Loire Valley

Question 1

Name the 4 subregions of the Loire Valley and name their climate *

Answer 1

Centre (Cool Continental), Touraine (Cross between Maritime & Continental), Anjou-Saumur (Continental gives way to Maritime), Nantais (Maritime)

Question 2

Name the 5 main wine producing area’s in the subregion Centre*

Answer 2

Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, Quincy

Question 3

Sancerre: Name the Grape varieties, their % in plantings, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 3

Sauvignon Blanc 80% White

Pinot Noir 20% Red, Rose

Question 4

Sancerre: Describe the soil type, slope directions*

Answer 4

Chalky, well drained stony soil. Rich in maritime fossils. Slopes of low hills that face South- East, South-West

Question 5

Sancerre: Which two areas’s are associated with the gun smoky element and what is the grape variety?*

Answer 5

Sauvignon Blanc, Chavignol & Les Monts Damnés

Question 6

Pouily-Fumé: Name the Grape varieties, their % in plantings, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 6

Sauvignon Blanc 100% White, NO red, rose

Question 7

Pouily-Fumé: Describe the soil type.*

Answer 7

Chalky, well drained stony soil. Rich in maritime fossils.

Question 8

Pouily-Fumé: Describe the wine style, main aromatics.*

Answer 8

No Oak, passion fruit, asperagus

Question 9

Menetou-Salon: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 9

Sauvignon Blanc White

Pinot Noir Red, Rose

Question 10

Menetou-Salon: Describe the soil type. Which region is it similar to?*

Answer 10

Kimmeridian clay soils, hard and calcareous. Similar to Chablis

Question 11

Centre: What are the two less known area’s?*

Answer 11

Reuilly & Quincy

Question 12

Name the 5 main wine producing area’s in the subregion Touraine*

Answer 12

Touraine, Vouvray, Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicholas de Bourgueil.

Question 13

Touraine: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 13

White: Sauvignon Blanc (most often), Chenin Blanc
Red: Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Malbec

Question 14

Touraine: Describe the soil type.*

Answer 14

Flint, sand & limestone. Along the banks of the Loire river

Question 15

Vouvray: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 15

Chenin Blanc only, Still or sprakling

Question 16

Vouvray: Describe the soil type.*

Answer 16

Chalky limestone with marine fossils, very porous. High calcium content which retains acidity

Question 17

Chinon: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 17

Red: Cabernet Franc (mostly red, some rose), some Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 18

Chinon: Name the 3 distinct styles of wine

Answer 18

Lightest wines: Sandy soils in the valley of the River Vienne
Firmer-bodied wines: On the plateau to the north, soil has more clay and gravel
Finest wines: hillside slopes, soil is predominantly limestone

Question 19

Bourgueil & Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 19

Red: Cabernet Franc

Question 20

Bourgueil & Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil: Describe the soil type.*

Answer 20

Planted on south-facing limestone slopes on the deep sand terrace above the Loire, protected from the cold north wind by a wooded plateau.

Question 21

Name the 4 main wine producing area’s in the subregion Anjou Saumur*

Answer 21

Saumur (Saumur-Champigny), Anjou, Coteaux du Layon, Savennières

Question 22

Saumur: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 22

White: Chenin Blanc (dry to sweet, still & sparkling)
Red: Cabernet Franc (in Saumur-Champigny), rich, supple, fruity and fresh.

Question 23

Anjou: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 23

White: Chenin Blanc
Red: Cabernet Franc
Rose: Grolleau (Groslot), Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 24

Name the 3 appellations for rosé wines in Anjou, their grape variety and their style*

Answer 24

Cabernet d’Anjou AC: medium sweet, blend of Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon
Rosé d’Anjou AC: less sweet, predominantly of Grolleau blended with Cabernet Franc and local varieties
Rosé de Loire AC: always dry, min 30% Cabernet grapes in the blend

Question 25

Coteaux du Layon: Name the Grape varieties,the wine style R,R,W & the three most favoured sites*

Answer 25

Chenin Blanc, locally often called Pineau de la Loire. Never dry wines, always white. Bonnezeaux AC and Chaume AC (Quarts de Chaume AC is a favoured enclave within Chaume with a separate AC)

Question 26

Coteaux du Layon: Name the wine style, could be similar to?*

Answer 26

Fresh fruit character and mouth-watering acidity, with alcohol usually around 12-14 per cent, and botrytis present. Could be similar to Trockenbeerenauslese

Question 27

Savennières: Name the Grape varieties, and the wine style R,R,W*

Answer 27

Chenin Blanc, late harvest. Full-bodied, dry wines of exceptional complexity. Austere when young, but can build layers of honey and smoky-mineral flavours as they age.

Question 28

Name the 3 main wine producing area’s in the subregion The Nantais and their grape variety*

Answer 28

Melon Blanc.

Muscadet, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie, Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu

Question 29

Muscadet: Describe the soil type.*

Answer 29

Mostly schist and gneiss with some granite and sand. These loose-textured soils have good heat retention and drainage capabilities

Question 30

What makes Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie special?

Answer 30

The wine is bottled direct from the cask or tank in the spring following the vintage, having spent the winter on its lees. Retains delicacy and freshness, and may have fine bubbles beading the rim. Slightly yeasty character.