Loire Valley Flashcards

1
Q

What is the longest river in France?

A

The Loire River

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2
Q

What is the furthest west region of Loire?

A

Muscadet

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3
Q

What is the furthest east region of Loire?

A

Pouilly-Fume

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4
Q

How many appellations in Loire?

A

63

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5
Q

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

A

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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6
Q

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

A

Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, both originated in Loire.

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7
Q

List all white grapes grown in Loire

A

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

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8
Q

List all red grapes grown in Loire

A

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

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9
Q

Region of Eastern Loire (Tier 1 and 2)

A
  1. Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Menetou-Salon

2. Reuilly and Quincy

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10
Q

What is silex?

A

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

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11
Q

What is les caillottes?

A

Gravel intermixed with limestone

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12
Q

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

A

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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13
Q

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

A

K has sea fossils and P does not.

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14
Q

Are there red and rose Sancerre?

A

Yes! 12% of all production.

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15
Q

What grapes are grown in Sancerre?

A

Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay

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16
Q

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

A

The soil in PF contains slightly more limestone and flint.

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17
Q

What grape is grown in Menetou-Salon

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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18
Q

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

A

Quincy is all white, Reuilly has all three

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19
Q

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

A

The name of the vineyard

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20
Q

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

A

Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner

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21
Q

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

A

Chenin Blanc and Cab France

22
Q

The middle Loire is divided into two general areas called

A

Anjou-Saumur and Touraine

23
Q

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

A

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

24
Q

Touraine, near the city Tours, includes what appellations?

A

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

+ Vouvray and Montlouis (ALL WHITE)

25
Q

Savennieres makes white wine from what grape?

A

Chenin Blanc

26
Q

Savennieres wines are

A

densely flavoured, and can be aged for decades

27
Q

The soil in Savennieres is

A

volcanic schist

28
Q

The most famous of all Savennieres is

A

Clos de la Coulee de Serrant, Coulee de Serrant

29
Q

Coulee de Serrant is owned by who?

A

The Joly Family

30
Q

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

A

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

31
Q

What year was Coulee de Serrant first planted?

A

1130 by monks

32
Q

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

A

medium-sweet and fully sweet

33
Q

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

A

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

34
Q

The soil in Anjou-Samur are

A

slate, schist, and clay

35
Q

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

A

Chenin Blanc

36
Q

Which appellation in Anjou-Samur is most prestigious?

A

Quarts de Chaume

37
Q

What is the main grape used to make Anjou roses?

A

Grolleau

38
Q

What additional grapes can be used to make Anjou rose?

A

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

39
Q

What is cabernet Anjou?

A

Anjou rose made from cab sauv or cab franc

40
Q

Touraine surrounds what city?

A

Tours

41
Q

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

A

Touraine

42
Q

What are the three regions within Touraine?

A

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

43
Q

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

A

Cab Franc

44
Q

What is Touraine Rouge?

A

A largely forgettable generic red wine

45
Q

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

A

100% Chenin Blanc

46
Q

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

A

100% Chenin Blanc

47
Q

What are the four sweetness levels of Vouvray?

A
  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
48
Q

The best Moelleux Vouvrays are always a product of

A

Botrytis Cinerea

49
Q

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

A

Muscadet

50
Q

What grape is Muscadet made from?

A

Melon de Bourgogne

51
Q

The best muscadets come from what subregion?

A

Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine

52
Q

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

A

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