Loire Valley Flashcards by Kirsten Lee

What is the longest river in France?

The Loire River

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What is the furthest west region of Loire?

Muscadet

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What is the furthest east region of Loire?

Pouilly-Fume

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How many appellations in Loire?

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What is the one thing all Loire wines have in common?

A taut, wiry freshness thanks to the region’s cool, northern climate. Like Champagne, Loire exists on the fringe of the lowest temperatures at which grapes can ripen.

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What are the two leading white grapes in Loire / where did they originate?

Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, both originated in Loire.

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List all white grapes grown in Loire

Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Arbois, Chardonnay, Folle Blanc, Melon De Bourgogne

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List all red grapes grown in Loire

Cab Franc, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Grolleau, Cab Sauv, Cot, Pineau D’Aunis, Pinot Meunier

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Region of Eastern Loire (Tier 1 and 2)

Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Menetou-Salon

2. Reuilly and Quincy

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What is silex?

A flint and sand based soil that combines clay, limestone, and silica

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What is les caillottes?

Gravel intermixed with limestone

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What runs through Loire that gives its wine even more vivid acidity?

Abrupt fault lines run through the region, many soils are valued for what growers say is the minerality added to the wine.

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What is the difference between Kimmeridigan-era limestone and Portlandian-era limestone?

K has sea fossils and P does not.

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Are there red and rose Sancerre?

Yes! 12% of all production.

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What grapes are grown in Sancerre?

Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay

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How does the soil in Pouilly-Fume differ from the soil in Sancerre?

The soil in PF contains slightly more limestone and flint.

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What grape is grown in Menetou-Salon

Sauvignon Blanc

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Red and rose wine, as well as white wine, are all made in Quincy or Reuilly?

Quincy is all white, Reuilly has all three

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In the mid 1990’s a Sancerre ruling prevented what from being printed on wine labels?

The name of the vineyard

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Who first propounded biodynamics, the holistic system of living agriculture?

Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner

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What are the leading red and white grapes in middle Loire?

Chenin Blanc and Cab France

The middle Loire is divided into two general areas called

Anjou-Saumur and Touraine

Anjou-Saumur, near the city of Angers, includes what appellations?

Savennieres, Quarts de Chaume, Bonnezeaux, Coteaux du Layon, and Coteaux de l’Aubance (ALL WHITE)

Touraine, near the city Tours, includes what appellations?

Chinon, Bourgueil, St. Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (ALL RED)

+ Vouvray and Montlouis (ALL WHITE)

Savennieres makes white wine from what grape?

Chenin Blanc

Savennieres wines are

densely flavoured, and can be aged for decades

The soil in Savennieres is

volcanic schist

The most famous of all Savennieres is

Clos de la Coulee de Serrant, Coulee de Serrant

Coulee de Serrant is owned by who?

The Joly Family

What does Coulee de Serrant have in common with Romanee-Conti, La Tache, Clos de Tart, and Chateau Grillet?

They are all appellations in France made up of a single property.

What year was Coulee de Serrant first planted?

1130 by monks

The Anjou-Samur is devoted to what two styles of wine?

medium-sweet and fully sweet

The sweet wines of Anjou-Samur carry the appellations (4)

Quarts de Chaume, Bonnezeaux, Coteaux du Layon, or Coteaux de l'Aubance.

The soil in Anjou-Samur are

slate, schist, and clay

The sweet wines of Anjou-Samur are made with what grape?

Chenin Blanc

Which appellation in Anjou-Samur is most prestigious?

Quarts de Chaume

What is the main grape used to make Anjou roses?

Grolleau

What additional grapes can be used to make Anjou rose?

Gamay, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Cot, and Pineau d'Aunis

What is cabernet Anjou?

Anjou rose made from cab sauv or cab franc

Touraine surrounds what city?

Tours

Which region marks the switch from the milder western Loire to eastern Loire with its hot summers and extremely cold winters?

Touraine

What are the three regions within Touraine?

Chinon, Bourgueil, and St. Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

The red wines made in Chinon, Bourgueil, and St. Nicolas-de-Bourgueil are made almost exclusively from what grape?

Cab Franc

What is Touraine Rouge?

A largely forgettable generic red wine

Vouvray (appellation) makes its white wines from what grape?

100% Chenin Blanc

Montlouis (appellation) makes its white wines from what grape?

100% Chenin Blanc

What are the four sweetness levels of Vouvray?

1. Sec (very dry): 0-.8% RS 2. Classic or Demi-Sec: .8-1.2% RS 3. Moelleux (medium sweet): 1.2%-4.5% RS 4. Doux (sweet): > 4.5% RS

The best Moelleux Vouvrays are always a product of

Botrytis Cinerea

The westernmost part of Loire is known for one wine alone, ______

Muscadet

What grape is Muscadet made from?

Melon de Bourgogne

The best muscadets come from what subregion?

Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine

Name the main white grape for each of the following regions: Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Savennieres, Vouvray, Muscadet Sevre-Et-Maine

Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon