Loire Valley Study Guide Flashcards
What is France’s longest river?
Loire River
The headwaters of the Loire Valley come from which mountain?
Massif Central
What is the Loire Valley affectionately called?
Le Jardin de la France
Loire Valley is second in French sparkling wine production behind what wine region?
Champagne
What is the synonym for Folle Blanche in Loire Valley?
Gros Plant
What is the local synonym for Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley?
Breton
What is the synonym of Malbec in the Loire Valley?
Côt
What is the synonym for Groslot in the Loire Valley?
Grolleau
What is the star grape of the Pays Nantais? Secondary grape?
Melon de Bourgogne is the star
Folle Blanche is the secondary grape in the region.
What kind of climate does Pays Nantais experience?
cool, wet maritime climate
What event paved the way for Melon de Bourgogne to take center stage in the Pays Nantais? What was it previously used for there?
Frost of 1709
Melon de Bourgogne was previously used for distillation
What are the four appellations that exist for Melon de Bourgogne in Pays Nantais?
Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP
At what abv or below do Muscadet wines show best preserving their lighter, fresher character?
12%
Describe the wines of basic Muscadet AOP in general terms in regards to structure and style?
neutral, bone dry to dry, high in acid, and designed for youthful consumption
Which Muscadet AOP accounts for over 80% of Muscadet production?
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP
What are the 4 classic soil types of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
gneiss, clay, silica, and granite
How does a wine qualify for the “sur lie” designation? What does this aging add to the wine?
The wine must originate from land qualifying for one of the three sub-appellations of Muscadet AOP.
Aged on their lees over winter and are bottled directly off the fine lees (without filtering) between March 1 and November 30 of the year following harvest.
The process adds complexity, richness, and a slight sparkle to the finished wines.
Where is Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP compared to the other Muscadet appellations and how does it compare stylistically?
North of the others and correspondingly leaner in style though excellent source of grapes in warmer vintages.
Which is the lowest quality of the Muscadet sub appellations?
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
What is the unofficial label term championed that is meant to promote terroir and stresses ageablity? Who is a producer that uses this?
Hermine d’Or
Guy Bossard
What are three subzones of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP? What does this Cru Communaux designation require?
Le Pallet
Clisson
Gorges
Requires the wines to spend a minimum 18 months sur lie which is longer than than the sur lie term allows.
Which three Appellations were established in Pays Nantais with the elimination of the VDQS level of quality in 2011?
Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP
Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP
Fiefs Vendéens AOP
What is the star grape of Gros Plant Nantais AOP? What does it have in common with Muscadet in regards to production?
Folle Blanche
May also be subjected to sur lie aging
What is considered the most dynamic region in the Loire Valley? Between which two regions is it located?
Anjou
Pays Nantais and Touraine
What is the center of sparkling wine production in the Loire Valley?
Saumur
What is Chenin Blanc known as in Anjou?
Pineau de la Loire
What % of Anjou’s total production annually is devoted to rosé? What is the star grape of this style?
45%
Grolleau
Anjou AOP is a designation for which three styles of wine?
red, white, and sparkling
Which is true? Saumur AOP may be bottled as Anjou AOP or Anjou AOP may be bottled as Saumur AOP?
Saumur AOP may be bottled as Anjou AOP
What is the star appellation for Chenin Blanc in Anjou?
Savennières
What grapes are permitted for the production of Savennières AOP?
100% Chenin Blanc
On what bank of the Loire Valley is Savennières and thus what is its exposure?
North bank of the river with full south exposure
What is the unique soil structure of Savennières composed of?
Blue schist mixed with volcanic debris
What are the two sub appellations of Savennières? When did they receive appellation status?
Roche Aux Moines AOP
Coulée de Serrant AOP
both received AOC status in 2011
What is the name of Nicolas Joly’s monopole appellation that is a subappellatoin of Savennières?
Coulée de Serrant
In relation to Angers and the Loire River where are the best sweet wines made? What are the four appellations for this style there?
South of Angers and the Loire River
Coteaux du Layon AOP
Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP
Bonnezeaux AOP
Quarts de Chaume AOP
Which two appellations are within the Coteaux du Layon AOP? What are their corresponding communes? Which direction do the vineyards in these two appellations face?
Bonnezeaux AOP (Thouarcé) Quarts de Chaume AOP (Rochefort-sur-Loire)
Face south
What are the minimum rs values for the four sweet wine producing appellations south of the Loire River? Which of the four qualify for the moniker “Grand Cru” from the 2010 vintage moving forward?
Coteaux du Layon (34g/L)
Coteaux de l’Aubance (34g/L)
Bonnezeaux (51g/L)
Quarts de Chaume (85g/L) was 34g/L prior to 2011
Quarts de Chaume qualifies for the grand cru moniker from the 2010 vintage moving forward
What are two top producers of Savennières that are also great producers of Quarts de Chaume?
Domaine des Baumard
Château Pierre-Bise
What is a top producer of Bonnezeaux?
Château des Fesles
Which appellation is larger, Bonnezeaux or Quarts de Chaume? Which is actually counterintuitively more difficult to find in the market place?
Bonnezeaux is larger but harder to find
What 7 villages are entitled to add their names to the basic Coteaux du Layon AOP? Which of the seven qualifies for 1er Cru?
Beaulieu-sur-Layon Rablay-sur-Layon Rochefort-sur-Loire Faye d'Anjou St. Lambert du Lattay St. Aubin de Luigné Chaume (1er Cru)
What styles of wine are made in the Anjou-Villages AOP?
Red wine only
Which appellation covers red wine production for the same communes of Coteaux de l’Aubance?
Anjou Villages Brissac AOP
Which red grape is not permitted in blends of standard Anjou rouge but may be bottled varietally?
Gamay
Anjou rouge is usually a blend featuring which two grapes?
Cabernet Franc with some Cabernet Sauvignon blended in.
What four style of wine are produced under the Saumur AOP?
red, dry white, sparkling white, and sparkling rosé
What are the grape requirements for Saumur Blanc? What grapes were permitted in the blend prior to 2016 vintage?
100% Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were permitted in the blend prior to 2016