Loire Valley (France)

Question 1

What are the major sub-regions of the Loire Valley?

Answer 1

Pay Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards

Question 2

What are the five primary grape varietals of the Loire?

Answer 2

Melon de Bourgogne
Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc

Question 3

What is the main grape varietal for Pay Nantais?

Answer 3

Melon de Bourgogne

Question 4

How are some white wines in Loire aged?

Answer 4

Sur-lie aging (on the lees)

Question 5

Main grape varietal(s) for Anjou-Saumur?

Answer 5

Cabernet Franc (dry reds)
Chenin Blanc (dry, sweet, sparkling)

Question 6

Main grape varietal(s) for Touraine?

Answer 6

Cabernet franc (dry reds)
Chenin blanc (dry, off-dry, sweet, sparkling)

Question 7

Main grape varietal(s) for Central Vineyards?

Answer 7

Sauvignon Blanc (dry whites)
Pinot Noir (dry reds)

Question 8

What are the AOP’s of Pays Nantais?

Answer 8

Muscadet AOP

Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP

Question 9

Where is Pays Nantais located?

Answer 9

Atlantic Coast

Question 10

What is the climate in Pays Nantais?

Answer 10

Coo, wet continental.

Question 11

What is the soil in Pays Nantais?

Answer 11

Gravel/sand over schist/granite.

Question 12

What are the AOP’s of Anjou-Saumur?

Answer 12

Anjou-Villages AOP
Saumur AOP
Savennières AOP
Bonnezeaux AOP
Quarts-de-Chaume AOP

Question 13

What grapes/styles of wine are made in Anjou-Villages AOP?

Answer 13

Cabernet France (dry reds only)

Question 14

What grapes/styles of wine are made in Saumur AOP?

Answer 14

Chenin Blanc (sparkling)
Cabernet Franc (dry reds)

Question 15

What grapes/styles of wine is made in Savennières AOP?

Answer 15

Chenin Blanc (dry whites only)

Question 16

Where is Savennières located?

Answer 16

North of the Loire River

Steep, south-facing hillsides

Question 17

Where is Bonnezeaux AOP located?

Answer 17

South of the Loire River on the bank of the Layon.

Question 18

What grapes/styles of wine are

made in Bonnezeaux?

Answer 18

Chenin Blanc (late-harvest/botrytis/sweet wines)

Question 19

What is the climate like in the Bonnezeaux AOP?

Answer 19

Humid due to the proximity of two rivers.

Question 20

Where is Quarts-de-Chaume AOP located?

Answer 20

South of the Loire River on the bank of the Layon.

Question 21

What grapes/styles of wines are made

in Quarts-de-Chaume AOP?

Answer 21

Chenin Blanc (late-harvest/botrytis/sweet wines)

Question 22

What is the climate like in the Quarts-de-Chaume AOP?

Answer 22

Humid due to the proximity of two rivers.

Question 23

Where is Touraine located?

Answer 23

East of Anjou-Saumur

Question 24

What is the climate in Touraine?

Answer 24

Continental, less maritime as you move inland/east.

Question 25

What kind of soil is there in Touraine?

Answer 25

Tuffeau (soft, limestone)

Question 26

What are the AOP's of Touraine?

Answer 26

Chinon AOP Vouvray AOP Bourgueil AOP

Question 27

Where is Chinon located?

Answer 27

South of the Loire River

Question 28

What grapes/styles of wine are made in Chinon?

Answer 28

Cabernet Franc (dry reds only)

Question 29

Where is Bourgueil located?

Answer 29

North bank of the Loire River.

Question 30

What grapes/styles of wine are made in Bourgueil?

Answer 30

Cabernet Franc (dry reds only)

Question 31

Where is Vouvray located?

Answer 31

North bank of the Loire River.

Question 32

What grapes/styles of wine are made in Vouvray?

Answer 32

Chenin Blanc (dry, off dry, sparkling, sweet)

Question 33

What does 'moelleux' mean?

Answer 33

Sweet wine.

Question 34

Where are the Central Vineyards located?

Answer 34

East of Touraine in the center of France.

Question 35

What kind of climate do the Central Vineyards have?

Answer 35

Continental.

Question 36

What types of soil can you find in the Central Vineyards?

Answer 36

Silex (flint), limestone, kimmeridgian clay.

Question 37

What are the AOP's of the Central Vineyards?

Answer 37

Sancerre AOP | Pouilly-Fume AOP

Question 38

Where is Sancerre located?

Answer 38

On the western bank of the Loire River.

Question 39

What grapes/styles of wine are made in Sancerre?

Answer 39

``` Sauvignon Blanc (dry whites) Pinot Noir (dry reds) ```

Question 40

What is the longest river in the Loire Valley?

Answer 40

The Loire River

Question 41

How long is the Loire River?

Answer 41

629 miles starting from the Massif Central (center of the country) and ending in the Atlantic (near Nantes).

Question 42

Where is Pouilly-Fume located?

Answer 42

On the eastern bank of the Loire River.

Question 43

What grapes/styles of wine are made in Pouilly-Fume?

Answer 43

Sauvignon blanc (dry whites only)

Question 44

What is the Loire Valley known as?

Answer 44

"The Garden of France"

Question 45

The Loire Valley produces more white wine than any other region in France. True or False?

Answer 45

True. Second in sparkling wines only to Champagne.

Question 46

Which region in the Loire produces a vast amount of rose?

Answer 46

Anjou.

Question 47

Describe Melon de Bourgogne.

Answer 47

Acidity, lean structure, salinity, lemon, and minerality. (with lees contact, adds nutty/brioche qualities) Pairing: Muscadet and East-Coast oysters/sushi

Question 48

Describe Chenin Blanc.

Answer 48

Honey, herbal tea, damp hay, and flowers. Cleansing acidity. Can be fermented dry, off-dry, sweet, sparkling, etc.

Question 49

Label terminology for Chenin Blanc in Loire:

Answer 49

``` Sec (Dry) Demi-sec (Semi-dry) Moelleux (Sweet) Petillant (Semi-sparkling) Mousseaux (Fully-sparkling) ```

Question 50

Describe Loire Sauvignon Blanc.

Answer 50

Green, grassy, sharp, and stony. | Vegetal pungency, citrus, and passion fruit.

Question 51

Describe Loire Cabernet Franc.

Answer 51

Raspberry, cherry, tobacco, and green herbs.