Loire Valley Pt 2 - Location, Climate, Topography, Soils and Geology

Question 1

How long is the Loire River?

Answer 1

620 Ml/1,000 km. It stretches from the Massif Central to the Bay of Biscay.

Question 2

Where are most Loire vineyards located?

Answer 2

Along the river Loire or its tributaries.

Question 3

Where in France is the Loire region located?

Answer 3

North of Bordeaux, south of Normandy, east of the Atlantic and west and southwest of Bourgogne.

Question 4

What effect does the river Loire and its tributaries have on the vineyards?

Answer 4

It is a large body of water so it warms the vineyards that flank it. The tributaries help to create mesoclimates that are suitable for ripening grapes.

Question 5

What are the 5 main winegrowing sub-regions in Loire Valley? Are they AOCs?

Answer 5

Pays Nantais, Anjou-Samur, Touraine, Central Vineyards, Upper Loire
No they are not Appellations

Question 6

What is the prevailing climate in each sub-region of the Loire?

Answer 6

Pays Nantais - Maritime;
Anjou-Saumur and Touraine (Middle Loire) - Maritime with Continental influences;
Centre-Loire and Upper Loire - Continental

Question 7

Which geological landforms does the Loire region cover?

Answer 7

Pays Nantais and Anjou are in the Massif Amoricain;
Touraine and Centre-Loire are in the Paris Basin; Upper Loire is in the Massif Central.

Question 8

What are the variety of soils found in the Loire region?

Answer 8

In general, sedimentary soils, decomposed igneous and metamorphic rocks and wind-blown soils.