Loire Valley (General Knowledge)

Question 1

The Loire Valley has a long history of winemaking and wine trading. Why?

Answer 1

Its access to the Atlantic Ocean

The former home of French Kings up to Louis XIV

Proximity to Paris before railroads were invented

Question 2

True or False

The Loire River is the second longest river in France, stretching 250km

Answer 2

False. It is the longest river at 250 miles

Question 3

When does spring in the Pays Nantais arrive compared to Sancerre?

Answer 3

Two weeks earlier

Question 4

What are the key varieties of the Loire Valley? Where in the Loire Valley are they grown?

Answer 4

Melon in Pays Nantais

Chenin Blanc and Cab Franc in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine

Sauvignon Blanc in Touraine and the Central Vineyards

Some Pinot Noir in the Central Vineyards

Question 5

What percentage of vineyard area in the Loire is Pays Nantais?

Answer 5

22%

Question 6

What percentage of vineyard area in the Loire is Anjou-Saumur?

Answer 6

37%

Question 7

What percentage of vineyard area in the Loire is Touraine?

Answer 7

31%

Question 8

What percentage of vineyard area in the Loire is Central Vineyards?

Answer 8

10%

Question 9

What is the promotional body for the wines of the Loire Valley?

Answer 9

InterLoire (Interprofession des Vins du Val de Loire), though it only represents Pays Nantais, Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine.

Question 10

What is the promotional body for the wines of the Central Vineyards?

Answer 10

BIVC (Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins du Centre)

Question 11

True or False

Family owned wine businesses in the Loire Valley started becoming absorbed by corporations starting in the 1990s

Answer 11

False. Many Loire Valley estates trace a long line of winemaking heritage. There are also many working class people leaving Paris to the Loire to take up winemaking.

Question 12

Are négociants an important part of Loire Valley wine sales?

Answer 12

Yes. They comprise 50% of sales by volume

Question 13

Within the négociant sector, what percentage of sales do the top 10 négociants comprise?

Answer 13

82%

Question 14

How are sales divided (by percentage) among négociants. estates, and cooperatives?

Answer 14

Négociants: 50%

Estates: 41%

Cooperatives: 9%

Question 15

How have the lines between négociant and estate blurred in the Loire Valley in recent years?

Answer 15

Négociants have begun purchasing estates and producing their own wine. Some family estates have also established a négociant side of their business as a means of insulating themselves from climate change

Question 16

What are the largest markets for Loire AOC wines in France?

Answer 16

The specialist wine retail and hospitality sectors (44% total by volume)

Supermarkets (36%)

Question 17

What percentage of Loire Valley wine production is exported? Who are the top markets?

Answer 17

20% exported to the U.S., U.K., and Germany

Question 18

What is the Loire Valley’s top performing appellation in the export market?

Answer 18

Sancerre

Question 19

What is the status of organic, biodynamic, and natural winemaking in the Loire Valley?

Answer 19

Nicolas Joly, a proponent of the biodynamic movement, has cultivated a movement there. However, it is difficult to employ at scale due to the cool, damp climate.

Natural wines here are often labeled Vin de France