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Certified Exam > Loire Valley > Flashcards

Loire Valley Flashcards

1
Q

The Loire Valley produces more _______ than any other region in France, and is second only to _________ for __________.

A

White wine

Champagne–sparkling wine

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2
Q

Primary white varietals in the Loire Valley

A

Chenin Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne
Sauvignon Blanc

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3
Q

Secondary varietals in the Loire Valley

A 
Chardonnay
Orbois
Romorantin
Gros Plant (Folle Blanche)
Chasselas
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4
Q

Red varietals in the Loire Valley

A 
Cabernet Franc
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Malbec (Cot) 
Pineau d'Aunis
Groslot (Grolleau)
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5
Q

What are the regions of the Loire from West to East?

A

Pay Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
The Central Vineyards

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6
Q

What grape predominates Pay Nantais?

A

Melon de Bourgogne

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7
Q

What are the four melon de bourgogne appellations in Pay Nantais?

A
  • Muscadet AOP–basic appellation but most producers qualify for one of the other classifications
  • Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP–northern most appellation–>leaner wines
  • Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOP–newest appellation (1994) and wines are struggling to achieve quality
  • -Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP–confluence of the Sevre and Maine rivers, these wines account for 80% of Muscadet
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8
Q

Nearly half of Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine wines are bottled as what?

A

Sur lie–wines must come from one of the three subzones of Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine and must be aged on their lees over the winter and then bottled directly, without filtering, between March 1 and November 30 of the year following the harvest

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9
Q

Subzones (“crus”) of Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine and how long must the wine be aged on lees to be labeled sur lie in these areas?

A

Clisson
Le Pallet
Gorges

18 months on lees

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10
Q

What is the largest, most diverse, and most dynamic region in the Loire Valley?

A

Anjou-Saumur

This region makes every style of wine the Loire Valley offers

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11
Q

What region is the center of sparkling wine production in the Loire?

A

Saumur

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12
Q

What wines does Anjou produce?

A
  • Dry and sweet chenin blanc (called pineau de la Loire locally)
  • Rose (45% of their production; blended with Grolleau grape)
  • Cabernet franc (1/3 of the plantings)
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13
Q

What styles does Anjou AOP cover and how does Saumur AOP fit into the designation?

A

Anjou covers red, white, and sparkling wines–the general appellation for the region.

Saumur wines can be classified as Anjou, but not vice versa.

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14
Q

Where is Savennieres AOP?

A

Within Anjou, on the north bank of the Loire

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15
Q

What are the two sub-appellations (the unofficial grand crus) of Savennieres that finally achieved their own AOC status in 2011?

A

Roche aux Moines

Coulee de Serrant–a monopole of Nicolas Joly

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16
Q

Where is Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP located and what are they known for?

A

South of the Loire in Anjou, chenin blanc is harvested later with the hope of botrytis. These are the sweet wine AOPs, mandating harvesting in tries.

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17
Q

What are the two AOPs within Corteaux du Layon and what makes them significant?

A

High quality sweet wines:
Bonnezeaux AOP
Quarts de Chaume AOP–entitled to label as grand cru from 2010 on, located on the banks of the Layon river.

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18
Q

What red wines are produced in Anjou AOP and Anjou-Villages AOP? What wines can/cannot be blended to add structure and balance?

A

Cabernet franc is the primary varietal. Some producers add cabernet sauvignon to create sturdier, fuller wines.

Gamay is produced to create light reds but cannot be blended in Anjou rouge bottlings.

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19
Q

What wine styles does Saumur AOP cover?

A

Red, dry white, and sparkling white/rose wines

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20
Q

What is the primary white grape of Saumur and does the AOP allow blending of other grapes?

A

Chenin Blanc

May contain a combined addition of up to 20% chardonnay and sauvignon blanc (same as Anjou blanc requirements), but there’s a push towards pure chenin blanc.

21
Q

What grapes make up Saumur rouge?

A

Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, pineau d’aunis

22
Q

Over half of Saumur’s grapes are destined for what?

A

Sparkling wines from Saumur AOP or methode traditionalle Cremant de Loire AOP

23
Q

What soil is predominate in Saumur?

A

Tuffeau limestone

24
Q

What is Saumur-Champigny and where is it produced?

A

Champigny is located in Anjou-Saumur and the 8 surrounding villages can produce a light, bright, floral, elegant expression of cabernet franc.

25
Q

What 3 AOPs set the standard for classic Loire Cabernet Franc, where are they located, and do they allow blending with other grapes?

A

Chinon AOP
Bourgueil AOP
St. Nicolas de Bourgueil AOP

All in Touraine and all allow up to 10% cabernet sauvignon

26
Q

3 soil types of Chinon

A

Tuffeau–on the slopes
Clay
Varennes–sandy soil closest to the river Vienne (Loire tributary)

27
Q

What soils are found in Bourgueil?

A

Sand

Limestone

28
Q

What is different about the soils in St. Nicolas de Bourgueil and how does it affect the resulting wine?

A

Lighter alluvial soils–>lighter style of cabernet franc

29
Q

Can Chinon AOP, Bourgueil AOP, or St. Nicolas de Bourgueil AOP make white wines?

A

Chinon makes a small amount of white from Chenin blanc

Bourgueil AOP and St. Nicolas de Bourgueil AOP can only make red or rose

30
Q

What is Touraine’s largest and most important white wine district?

31
Q

What grape is planted in Vouvray?

A

Chenin blanc

32
Q

What are the sweetness levels permitted in Vouvray?

A 
Sec
Sec-tendre (off dry)
Demi-sec
Moelleux
Liquereux
33
Q

What other style of wine is produced in Vouvray, especially in cooler years?

A

Sparkling wines by method traditional

Can be either petillant or mousseux

34
Q

What is the difference between Vouvray AOP and Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP?

A

Essentially the same in terms of wines and styles, but they’re on opposing sides of the Loire river.

35
Q

By 2016 Touraine AOP will mandate what encepagement?

A

Sauvignon Blanc and a maximum of 20% Sauvignon gris

36
Q

What 5 villages can amend their name to the basic Touraine appellation?

A 
Mesland
Azay-le-Rideau
Amboise
Oisly
Chenonceaux
37
Q

Where is Coteaux du Loir AOP and what does it produce?

A

In Touraine along the Loir tributary.

Red blends and roses based on Pineau d’Aunis and whites exclusively from Chenin Blanc

38
Q

What sub-appellation is known for Coteaux du Loir’s best wines? What does it make?

A

Jasnieres AOP

Only Chenin blanc

39
Q

Where are Cheverny AOP and Cour-Cheverney AOP?

A

Eastern edge of Touraine

40
Q

What wines are produced in Cheverny?

A

Lighter reds–pinot noir and gamay

Lean whites–sauvignon blanc

41
Q

What is produced in Cour-Cheverney?

A

Romorantin is bottled varietally

42
Q

Climate in the Central Vineyards

A

Continental–cold winders, brisk days during harvest and budbreak, and short summers make ripening difficult

43
Q

What wines are the Central Vineyards known for?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

some light pinot noir

44
Q

What two Central Vineyard AOPs are synonymous with Sauvignon blanc?

A

Sancerre AOP

Pouilly-Fume AOP

45
Q

Main soils found in Sancerre

A

Silex–higher proportion of flint (Pouilly-Fume)

Terres blanches–extension of kimmeridgian clay of Chablis

Caillottes–stony soil with many fossils

46
Q

What are red wines in Sancerre made from and classified as?

A

Pinot noir

Sancerre Rouge / Rose

47
Q

Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP produces white wine from what grape?

48
Q

What are the other appellations in the Central Vineyard (aside from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume)?

A

Menetou-Salon AOP: sauvignon blanc and pinot noir

Reuilly AOP: sauvignon blanc, pinot noir

Quincy AOP: sauvignon blanc–also the second demarcated appellation in France behind CDP

Coteaux du Giennois AOP: sauvignon blanc, reds/rose blends from pinot noir and gamay

Orleans AOP: wines of all three colors with a large proportion of pinot meunier and chardonnay

Orleans-Clery AOP: red wines from Cabernet franc only

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