Loire Valley Pt 8 - Touraine Flashcards
What are the three broad areas and styles in Touraine?
West - Red from Cabernet Franc;
Center - White from Chenin Blanc;
East - White from Sauvignon Blanc.
What is the climate of Touraine?
Transitions form Maritime to semi-Contintental.
What are the soil types in Touraine?
Tuffeau;
Aubuis (Clay and Limestone);
Sedimentary (sand and gravel);
Flinty clay (Argiles a silex or Perruches).
Where is Tuffeau mainly found in Touraine?
Widespread from western Touraine to Vouvray.
Where is Aubuis mainly found in Touraine?
Clay and Limestone found on hillsides
Where is Sedimentary soil mainly found in Touraine?
Near rivers and river terraces.
Where is Argiles a Silex/Perruches mainly found in Touraine?
Vouvray, Montlouis and Eastern Touraine.
What are the white grapes of Touraine?
(P) Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Romorantin is primary grape of Cour-Cheverny.
(S) Chardonnay and Orbois
What are the Rose/Gris grapes of Touraine?
Grolleau Gris, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Gris.
What are the Red grapes of Touraine?
(P) Cabernet Franc, Cot and Gamay;
What is the area under vine in Touraine?
40,000 acres/16,000 ha and growing
What is the % production for each style inTouraine?
Red 51%;
White - 27%;
Sparkling - 17%;
Rose - 5%.
Where is Touraine AOC located?
It is a large area stretching more than 62 miles/100km from Blois to the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers.
How many appellations in Touraine?
15 AOCs -Touraine;Touraine Noble Joue;Bourgueil;St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil;Chinon;Vouvray;Montlouis-sur-Loire;Valencay;Cheverny;Cour-Cheverny;Orleans;Orleans-Clery;Coteaux du Vendomois;Coteux de Loir;Jasnieres.
When was Touraine AOC awarded , for which styles?
1939, for dry white, Rose, red; Sparkling White and Rose in 1946.
NOTE NO Sweet wines.
Which grapes are permitted in Touraine AOC
White(P) Sauvignon Blanc;
Red : (P) Cabernet Franc, Cot, Gamay;
What is the main soil type in Touraine AOC?
Tuffeau is most common with topsoils of sand, gravel and clay to perruches and aubuis.
Which grapes are used for white Mousseux in Touraine AOC? Ageing?
Chenin Blanc primarily. Made in traditional method and spend 9 months on lees
Which grapes are used for rose Mousseux in Touraine AOC?
Often Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Grolleau but may be others.
What are still whites in Touraine AOC made from?
Mainly Sauvignon Blanc.
What are still roses made from in Touraine AOC?
A blend of at least two authorised grapes, vinified dry - no single variety greater than 70%
What grape is base in red wines from east of Tours?
Cot.
What grape is base in red wines from west of Tours?
Cabernet Franc
What “Primeur” does Touraine produce?
A Gamay “Primeur” plus a 100% Gamay.
How many DGCs in Touraine AOC?
Five - Amboise; Azay-le-Rideau; Chenonceaux; Mesland and Oisly.
How does Touraine AOC production differ from the rest of the Touraine Region?
It produces around 60% dry white against the whole region which is 27% dry white.
Where is Touraine Noble Joue located?
It is within the boundary of Touraine AOC but is a separate AOC.
When was Touraine Noble Joue AOC awarded for which styles and grapes?
Awarded 2001 for Rose wine only.
Red; (P) Meunier, (S) Pinot Noir
What is the distinctive wine produced fromTouraine Noble Joue AOC?
A ‘vin gris’ made from three Pinots -Meunier, Noir and Gris. Meunier is the backbone. Made by direct press mainly.
What is the strict rule on using a vat that has made rose in Touraine Noble Joue?
It is strictly forbidden to use a vat that has been used for rose to make red wine.
Where are the most-respected red wines of Touraine found?
In the western portion. Cabernet Franc based wines from Chinon,(largest red appellation in the Loire) Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de -Bourgueil.
What other wine is permitted in the red wines of Chinon, Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de -Bourgueil?
Up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
When was Bourgueil AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes?
Awarded 1937 for Rose and Red only.
Red: (P) Cabernet Franc; (S) Cabernet Sauvignon.
Where is Bourgueil located? What is the topography, and aspect of vineyards?
North of Chinon on right bank of the Loire.It has plains, hills and river terraces, facing south to maximise heat and sunlight.
What are the soils of Bourgueil?
60% is gravel and sands the rest mainly tuffeau.
How are the soils of Bourgueil used to categorise the wine?
Winemakers generally divide the area into two categories - ‘gravel wines’ and ‘tuffeau wines’. Gravel wines are more light and fruity and tuffeau wines are more structured and complex.
When was St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes?
Awarded in 1937 for Rose and Red only.
Red: (P) Cabernet Franc; (S) Cabernet Sauvignon.
Where is St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC located? What is the topography, solils and aspect of vineyards?
It is west of Bourgueil and has similar topography and aspects. Soils have a higher % of sandy gravel. It was part of Bourgueil until the French Revolution when it was separated.
What is the main grape in red wine from St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC?
Almost exclusively Cabernet Franc. Wines have the raspberry fruit typical of ‘gravel wines’ and a supple mouthfeel.
Can wines of St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC be bottled as Bourgueil AOC?
Yes but rarely are.
What is the main grape in rose wine from St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC?
Dry roses are made from the two Cabernet grapes.
When was Chinon AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes?
Awarded in 1937 for dry white, Rose and Red.
White (P) Chenin Blanc;
Red (P) Cabernet Franc (S) Cabernet Sauvignon
Why is Chinon one of the warmest growing ares in Touraine?
It is protected by forests to the north and west.
What are the aspects and soils of the vineyards of Chinon?
Vineyards are planted on the flanks of the Vienne River facing S/SE.
By the river it is gravel and sand, on the slopes tuffeau, and higher elevation flinty clay and sand.
Which two AOCs in the centre of Touraine specialise in dry and sparkling wines?
Vouvray AOC and Montlouis sur Loire AOC. Vouvray produces 8 times more wine. It is the largest producer of white AOC wine in the Loire by volume (dry,off-dry and sweet) .
When was Vouvray AOC awarded for which styles and grapes?
Awarded in 1936 for dry white, Semi-sweet to sweet and sparkling white.
White (P) Chenin Blanc (S) Orbois.
EU minimum sweetness levels apply
What are the soils of Vouvray?
Aubuis and Perruches.(Clay and Limestone and Flinty Clay)
What climatic influence is there in Vouvray?
Some oceanic influence which warms the soils.
What is the most important production in Vouvray?
Mousseux and Petillant represent 60% of production.
How are Mousseux and Petillant wine made in Vouvray? Ageing?
Using the methode traditionelle. They must age for 12 months sur lie before release.
When was Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC awarded for which styles and grapes?
Awarded in 1936 for dry white, Semi-sweet to sweet and sparkling white.
White (P) Chenin Blanc. (ONLY)
EU minimum sweetness levels apply.
Where is Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC located?
At the confluence of the Loire and Cher rivers.
What % of vineyards are organic in Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC?
35% certified organic and 35% Terra Vitis.
Which wine styles account for most of the Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC production?
Sparkling wines, Mousseux and Petillant.
What are the rules for ‘Petillant Originel’ wine style?
Approved in 2017, the grapes must be hand harvested. No additions of any kind, including sugar and yeast. One fermentation with 9 months on lees and disgorgement without dosage.
What does ‘Fines Bulles’ mean in the Loire?
It means “fine or small bubbles”. In the Loire it is a colloquial term for their sparkling wines.
Which five AOCs lie in the east of Touraine region?
Valencay, Cheverny, Cour-Cheverny, Orleans, Orleans-Clery
When was Valencay AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes?
Awarded 2004 for Dry white, Rose and Red.
White: (P) Sauvignon Blanc,
Red: (P) Cot, Pinot noir, Gamay .
Where is Valencay located? What are its soils?
On the left bank of the Cher river protected by forests from cold winds. Soils are chalk, perruches and sandy gravels.
What are the main wines of Valencay?
White Sauvignon Blanc and red and rose from Gamay.
When was Cheverny AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes?
Awarded 1993 for Dry white, Rose and Red.
White: (P) Sauvignon Blanc;
Red: (P) Pinot noir.
Why is Cheverny AOC slightly warmer?
The vineyards are scattered among wooded areas and between three rivers. Forests give protection from the cold winds and rivers moderate temperatures.
How much of Cheverny is organic growing?
25% organic and 32% Terra Vitis.
When was Cour-Cheverny AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes?
Awarded in 1993 for Dry white, Semi-sweet and sweet white.
Only grape is ROMORANTIN.
Minimum sweetness: Semi-sweet 2-4.5%(@0-45g/l)
Sweet : EU levels
What is the main production of Cour-Cheverny AOC?
Mainly white Romorantin but sweeter allowed.
When was Orleans AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes?
Awarded 2006 for Dry white, rose and Red.
White (P) Chardonnay;
Red: (P) Meunier.
Where are Orleans vineyards located? What are the soils?
Zone encompasses both sides of the Loire but few planted on right bank. Soils on left bank are sandy, pebbly alluvium.
What are the main wine styles of Orleans AOC?
White from Chardonnay and Red from Meunier.
When was Orleans-Clery AOC awarded, for which styles and grapes? What are the soils?
Awarded 2006 for Red only from Cabernet Franc. It lies within Orleans AOC and has the same soils.
What are the three AOCs on the banks of the Loir river?
Coteaux du Vendomois; Coteaux du Loir; Jasnieres.
What is the main focus of the three AOCs on the Loir River?
Chenin Blanc for high acid whites;
Reds and Rose are mainly Pineau d’Aunis.
What are the % production numbers for the Touraine region?
Touraine AOC family- 39%;
Vouvray AOC - 22%;
Chinon AOC - 13%;
ST-N-de-Bourgueil - 8%;
Bourgueil - 7%;
Cheverney - 5%;
Montlouis AOC - 3%;
Other - 3%.
