Loire Valley Flashcards
What is France’s longest River?
Loire
Where are the most important vineyards of Loire Valley?
they lie along the last few hundred KM of the Loire River as it flows west towards the Atlantic Ocean
what is the one signature style made in the Loire Valley
there isn’t one. it is a quite diverse range of white, red and rose style wines.
what are the four sub regions of Loire Valley?
from east to west they are the Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur and Nantails
what is different about Loire regions?
they are not appellations and there is no generic appellation for all of Loire itself.
where is Rose de Loire and Crement de Loire focused?
anjou and Saumur
what is the one IGP in Loire?
Val de Loire which covers the whole region
Describe an IGP wine from Loire
generally straight forward displaying freshness, a light body and simple fruit flavors
what is the overall climate in Loire?
cool
what is the climate in Central Vineyards - Loire?
these are well inland and have a continental climate
what is the climate in Nantis region which is a coastal cilmate?
maritime climates
what is the climate in Anjou - Loire?
slightly warmer and drier than might be expected given their proximity to the ocean- protected by the Mauges Hills and certain vineyards there benefit from warm stony soils
what is the climate of Touraine?
being further inland, has a cooler and wetter climate and clay soils.
Where do Loire vineyards lie?
at the northern limit of the production of grape growing and variations in the weather pattern from year to year can mean that vintages differ greatly.
What is a particular issue in Loire?
fungal disease due to high rainfall.
what are qualities of the best vineyards in Loire
ones that experience the most sunshine and warmth, are southerly sloping aspects, generally in mid slope, and facing the river for extra heat and reflected light.
where is Sauvignon Blanc mostly grown in Loire?
Central Vineyards and Touraine
which region has the smallest production out of the four but the most prestigious appellations for Sauvignon Blanc in Loire?
Sancerre and Pouilly Fume
what kind of soil do Sancerre and Pouilly Fume have?
very chalky, well drained, stony soil.
describes wines from Sancerre and Pouilly Fume?
dry and high in acidity with hints of green apple and wet stones. it is said that ones from Pouilly Fuse also have subtle smoky notes. some are able to age in the bottle although in most cases they are not made to age in the bottle.
describe wine making techniques for Sauvignon blanc in Loire
vary from producer to producer. Gentle pressing and temerpature controlled stainless steele vats are used to create fresh fruity flavors. Some producers choose to ferment and mature their wines in old oak vessels and keep them on lees to give broader texture.
how do winemakers determine whether or not to use MLF
normally used in cooler vintages in order to keep lower acidity in the wines.
What is the most important appellation for Sauvingnon blanc to the west and south of SAncerre.
Menetou- Salon which is on the tributaries of the Loire.
Where do the majority of production of SAuvignon Blanc come from in Loire?
Touraine
what is typically on the label of wines from Touraine?
Sauvignon de Touraine
describe a wine from Touraine?
less concentration than those of other appellations and are made in a simple fruity style.