Loire Valley - Central Vineyards Flashcards
What are the top 3 grapes of the Central Vineyards?
Sauvignon Blanc (by far)
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Climate of Central Vineyards
Continental with cold winters and hot summers
Sauvignon Blanc in the vineyard? (4)
Late budding
Early Ripening
(unique in this way)
Prone to Mildew and Botrytis
Prone to trunk diseases
Sauvignon Blanc as a wine?
High acid
Medium alcohol
Medium body
Grass, bell pepper, asparagus and gooseberry flavours, passion fruit in warmer areas
What % of plantings in Central Vineyards are Sauvignon Blanc?
70%
What temperature do producers ferment their Sauvignon Blanc to?
Just below mid range temperatures
this is higher than New World to give more restrained fruit characters
Do producers use MLF in the Central Vineyards?
Usually blocked but may be used depending on style and vintage
Name a producer that heavily oaks one of his Sancerres
Henri Bourgeois
What entities provide moderating effects to Sancerre’s Vineyards?
Forests
Loire River
Steep slopes
Name the three soil types in Sancerre and Piully Fume?
Caillottes:
Shallow soil over limestone
Terre Blanches:
Same limestone-Marl soils as Chablis
Silex:
Flinty soils
Main differences between Pouilly Fume and Sancerre?
Pouilly Fume tends to be rounder on the pallate and less aromatic than Sancerre
Name the 3 other appellations in Central Vineyards?
Reuilly AOC
Quincy AOC
Menetou - Salon AOC
How are the producers structured in the Central Vineyards?
Negociants are the majority with 50% of the sales
Family estates are important producers (some have Negociants as side hustles)
Co-ops are relatively small at 10% of sales
What % of wine is exported from Loire AOCs?
20%
Who pioneered organic and biodynamic farming in theLoire Valley?
Nicolas Joly
