Loire Valley Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the source and mouth of the Loire River?

A

Source is in the Massif Central in the South of France, and the mouth is in Nantes where it flows into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean)

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2
Q

What are 2 of the major environmental risks across the Loire Valley?

A

Spring frosts
Hailstorms

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3
Q

Which outstanding vintages helped the Loire Valley make a name for itself?

A

1995, 1996
2002, 2005

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4
Q

What are the 3 dominant white grapes of the Loire Valley?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne

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5
Q

What are the 5 accessory white grapes of the Loire Valley?

A

Chardonnay
Orbois (Arbois)
Romorantin
Gros Plant
Chasselas

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6
Q

What is the main red grape of the Loire?

A

Cabernet Franc

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7
Q

Which other red grapes are found in the Loire Valley?

A

Pinot Noir
Malbec
Gamay
Pineau d’Aunis
Groslot

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8
Q

What are the appellations known as the Central Vineyards in the Loire?

A

Pouilly Fume (Pouilly-sur-Loire)
Sancerre
Menetou-Salon
Quincy
Reuilly
Orleans

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9
Q

What is the grape of Pouilly Fume?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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10
Q

What are the soils of Pouilly Fume?

A

Based off limestone with flint and a mixture of marlstone and clay

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11
Q

What is Silex?

A

A soil based off a mix of silica, limestone, and flint clay

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12
Q

What is the name of the AC wine made from Chasselas in Pouilly Fume?

A

Pouilly-sur-Loire

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13
Q

What are the 2 grapes of Sancerre?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir

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14
Q

How much of Sancerre’s production is dedicated to red and rose wine?

A

25%

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15
Q

What are the 3 main soil types of Sancerre?

A

Terre Blanche - Kimmeridgian clay with a sticky clay topsoil over limestone
Caillots - small stones over limestone
Silex

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16
Q

Which of Sancerre’s soils is considered best for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir respectively?

A

Terre Blanche for Sauvignon Blanc
Silex for Pinot Noir

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17
Q

What are typical tasting aromas for Sancerre?

A

Steely and citrusy, often with a bouquet of green wood or leaves from a blackcurrant bush or fresh cut grass

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18
Q

What are the grapes of Menetou-Salon?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
Gamay

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19
Q

What are the soils of Menetou-Salon?

A

Kimmeridgian limestone

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20
Q

What wines does Quincy produce?

A

White wines based off Sauvignon Blanc

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21
Q

What are the soils of Quincy?

A

Sand and gravel

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22
Q

What are the grapes of Reuilly?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris

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23
Q

What are the grapes of Orleans?

A

Pinot Noir
Pinot Meunier
Chardonnay

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24
Q

What wines are produce from Orleans Clery AOC?

A

Cabernet Franc

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25
Q

What is the climate of Touraine?

A

Continental

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26
Q

What are the dominant soils of Touraine?

A

Limestone and clay over Tuffeau

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27
Q

What is Tuffeau?

A

Soft, porous limestone formed during the Cretaceous period

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28
Q

What are the 2 forms of Tuffeau?

A

Tuffeau Blanc - chalkier and firmer
Tuffeau Jaune - sandier and softer

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29
Q

What makes Tuffeau soils desirable?

A

They strike a perfect balance between drainage and water retention

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30
Q

What is the local name for Chenin Blanc in Touraine?

A

Pineau de Loire

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31
Q

What are the appellations of Touraine?

A

Cheverney
Vouvray
Montlouis
Loir Valley
Bourgueil
St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
Chinon

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32
Q

When was Cherney given its AC status?

A

1993

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33
Q

What are blending rules for white Cheverney?

A

Blends must consist of a minimum of 15% Sauvignon Blanc, a maximum 15% Chardonnay, as well as Chenin Blanc and Arbois

34
Q

What are the blends of red Cheverney?

A

40-65% Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Cot

35
Q

What grape is used for Cour-Cheverny?

A

Romorantin

36
Q

What are the grapes of Vouvray?

A

Chenin Blanc and a small amount of Arbois

37
Q

What method is used to make the sparkling wines of Vouvray?

A

Methode Traditionelle

38
Q

What does petillant and moesseux mean?

A

Lightly sparkling and sparkling

39
Q

Which soil is key in Vouvray?

A

Tuffeau

40
Q

What are typical aromas of Vouvray in youth?

A

Acacia blossom
Quince
Green apples

41
Q

Where is Montlouis situated?

A

South bank of the Loire River facing Vouvray

42
Q

What grape is used in Montlouis?

A

Chenin Blanc

43
Q

What are the soils of Montlouis?

A

Gravelly, free-draining topsoil on a deep bed of tuffeau

44
Q

What is the Loir River?

A

A tributary if the Loire River

45
Q

What are the 2 ACs of Loir?

A

Jasnieres
Coteaux du Loir

46
Q

What are the grapes of Jasnieres AC?

A

Chenin Blanc

47
Q

What are the grapes of Coteaux du Loir?

A

Reds:
Pinot d’Aunis
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Gamay
Pinot Noir

White:
Chenin Blanc

48
Q

What are the wines of Bourgueil based off?

A

Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon

49
Q

What are the soils of Bourgueil?

A

Sand and limestone

50
Q

What are the soils of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil?

A

Lighter alluvial soils

51
Q

What is the difference between the wines of Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil and Bourgueil?

A

Saint Nicolas is generally lighter bodied and fresher due to the lighter soils

52
Q

What are typical tasting notes of Bourgueil?

A

Raspberry and green tobacco with silky tannins

53
Q

What are the grapes of Chinon?

A

Red:
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon

White:
Chenin Blanc

54
Q

What are the soils of Chinon?

A

Tuffeau, clay, and vareness

55
Q

What is Vareness soils?

A

Sandy, alluvial soils close to the river

56
Q

What are the appellations of Anjou?

A

Anjou
Saumur
Coteaux-du-Layon
Savennieres

57
Q

What are the grape requirements for dry and sweet white Anjou?

A

Minimum 80% Chenin Blanc

58
Q

What are the 3 dominant red grapes of Anjou?

A

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a little bit of Gamay

59
Q

What wines are produced from Anjou-Villages?

A

Red wines based off Cabernet Franc with some Cabernet Sauvignon

60
Q

What are the soils of Saumur?

A

Tuffeau and limestone

61
Q

What grape are the Saumur sparkling wines made of?

A

Chenin Blanc

62
Q

What are the 2 ACs for sparkling wine?

A

Saumur d’Origine
Cremant de Loire

63
Q

What are the sparkling roses made from?

A

Cabernet Franc

64
Q

What grapes can be used under the Saumur-Champigny AC?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pineau d’Aunis

65
Q

What are the soils of Champigny?

A

Hard, iron-rich Tuffeau and limestone with shale

66
Q

What are the best wines to come from Coteaux du Layon?

A

The sweet wines. The best rival those from Barsac and Germany

67
Q

What are the important sweet wine appellations in Coteaux du Layon?

A

Quarts de Chaume
Bonnezeux

68
Q

What are the soils of Quarts de Chaume?

A

Sandstone and schist on the banks of the river

69
Q

How many villages in Coteaux du Layon are superior enough to append their name to the wines?

A

7

70
Q

Where is Savennieres located?

A

North bank of the Loire just south of Angers

71
Q

What are the soils of Savennieres?

A

Volcanic soils mixed with blue schist

72
Q

What is the grape of Savennieres

A

Chenin Blanc

73
Q

Which 2 subregions of Savennieres were given their own appellation in 2011?

A

Roche Aux Moines
Coulee de Serrant

74
Q

What are the appellations of Nantais?

A

Muscadet AOP
Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu
Muscadet des Coteaux de la Loire

75
Q

What is the grape of Muscadet?

A

Melon de Bourgogne

76
Q

What is the palate of a basic Muscadet AOP wine?

A

Relatively neutral, bone dry, high in acid, medium alcohol

77
Q

How much of Muscadet’s total production is sold as Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine?

A

80%

78
Q

Where is Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine sourced from?

A

23 communes around the confluence of the Sevre-et-Maine rivers

79
Q

How does Muscadet qualify to be labelled as sur-lie?

A

Grapes must originate from one of 3 sub-appellations
Wines must be aged on the lees over the winter
Wines are bottled off the fine lees without filtering between March 1 and November 30th the following year

80
Q

When was Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu granted AOC status?

A

1994