Loire Valley - Pays Nantais

Question 1

What is the climate of the Pays Nantais?

Answer 1

Cool, wet and Maritime

Question 2

What century did the Melon de Bourgogne grape arrive in the Pays Nantais

Answer 2

17th century

Question 3

What event transformed the Pays Nantais into a white wine region?

Answer 3

A notable 1709 frost resulted in a moratorium on red grapes

Question 4

Name the four appellations that exist for the Muscadet grape

Answer 4

Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine AOP

Question 5

What is the name of the basic appellation for Muscadet?

Answer 5

Muscadet AOP

Question 6

What percentage of Muscadet is produced under the Muscadet -Sevre-et-Maine AOP?

Answer 6

80%

Question 7

How many communes are there within the Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine AOP?

Answer 7

23

Question 8

Name the 3 subzones of Muscadeet-Sevre-st-Maine?

Answer 8

Clisson
Gorges
La Palette

Question 9

True or False Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine wines labelled by subzone may not include ‘sur lie’ on the label

Answer 9

True

Question 10

What requirements must a wine meet to be labelled sur lie in the Pays Nantais?

Answer 10

The wine must originate from land qualifying for one of the three sub-appellations.
Sur lie wines are aged on their lees over the winter and are bottled directly off the fine lees (without filtering) between March 1 and November 30 of the year following the harvest, and may not be marketed until March 8.

Question 11

What are the lees ageing requirements for the Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine subzone Le Pallet?

Answer 11

Wines must be aged on their fine lees until at least April 1 of the second year following the harvest

Question 12

What are the lees ageing requirements for the Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine subzones Gorges and Clisson?

Answer 12

Wines must be aged on their fine lees until at least November 1 of the second year following the harvest

Question 13

What is the principal soil type of the Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine subzone Clisson?

Answer 13

Granite

Question 14

What is the principal soil type of the Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine subzone Le Pallet?

Answer 14

Gneiis, quartz and gabbro

Question 15

What is the principal soil type of the Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine subzone Gorges?

Answer 15

Clay and Gabbro

Question 16

When was the Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu granted AOP status?

Answer 16

1994

Question 17

What is Hermine d’Or?

Answer 17

An unofficial label term that promotes terroir and stresses ageability

Question 18

What wine styles are allowed in Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP?

Answer 18

White wines from a minimum 70% Folle Blanche with Montils and Colombard

Question 19

What wine styles are allowed in Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP?

Answer 19

Blanc from 100% Pinot Gris
Rose from 100% Gamay
Red from 100% Gamay

Question 20

What wine styles are allowed Fiefs Vendéens AOP?

Answer 20

Blanc from min 60% Chenin Blanc
Rose from min 80% Gamay and PInot Noir
Rouge from Cabernet Franc, Negrette and Pinot Noir