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Europe > Loire Valley > Flashcards

Loire Valley Flashcards

1
Q

What is France’s longest river?

A

The Loire river (1012km)

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2
Q

What are the regions in the Loire Valley from west to east?

A

Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Centre Loire

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2
Q

Where does the Loire originate?

A

The Massif Central (near Mont Gerbier de Jonc)

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3
Q

Describe the soils of Sèvre et Maine

A

Mostly gneiss, granite and schist.

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4
Q

What are the four appellations for Muscadet in the Pays Nantais?

A

Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP

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5
Q

Describe the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine wines

A

Muscadet: Very dry, slightly salty with firm acidity.
Sèvre et Maine wines specifically are lively and scented.

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6
Q

Describe Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire wines

A

Made inland around Arcenis, on schist or granite.
A little leaner than Sèvre et Maine

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7
Q

Describe Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu

A

Made on sandy, stony soils closest to the Atlantic.
More supple and riper than Sèvre et Maine

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8
Q

What is Muscadet’s traditional vinification in the Loire?

A

Bottled sur lie
Straight from the fermentation vat, unracked.
Therefore the lees deepen the flavour and texture, while sometimes leaving a prickle

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9
Q

What is a more modern approach to Muscadet vinification in the Loire?

A

To throw off the reputation for simplicity:
Harvest healthier and riper grapes
Extending lees-ageing
Ageing some of the best wines in oak or amphora

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10
Q

What were the first approved villages crus of Pays Nantais for Muscadet?

A

Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet

In 2011.

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11
Q

What were the village crus of Pays Nantais for Muscadet introduced in 2019?

A

Château Thébaud
Goulaine
Monnières-Saint-Fiacre
Mouzillon-Tillières

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12
Q

What is the minimal sur lie ageing on the villages crus of Pays Nantais?

A

18 months minimum

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13
Q

What is another name for the Loire Valley?

A

Le Jardin de la France

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14
Q

What is Hermine d’Or?

A

An unofficial label term in Pays Nantais that promotes terroir and stresses ageability.

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15
Q

What three regions gained new AOP status in Pays Nantais in 2011?

A

Gros Plant du Pays Nantais (White)
Coteaux d’Ancenis (White, rosé & red)
Fiefs Vendéens (White, rosé & red)

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16
Q

What grape has to be used in Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP?

A

Folle Blanche/ Gros Plant

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17
Q

What wines are produced in Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP?

A

White: Pinot Gris
Rosé & red: Gamay & Cab. Franc

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18
Q

Where is a Malvoisie wine from?

A

Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP, Loire

100% Pinot Gris

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19
Q

What wines are produced in Fiefs Vendéens AOP?

A

White: Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay
Rosé & red: Gamay & Pinot Noir

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20
Q

What are the main soils of Anjou?

A

Schist, slate, clay and limestone

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21
Q

Describe the climate of Anjou

A

Grapes don’t always ripen, so therefore sparkling wine in nearby Saumur is very important to earn money

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22
Q

What was the Loire’s first official Grand Cru?

A

Quarts de Chaume
Since 2010

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23
Q

Name Anjou’s “fine-wine” appellations

A

Coteaux de Layon (sweet)
- Quarts de Chaume
Bonnezeaux (sweet)
Coteaux de l’Aubance (sweet)
Savennières
- Roche aux Moines
- Coulée de Serrant

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24
Q

Name Anjou’s “basic” white appellations

A

Anjou Blanc

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25
Q

Name Anjou’s “basic” rosé appellations

A

Rosé d’Anjou
Rosé de Loire
Cabernet d’Anjou (off-dry)

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26
Q

Name Anjou’s red appellations

A

Anjou Rouge
Anjou-Villages
Anjou-Villages-Brissac

Cab. Franc with sometimes Cab. Sauv. in the best years

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27
Q

What is the unique soil of Savennières?

A

Blue schist with volcanic debris

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28
Q

Name two well regarded producers of Quarts du Chaume

A

Domaine des Baumard
Château Pierre-Bise

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29
Q

Name two well regarded producers of Savennières

A

Domaine des Baumard
Château Pierre-Bise

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30
Q

Name a well regarded producer of Bonnezeaux

A

Château des Fesles

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31
Q

Describe Saumur’s soils

A

White/sparkling: White (soft) tuffeau (porous limestone)
Red: Sand + tuffeau

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32
Q

What are the main varieties used for sparkling wine from Saumur?

A

Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
Cabernet Franc

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33
Q

What producer is this label from?

A

Clos Rougeard

Saumur Champigny

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34
Q

What grapes may be used for Saumur Blanc?

A

Before 2016: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

After 2016: Chenin Blanc

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35
Q

What grapes may be used for Saumur Rouge?

A

Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Pineau d’Aunis

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36
Q

Describe Haut-Poitou

A

South of Chinon
New AOP in Saumur since 2011
White: Sauvignon Blanc & Gris
Rosé & red: Cabernet Franc

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37
Q

What are the sparkling wine AOPs in Saumur?

A

Saumur Brut
Crémant de Loire

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38
Q

Describe Saumur Brut

A

Traditional method
It tends to be less complex than Crémant de Loire
9 months sur lie requirement

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39
Q

What is Prestige de Loire?

A

An informal category of superior, vintage-dated Crémant de Loire.

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40
Q

Describe Saumur-Champigny wines

A

Red
One of the most fresh and fragrant Cabernet Franc expressions

41
Q

Name a highly regarded producer from Saumur-Champigny

A

Clos Rougeard
(cult wine!)

42
Q

Name two Saumur red appellations

A

Saumur-Champigny
Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame

43
Q

Name three Touraine red appellations

A

Chinon
Bourgueil
St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

44
Q

Describe the soils of Chinon, Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

A

Sand
Gravel
Limestone

45
Q

Describe the difference in style between the Touraine reds

A

Chinon: Most charming
Bourgueil: Most structured
St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil: Lightest (due to more sand)

46
Q

What grape is Touraine white made of?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

47
Q

What grapes are Touraine red made of?

A

Gamay
Côt
Cabernet Franc

48
Q

Does Chinon produce white wine?

A

Yes, from Chenin Blanc
Very small amount

49
Q

Name two highly regarded producers in Montlouis-sur-Loire

A

Domaine de la Taille aux Loups (Jacky Blot)
François Chidaine

50
Q

Name a highly regarded producer from Vouvray

A

Domaine du Clos Naudin (Foreau)

51
Q

How sweet can Vouvray AOP wines be?

A

Dry (sec)
Off-dry (sec-tendre (unofficial term))
Medium-dry (demi-sec)
Quite sweet (moelleux)
Very sweet (liquoreux)

52
Q

What are the best sites of Vouvray?

A

Le Mont (owned by Huet)
Clos du Bourg (first to be converted to biodynamics in 1980s & owned by Huet)
Le Haut-Lieu

53
Q

Why do Vouvray wines vary so much each vintage?

A

The Atlantic influence meets the continent influence, therefore weather varies enormously each year

54
Q

Describe Vouvray & Montlouis sparkling wine

A

Traditional method
The best ones: Pétillant rather than very sparkling, and can age very well

55
Q

Describe Vouvray vs. Montlouis soil

A

Vouvray is tuffeau
Montlouis has more clay-limestone soil close to the river, with more sand southwards

56
Q

Describe the historical wine of Touraine Noble-Joué AOP

A

Vin gris: A blend of Gris Meunier (Meunier), Malvoisie (Pinot Gris) and Pinot Noir

57
Q

What is the limestone soil called in Sancerre/Pouilly?

A

Caillottes: a stony soil littered with fossils

58
Q

What is the clay-limestone soil called in Sancerre/Pouilly?

A

Terres blanches: gives mores sturdy wines.
A continuation of the Kimmeridge of Chablis

59
Q

What is the flint soil called in Sancerre/Pouilly?

A

Silex: gives more ageworthy and flinty wines

60
Q

What is the town of Pouilly Fumé called?

A

Pouilly-sur-Loire

61
Q

What grape will have been used in a wine that has “Pouilly-sur-Loire” on the label?

62
Q

Where will silex be the most in the Centre Loire?

A

Pouilly Fumé, together with some clay

63
Q

Where will the terres blanches be the most in the Centre Loire?

A

West of the Sancerre appellation

64
Q

Where will the caillottes soil be the most in the Centre Loire?

A

In between both Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé, mixed with pebbles. Gives more aromatic and expressive wines when young.

65
Q

What are the three best sites of Chavignol in Sancerre?
Describe the terroir

A

Les Monts Damnées
Le Cul de Beaujeu
La Grande Côte

All on steep Kimmeridgian marl (clay-limestone) slopes

66
Q

What are the two best sites of Bué in Sancerre?

A

La Poussie
Chêne Marchand

67
Q

What are the three best sites between the hilltop town of Sancerre and Ménétréol?

Describe the wine style

A

La Moussière
Les Romains (silex)
Belle Dame

Particularly steely style

68
Q

Which producer is this?

A

Château du Nozet in Pouilly, owned by De Ladoucette

69
Q

Name a highly regarded producer in Pouilly

A

Domaine Didier Dagueneau

70
Q

Why was Didier Dagueneau such a pioneer?

A

He pioneered seriously low yields and experimentation with oak in Pouilly. Giving almost a Bordeaux Blanc style

71
Q

Describe the Coteaux du Giennois

A

A northward extension of the Pouilly vineyards
Producing white, rosé and red
Whites: Vibrant Sauvignon Blanc
Red: Gamay (can be 100%) & Pinot Noir (needs to be blended)

72
Q

What are the “Vignobles du Centre”?

A

Menetou-Salon
Quincy
Reuilly
Châteaumeillant

73
Q

Describe Menetou-Salon

A

Bordering west of Centre Loire
Low Kimmeridgian hills
Impressive Sancerre-like whites
Reds of value

74
Q

Describe Quincy

A

West of Centre Loire
Low sand & gravel (frost prone so they use wind turbines)
White wine of Sauvignon Blanc

75
Q

Describe Reuilly

A

West of Centre Loire
Steep limestone marl hills, gravel & sand terraces
Crisp Sauvignon white
Pinot Noir red & rosé
Pinot Gris “vin gris”

76
Q

Describe Châteaumeillant & St-Pourçain

A

South of the Centre Loire
Winemakers from the Vignobles du Centre buy vineyards here to make legal Gamay & Pinot Noir wine

77
Q

Describe Orléans-Clery

A

Once-significant wine region supplying Paris
Far north (slightly west) of Centre Loire
Only red Cabernet Franc wines

78
Q

Describe Orléans

A

Once-significant wine region supplying Paris
Far north (slightly west) of Centre Loire, east of Touraine
White, rosé and red of Meunier and Chardonnay

79
Q

What was the second demarcated AOP in France (after Châteauneuf-du-Pape)?

A

Quincy AOP

80
Q

What are the generic appellations of the Loire?

A

Cremant de Loire
Rose de Loire

81
Q

What are the sub-regions of the Loire?

A

Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Central France
Central Vineyards

82
Q

What is the name of the separate rosé appellation in Touraine?

A

Noblé-Joue

Meunier, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris allowed

83
Q

What are three appellations in Touraine known for high quality Cabernet Franc?

A

Chinon
St Nicolas de Bourgueil
Bourgueil

84
Q

What Loire appellation is solely for Chasselas?

A

Pouilly-sur-Loire

85
Q

What is the synonym for Cabernet Franc in the Loire?

86
Q

What is the synonym for Malbec in the Loire?

A

Pressac Noir

87
Q

Name the allowed white varieties of the Loire

A

8 grapes:
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne
Chardonnay
Orbois (Arbois/Menu Pineau)
Romorantin
Gros Plant (Folle Blanche)
Chasselas

88
Q

How long does Crémant de Loire have to age on the lees?

89
Q

When was Prestige de Loire launched?

90
Q

Give the specifications for Prestige de Loire

(variety, sur latte time, vintage/nv, style, price)

A

Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (single or blended)
Minimum 24 months sur latte
Must be a vintage
Must be a brut style (incl extra brut)
Must have a minimum price of 10eu)

91
Q

What is the minimum residual sugar content of Coteaux du Layon AOP?

A

35 grams per liter

92
Q

What is the grape allowed in Cour-Cheverny AOP?

A

100% Romorantin

93
Q

What is the only AOP where Romorantin is used? Where is it?

A

Cour-Cheverny AOP
In betwen Orléans, Tours and Bourges

94
Q

What are the AOPs within the Central France sub-region?

A

Côtes d’Auverge (white, rosé, red)
Côtes du Forez (rosé, red)
Côte Roannaise (rosé, red)
Saint-Pourçain (white, rosé, red)

95
Q

What grapes are used in the Côtes d’Auvergne?

A

White: Chardonnay
Rosé & red: Min. 50% Gamay, Pinot Noir

96
Q

What grapes are used in the Côtes du Forez?

A

Rosé & red: 100% Gamay

97
Q

What grapes are used in Côte Roannaise?

A

Rosé & red: 100% Gamay

98
Q

What grapes are used for Saint-Pourçain?

A

White: 70-80% Chardonnay, 20-40% Sacy (Tressalier), max. 10% Sauvignon Blanc
Rosé: 100% Gamay
Red: 40-75% Gamay, 25-60% Pinot Noir

99
Q

What are the AOPs of Central Vineyards?

A

Orléans
Orléans-Cléry
Sancerre
Pouilly Fumé
Pouilly-sur-Loire
Menetou-Salon
Quincy
Reuilly
Coteaux du Giennois
Châteaumeillant

100
Q

What is the AOP called where Folle Blanche is grown in the Loire?

A

Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP

101
Q

What grapes are used in the Cheverny AOP?

A

White: Sauvignon Blanc & Gris.
Secondary = Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Orbois
Rosé & red: Pinot Noir
Secondary = Gamay, Cot.

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