Loire Valley Flashcards
Which region of the Loire Valley is considered its largest and most diverse?
Anjou
Anjou Villages-Brissac covers the same 10 communes of production as what other appellation?
Coteaux de l’Aubance
If a bottle is labeled sur-lie where must it come from? When is bottling permitted?
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu
March 1st, following harvest, aged on fine lees
Bottled between March 1st - Nov 30th, directly off fine lees
What is “Hermine d’Or”? What does it indicate?
(Guy Brossard) coined the unofficial label term that promotes terroir and stresses ageability.
What direction do the best vineyards of Savenièrres face? What is the main soil type here?
South
Blue schist mixed with volcanic debris
What is the climate like in the Central Vineyards?
Continental with cold winters and brisk days during harvest and bud break brings danger of frost and short summers do not assure easy ripening.
How do the wines of Pouilly-Fumé theoretically differ from those of Sancerre?
More flint in the soil gives Pouilly-Fumé a theoretically more flinty character
Also there has been experimentation with new oak and the results are more akin to white Bordeaux than classic Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc
What are the two unofficial subappellations of Savenièrres and which is a monopole of Nocolas Joly?
Coulée de Serrant (Nicolas Joly - monopole)
Roche Aux Moines
What is the nickname of the Loire Valley?
Jardin de la France
What kind of vintage sees a higher percentage of grapes destined for sparkling wine production? Styles of this created?
Cooler vintages
pétillant and mousseux
What is the climate of the Pays Nantais like?
Cool, wet, and maritime
Anjou and Saumur are often considered collectively, but which is an eastern suburb of the other?
Saumur is an eastern suburb of Anjou adjacent to Chinon
What is Chenin Blanc known as in in Anjou?
Pineau de la Loire
Cabernet Franc is actually from what region that is shared by France and Spain?
Basque Country
What is the difference between white wine produced in Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny?
Wines from Cheverny are dominated by Sauvignon Blanc
Cour-Cheverny is produced from 100% Romorantin
Saumur AOP blanc (till 2016 harvest) is comprised of mostly what grape? Which grapes may make up a combined 20% of the rest?
Chenin Blanc with up to 20% combined Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
What appellation of Muscadet is considered a source for leaner expressions, but can be an excellent source in warmer vintages?
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Where does the Loire Valley stand in regards to white wine production in France? Sparkling wine?
Produces more white wine than any other French region and second only to Champagne in sparkling wine production
Red Cheverny AOP wine is made from what two grapes?
Pinot Noir and Gamay
What is the main white grape of the Pays Nantais? What was it originally used for upon its arrival via the Dutch in the 17th century?
Melon de Bourgogne
Used in the 17th Century by the dutch as distillation fodder
What is Cabernet Franc known as in the Loire Valley? Malbec? Groslot?
Breton (Cabernet Franc)
Côt (Malbec)
Folle Blanche (Groslot)
What is the grape of Sancerre Rouge?
Pinot Noir
The two appellations of Chinon and Bourgueil are considered to produce the most age-worthy expressions of Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley. In what larger region are they located within? Samur-Chamigny is located in what larger area?
Tourraine
Saumur is where Saumur-Champigny is located
Wines from Châteaumeillant AOP are principaly made from what grape in red and rosé style?
Gamay
What are the three soil types found in Chinon and where are they located on the slope?
Tuffeau - limestone (slopes)
Clay
Varennes - alluvial sand (closer to the river Vienne)
To ensure lighter, fresher character, Muscadet wines show best at what % abv and below?
12%
What is the dominant soil type in Vouvray?
Tuffeau - limestone
Where does this Loire Valley begin and where does it end?
Pays Nantais on the Atlantic Coast to the Central Vineyards of the Upper Loire in the exact geographical center of France
What styles of wine are permitted in Saumur AOP? Which is excluded?
Red, dry white, and sparkling white
ROSÉ is not authorized!
For a bottle of Muscadet labeled by Cru Communaux, from what soils must the fruit come from? For how long must these wines be aged sur-lie?
Must come from specific schist soils and must spend a minimum of 18 months sur lie longer than actual sur lie term allows.
Chinon, Bourgueil, and St-Nicholas-de-Bourgueil all allow the addition of 10% of what grape? Which of the three permits the production of white wine? What grape?
10% Cabernet Sauvignon is allowed
Chinon allows for blanc production from 100% Chenin Blanc
What are the four dominating soils found in Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Main?
Gneiss
Silica
Clay
Granite