Loire Valley Flashcards
Study
Loire White Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon
Loire Red Grapes
Pinot Noir, Gamay,
Cabernet Franc, Côt (Malbec)
Location of Loire Valley
Sancerre is 126 miles almost due south of Paris, while Nantes is 239 miles southwest of
Paris. The distance between Chablis and Sancerre is only 56 miles.
Central Vineyards Bodies of Water
Cher River, Loire River
Touraine Bodies of Water
Loir, Cher, Indre, and Vienne rivers
Anjou Bodies of Water
Loir and Layon Rivers
Pays Nantais Bodies of Water
Sevre and
Maine Rivers, Lac de Grand-Lieu, Atlantic Ocean
Major Loire Valley Cities
Major cities from east to west, Nevers, Orléans, Blois, Tours, Poitiers, Angers, Nantes
Central Vineyards Soil
Kimmeridgian clay (called terres blanches, the same formation that
is found in Chablis), caillottes (fossils), silex (flint rich).
Touraine Soil
Tuffeau (limestone), clay, varennes (sand and alluvial)
Anjou-Saumur Soil
volcanic and blue schist in Savennières, sandstone and schist on the
Layon river, tuffeau near saumur, iron-rich limestone near Saumur-Champigny
Pays Nantais Soil
granite, clay, gneiss.
Loire Valley White Wines
This region makes more white wines than any other wine region and is second in sparkling
wine production to Champagne.
Loire Valley Wine Styles
The Loire Valley makes every type of wine from dry to sweet, sparkling, and sometimes
fortified (although this is not widely marketed).
Loire Valley in all regions is especially known for
The Loire Valley, in all subregions, is known for high acid whites.
Oak Influence in Loire Valley
This region has never had the financing or acclaim as Bordeaux, so they tend to use little to
no new oak and focus on varietal purity.
High Limestone content creates
The high limestone content of the region naturally creates wines with high acidity.
Loire Valley Red Wine Characteristics
Red wines tend to be medium-bodied and perfumed- lots of Cab Franc
Loire Valley Sauv Blanc Characteristics
Sauvignon Blanc classically grassy and mineral-driven,
Loire Valley Chenin Blanc Characteristics
Chenin Blanc will be
any style but with the characteristic lanolin, bruised apple, and chamomile notes (Chenin
naturally oxidizes easily and these notes will be present).
Loire Valley Sweet Wines
Sweet wines, botrytized or not, will have pure fruit characteristics and be aged in neutral
oak
Cremant de Loire AOP
can be white or rosé, and from any varietals except Melon.
Minimum 9 (Tony Romo) months on lees, aged 12 (Roger Staubach) months before release.
Rosé de Loire AOP
Dry rosé from any red grape variety in the Loire.
Central Vineyards Climate
a true
continental climate with cold, snowy
winters, and warm, dry summers
Two Major Grapes in Central Vineyards
Sauvignon Blanc
and Pinot Noir