Loire Valley

Question 1

Loire valley contains the longest river in France which is how many miles long

Answer 1

629 mi.

Question 2

What are the major sub-regions of the Loire

Answer 2

Pays Nantes, Anjou-Samur, Touraine, Central Vineyards (upper lower)

Question 3

Describe the climate and terroir of Pays Nantes

Answer 3

Coastal Atlantic Maritime wet cool climate. Gravel and sand over schist and granite.

Question 4

What grape and styles are used in Pays Nantes for their Muscadet wines

Answer 4

Melon de Burgogne and Sur lie aging

Question 5

Pays Nantes Appellation

Answer 5

Muscadet AOP and Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOP

Question 6

Climate of Anjou-Samur which is east of Pays Nantes

Answer 6

Maritime/Continental Humid

Question 7

Grapes and styles in Anjou and Samur

Answer 7

Chennin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are allowed. In Anjou you will find Dry Red Wines. In Samur sparkling white wines.

Question 8

Appellation for Anjou

Answer 8

Anjou Villages AOP

Question 9

What types of grapes and wines are found in Samur AOP

Answer 9

Chennin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are grapes allowed but this appellation is known for it’s Chennin based Sparkling Wines.

Question 10

Savenierres AOP in the Anjou Samur Subregion is known for what style wines

Answer 10

Dry White 100% Chennin Based Wines.

Question 11

Where is Savenierres located

Answer 11

Near Angers North side of river with south facing vineyards

Question 12

Where is Bonnezeaux in the Anjou-Samur sub region located

Answer 12

South the Loire side of river near Layon River. In between thee two rivers. Humid

Question 13

What style wines are made in Bonnezeaux AOP

Answer 13

Late Harvest sweet white botrytized wines from 100% Chennin Blanc

Question 14

Where is Quartz de Chaume in the Anjou-Samur sub region located

Answer 14

Like Bonnezeaux it is on the Layon River which is humid

Question 15

What style wines are made in Quartz de Chaume AOP

Answer 15

Like Bonnezeauz Late Harvest sweet white botrytized wines from 100% Chennin Blanc

Question 16

Where is Touraine

Answer 16

To the east of Anjou-Samur

Question 17

What is climate and terroir and grape varieties of Touraine

Answer 17

Continental and Tuffeau soils. Grapes permitted are Chennin Blanc and Cab Franc.

Question 18

What are the AOP’s of Touraine and what types of grapes and wines styles do they permit

Answer 18

Chinon AOP and Bourgeil AOP. They both permit Cabernet Franc and make Dry Reds. Also Vouvray is an AOP in this region and makes a variety of 100% Chennin based white wines.

Question 19

Which AOP sits to the north/south of the Loire River

Answer 19

Bourgeil is North and Chinon is South of Loire River

Question 20

Where is Vouvray

Answer 20

In the Sub Region of Touraine

Question 21

What types of white wine styles does vouvray make

Answer 21

Focus is on Dry, Off-Dry, Sweet, Sparkling White 100% Chennin based wines

Question 22

Explain what Central Vineyard means

Answer 22

It means they are located in Central France but are also referred to as the upper Loire

Question 23

What are the climate and soils of Central Vineyards/Upper Loire

Answer 23

Continental. Sillex (flint) limestone and Kimmeridgean Clay

Question 24

What grapes are permitted in the Central Vineyards

Answer 24

Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir

Question 25

What are the two main appellations in Central Vineyards

Answer 25

Sancerre AOP and Pouilley Fume AOP

Question 26

Grapes and wine styles of Sancerre AOP

Answer 26

Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Both Dry

Question 27

Grapes and wines styles of Pouilley Fume

Answer 27

Sauvignon Blanc. Dry White only. Sauvignon’s are smokey from flinty soils