
  • Risk of chlorosis
  • Rootstocks such as Fercal and Riparia Gloire de Montpellier have a higher tolerance
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15
Q

What are the grapes permitted in Crémant de Loire?

A
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Grolleau Noir & Gris
  • Pinot Noir
  • Chardonnay
  • *Cabernet Sauvignon
  • *Pineau d’Aunis

*No more than 30% together or separate

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16
Q

Why is Sauvignon Blanc not permitted in Crémant de Loire?

A

It’s aromatic profile isn’t well suited for traditional method

*10% allowed in Saumur Mousseaux

17
Q

What are the max yields for Crémant de Loire?

A

74 hL/ha, larger than still wines

18
Q

When do growers declare vineyards for Crémant de Loire production?

A

In July

19
Q

What’s the most common type of press used for Crémant de Loire?

A

Pneumatic

20
Q

What’s the most common type of fermentation vessel used for Crémant de Loire?

A

Stainless steel

Oak used for some top cuvées (Bouvet-Ladubay’s “Cuvée Trésor”)

21
Q

When will you see assemblage in Crémant de Loire production?

A
  • Large producers, for consistency
  • Blending different vineyard sites
  • Reserve wines (usually only for premium bottlings)
22
Q

What is “Prestige de Loire”?

A

Premium tier of Crémant de Loire, launched in 2018

23
Q

What are the requirements for Prestige de Loire?

A
  • 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
24
Q

How is the production of Crémant de Loire divided?

A

19 NM
10 CM
~400 RM

80% of production split between 9 largest houses

25
Q

What are some large houses making Crémant de Loire?

A
  • Ackerman
  • Bouvet-Ladubay
  • Gratien & Meyer
  • Veuve-Amiot
  • Langlois-Chateau

Many use a combo of estate and bought fruit

26
Q

Where is the majority of Crémant de Loire sold? What are the largest export markets?

A

50/50 Domestic & Export

Largest Export Markets:
- Germany
- USA
- UK

27
Q

What is more common in Vouvray and Saumur? Still or Sparkling?

A

Sparkling wine (60/40)

  • 1,300 ha for Saumur Mousseaux
  • 1,200 for Vouvray Mousseaux
28
Q

What grapes are allowed in Saumur Mousseaux?

A
  • Chenin Blanc (min. 60%)
  • Sauvignon Blanc (max. 10%)
  • Cabernet Franc (min. 60% for rose)
29
Q

What allows producers to offer Saumur Mousseaux at a lower price than Cremant de Loire?

A
  • Machine harvesting allowed
  • Higher yields (100hL/kg)

Lower quality

30
Q

What are the max yields for sparkling wine in Saumur?

A

67 hL/ha (20% higher than still wine)

31
Q

What grapes are permitted in Vouvray Mousseaux?

A
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Orbois (must be a minority of the blend)
32
Q

What is Vouvray Petillant?

A

A lightly sparkling style

33
Q

What’s a growing trend of sparkling within Vouvray?

A

Pet-Nat

34
Q

What are the max yields for sparkling wine in Vouvray?

A

65 hL/ha (20% higher than still wine)

35
Q

How do some still wine focused producers choose to make sparkling wine?

A

Through contracting a specialist.

  1. Producer makes base wine and ships in bulk to specialist
  2. Specialist bottles, ages, disgorges.
  3. Wine is brought back to producer for labelling and distribution
36
Q

Why would a producer choose to have a specialist make their sparkling wine?

A
  1. Expertise
  2. Lack of equipment
37
Q

What is Berger Elaborateur?

A
  • A sparkling wine specialist
  • Established in Saint-Martin-le-Beau (Cher Valley) in 1960’s
  • Services growers from all over the Loire
38
Q

What kinds of producers are most likely to make their sparkling wine in house?

A
  • Sparkling Wine Houses
  • Co-ops

WSET LVL 4: Sparkling (22 decks)

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