Loire Valley

Question 1

What is the main grape of Pay Nantais AOP?

Answer 1

Melon de Bourgogne

Question 2

What is the climate of Pays Nantais AOP?

Answer 2

cool, wet maritime

Question 3

What are the four AOP’s used for Melon de Bourgogne?

Answer 3

Muscadet AOP (rarely used)
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP
**80% of wine production, 23 communes near Sevre and Maine Rivers
**half of production of MSeM AOP, bottled sur lie

Question 4

Which of the Muscadet AOP’s is the newest?

Answer 4

Cotes de Grandlieu AOP, 1994

Question 5

What year were the subregions introduced to Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine?

Answer 5

Clisson
Le Pallet
Gorges

Question 6

What is encepagement vs assemblage?

Answer 6

Encepagement is varieties in the vineyard vs. composition of the final wine

Question 7

What are three additional AOP’s in/near Pay Nantais AOP unrelated to Muscadet/Melon de Bourgogne? What styles of wine/varietals are permitted?

Answer 7

Gros Plants du Pays Nantais AOP
-Folle Blanche
-blanc only
Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP
-blanc, rose, rouge
-Pinot Gris, Gamay
Fiefs Vendeens AOP
-blanc, rouge, rose
-chenin blanc, cabernet franc (primary)

Question 8

What AOP is the largest and most diverse of the Loire Valley?

Answer 8

Anjou-Saumur

• district corresponds to former Duchy of Anjou
• 45% of production is rose

Question 9

What are the sweet wine appellations of Anjou-Saumur AOP?

Answer 9

Anjou-Couteaux de la Loire AOP (1946)
Bonnezeaux AOP (1951)
Coteaux de l'Aubance AOP (1950)
Coteaux du Layon AOP (1950)
Coteaux de Saumur AOP (1962)
Quarts de Chaume AOP (1954)

Question 10

Where is Savennieres AOP located?

Answer 10

Anjou-Saumur

Question 11

What are the red varietal dominant AOP’s in Anjour-Saumur?

Answer 11

Anjou-Villages Brissac AOP (1946)
-Cabernet Franc/CS
Cabernet de Saumur AOP (1964)
Saumur-Champigny AOP (1957)

Question 12

What are the two distinct vineyards of Savennieres and which is a monopole? Who owns it?

Answer 12

Coulee de Serrant (Nicolas Joly)

Roche aux Moines

Question 13

What are the AOP’s of Touraine?

Answer 13

Touraine AOP
Touraine Noble-Joue AOP (2001)
Chinon AOP (1937)
Bourgueil AOP (1937)
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOP (1937)
Vouvray AOP (1936)
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP (1938)
Cheverny AOP (1993)
Cour-Cheverny AOP (1993)
Jasnieres AOP (2001)
Coteaux du Loir AOP (1948)
Coteaux du Vendomois AOP (2001)
Valencay AOP (2004)

Question 14

What the major town/city in Touraine?

Answer 14

Tours

Question 15

What varietal is the majority in the blend for Touraine Noble-Joue AOP??

Answer 15

Rose –> Pinot Meunier

Question 16

What are the three soil types commonly found in Chinon AOP?

Answer 16

Varennes (alluvial sand)
Tuffeau (soft limestone)
Clay

Question 17

Name some producers of Chinon AOP.

Answer 17

Philippe Alliet
Domaine Charles Jouget
Bernard Baudry
Couly-Dutheil
Jean-Maurice Rauffault

Question 18

What is the maximum amount (encepagement) of Cabernet Sauvignon allowed in Bourgueil AOP?

Answer 18

10%

Question 19

What AOP’s in Touraine are the exception to having Chenin Blanc as their primary white varietal?

Answer 19

Cheverny AOP (Sauvignon Blanc/Gris)
Cour-Cheverny AOP (Romorantin)

Question 20

What is the parentage of Romorantin? Within what AOP is found?

Answer 20

Gouais Blanc x _____________

Cour-Cheverny AOP

Question 21

What producer is based in Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP?

Answer 21

Francois Chidaine

Question 22

Must Vouvray AOP be made from 100% Chenin Blanc?

Answer 22

No, a maximum of 5% Orbois is permitted.

Question 23

What are the three cuvees/vineyards of Domaine Huet?

Answer 23

Domaine Huet’s three vineyards are
Le Haut Lieu
Le Mont
Clos du Bourg

Question 24

What does “franc de pied” mean?

Answer 24

not grafted on American rootstocks

Question 25

What is Cabernet Franc colloquially known as in St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOP?

Answer 25

Breton

Question 26

Where is Cheverny AOP located?

Answer 26

along Loire River, north of Oisly

Oisly is a subzone of Touraine AOP known for Sauvignon Blanc

Question 27

What two AOP’s of Touraine produce red and rose from Pineau d’Aunis?

Answer 27

Coteaux du Loir AOP (1948)

Coteaux du Vendomois AOP (2001)

Question 28

What are the AOP’s of Central Vineyards?

Answer 28

Orleans AOP (2006)
Orleans-Clery (2006)
Sancerre AOP (1936)
Pouilly Fume AOP (1937)
Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP (1937)
Menetou-Salon AOP (1959)
Quincy AOP (1936)
Reuilly AOP (1937)
Coteaux du Giennois AOP (1998)

Question 29

What river runs through Reuilly AOP?

Answer 29

Cher River

Question 30

What is the varietal of Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP?

Answer 30

100% Chasselas-based wines