Loire Valley Flashcards

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1
Q

Loire Valley Climate

A

rages widely from

  • temperate-maritime on the Atlantic coastline in the western portions of the region, to
  • cool-continental in the eastern reaches
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2
Q

Loire Valley Geography

A
  • Loire Valley fallows the course of the Loire River

- northwestern France

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3
Q

Loire River

A
  • longest river flowing through France
  • begins in the south-central, mountainous region called Massif Central flows north into Orleans before turning west and eventually emptying into the Atlantic Ocean
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4
Q

Loire Valley Grapes

A
Top White
-Sauvignon Blanc
-Chenin Blanc
Top Red
-Cabernet Franc
-Pinot Noir
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5
Q

Loire Valley Top Regions

A
  • Pays Nantais
  • Anjou-Saumur
  • Touraine
  • Upper Loire(a.k.a. Central)
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6
Q

The 2 top AOC regions producing 100% Sauvignon Blanc wines

A
  • Sancerre

- Pouilly-Fumé

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7
Q

Pays Nantais

A
  • Western most area in Loire Valley
  • maritime climate
  • perfect to Melon de Bourgogne grape(aka Muscadet)
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8
Q

Pays Nantais AOCs

A

Muscadet

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9
Q

Muscadet AOC

A

-light crips white wines
-100% Melon de Bourgogne
-Blanc Nouveau/Primeur
-Blanc “Sur Lie”
“Appellation Muscadet Contrôlée”

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10
Q

AOC Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine

A
  • wines made in a more specific and higher quality subregion of Muscadet
  • 100% Melon de Bourgogne
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11
Q

“Appellation Muscadet Sur Lie Contrôlée”

A
  • can come from anywhere with in Muscadet region
  • but must be allowed to rest sur lie (on their lees), in contact with the dead yeast cells that will eventually settle to the bottom of a storage vessel after fermentation concludes
  • richer body, deeper flavors and sometimes slight carbonation
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12
Q

Anjou-Saumur

A
  • most important city: Angers
  • slightly cooler than Pays Nantais
  • dry reds, rosés as well as dry, sweet and sometimes sparkling wines
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13
Q

Anjou-Saumur AOCs

A
  • Savennières
  • Coteaux du Layon
  • Saumur-Champigny
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14
Q

Savennières

A
  • Blanc (Sec to Doux): 100% Chenin Blanc
  • generally dry
  • steep southern exposure and a unique soil structure composed of blue schist mixed with volcanic debris
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15
Q

Savennières: sub-appellation AOCs in 2011

A

-Roche aux Moines
-Coulée de Serrant
(Sec, Moulleux, Doux): 100% Chenin Blanc

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16
Q

Coteaux du Layon

A
  • right of the Layon river(tributary of the loire river) ideal for noble rot/botrytis
  • sweet wine AOC
  • 100% Chenin Blanc
17
Q

Coteaux du Layon AOCS

A
  • Bonnezeaux

- Quarts de Chaume

18
Q

Quarts de Chaume AOC

A

top examples of Chenin Blanc-based dessert wines

19
Q

Saumur-Champigny

A
  • best known red wine appellation

- delicate Cabernet Franc, plus a max. 15% combined Cabernet Sauvignon and Pineau d’Aunis

20
Q

Saumur Mousseux AOC

A
  • Blanc-based on Chenin Blanc (not 100%)
  • Rosé-based on Cabernet Franc (not 100%)
  • both most be made in traditional method and aged 9 months on lees
21
Q

Touraine

A
  • east of Anjou-Saumur
  • Largest area in the Loire Valley
  • many of top reds made in the Loire Valley are here from Cabernet Franc
  • Chenin Blanc for whites
22
Q

Touraine AOCs

A
  • Chinon
  • Bourgueil
  • Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
  • Vouvray
23
Q

Chinon AOC

A
  • Blanc: 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Rosé and Rouge: Cabernet Franc plus a max. 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Rouge and rosé wines may be produced solely from Cabernet Franc. If blended, Cabernet Franc must constitute the majority of the wine
24
Q

Bourgueil AOC

A
  • Rosé and Rouge: Cabernet Franc plus a max. 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc must account for the majority of the blend.
25
Q

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC

A
  • Rosé and Rouge: Cabernet Franc plus a max. 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Wines may be produced solely from Cabernet Franc. If blended, Cabernet Franc must constitute the majority of the wine
26
Q

Vouvray AOC

A
  • Blanc: min 95% Chenin Blanc, plus a max. 5% Orbois
  • Vin Mousseux/Pétillant (méthode traditionnelle)
  • Chenin Blanc must comprise the majority of the blend
27
Q

Vouvray may be produced in a range of sweetness levels

A

-sec
-sec-tendre (off-dry)
-demi-sec
-moelleux
-liquereux
The final decision on residual sugar is usually a response to the vagaries of each vintage

28
Q

Upper Loire/Central Vineyards

A

Same Kimmeridgian limestone found in Burgundy and Champagne

  • Sancerre
  • Pouilly-Fumé
29
Q

Sancerre AOC

A
  • South of Orléans
  • Blanc: 100% Sauvignon Blanc*
  • Rosé: 100% Pinot Noir
  • Rouge: 100% Pinot Noir
  • West of the Loire River, across from Pouilly-Fumé
30
Q

Pouilly-Fumé AOC

A
  • Blanc: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
  • East of the Loire River, across from Sancerre
  • flint in soil create smokier flavor than in Sancerre