OW - FR - Loire Flashcards
Loire
??”How long is the Loire River?”
629 mi
Loire
How long has there been wine making in the Loire?
1st century AD
Loire
When did Chenin Blanc first appear in the Loire?
845
Loire
When did Cabernet Franc get introduced into the Loire?
1089 with the Abbey at Bourgeil
Loire
By when were the wines of the Loire being exported to England?
11th century
Loire
When were the wines of the Loire popular with royalty in France?
High and Late Middle ages, until Louis XIV’s coronation at Reims
Loire
What are the white varietals of the Loire?
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne
Chardonnay
Orbois
Romorantin
Gros Plant (Folle Blance)
Chasselas
Loire
What are the red varietals of the Loire?
Cabernet Franc (Breton)
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Malbec (Cot)
Pineau d’Aunis
Groslot (Grolleau)
Loire
What are the appellations of Pays Nantais?
Muscadet
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine
Fiefs Vendeens
Gros Pland du Pays Nantais
Coteaux d’Ancenis
Loire
What is the climate of the Pays Nantais?
Maritime, cool and wet
Loire
What is the origin of Melon de Bourgogne?
Brought to the Loire by the Dutch to be used for distillation
Came to prominence after 1709 frost hurt red grapes
Loire
What are the characteristics of wines from Muscadet AOP?
Neutral, dry, high in acid
Loire
What are the characteristics of the Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP?
80% of Muscadet production
23 communes from Sevre and Maine Rivers
Complex soils including gneiss, silica, clay and granite
1/2 production is bottled sur lie
Loire
What are the qualifications to have sur lie on Muscadet?
Must originate from one of the three sub-appellations
Aged on lees over winter and bottled directly off the lees between March 1 and Nov 30 the following year
Loire
What are the characteristics of the Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP?
Most northerly appellation
Wines are leaner
Loire
What are the characteristics of the Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOP?
Newest Muscadet appellation - 1994
Wines struggle for quality
Loire
What is Hermine d’Or?
Unofficial labeling term for Muscadet that stresses terroir and ageability
Loire
What is Cru Communaux?
Proposed designation in 2001 for Muscadet, requiring wines from schist soils to spend 18 mo sur lie
Loire
What are the three sub-zones for Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP?
Clisson
Le Pallet
Gorges
Introduced in 2011 and follows Cru Communaux guidelines
Loire
What is Anjou-Saumur?
Region east of the Pays Nantais
Saumur is eastern sub-region of Anjou
Loire
How much of Anjou’s production is rose?
45% dominted by Grolleau
Loire
How much of Anjou’s plantings are Cab Franc?
1/3
Loire
What is Anjou AOP?
Umbrella AOP for the entiore region. Saumur wines may be bottles as Anjou AOP.
Loire
Describe Chenin Blanc from Anjou?
High acidity because of slow ripening
Astringent from high levels of extraction
Loire
What is Savinerres AOP?
100% Chenin Blanc, can be sec to doux
On the north bank of the Loire with steep southern exposure
Blue schist mixed with volcanic debris
Loire
What are Roche aux Moines AOP and Coulee de Serrant AOP?
Cru” appellations of Savinerres, with Coulee de Serrant being a monopole of biodynamic Nocholas Joly”
Loire
What are Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP
Sweet wine districts in Anjou for Chenin Blanc, with mandatory tries
Loire
What are the sub-appellations of Coteaux du Layon AOP?
Bonnezeaux AOP
Quarts de Chaume AOP (eligible for Grand Cru in 2010)
Loire
Describe Bonnezeaux AOP?
Souh facing aspect in Thourace
Protected from prevailing winds and has morning mists from the Layon
Loire
What is Quarts de Chaume AOP?
Souh facing aspect in Rochefort-sur-Loire
Protected from prevailing winds and has morning mists from the Layon
54 ha and a few hectares larger than Clos de Vougeot AOP
Loire
What are the villages of Coteaux du Layon AOP?
Beaulieu-sur-Layon
Rablay-sur-Layon
Rochefort-sur-Loire
Faye d’Anjou
St-Aubin de Luigne
St-Lambert du Lattay
Chaume 1er Cru
Loire
What are restrictions for the village wines of Coteaux du Layon?
Higher minimum must weights
Lower max yields
Min 68 g/L sugar
Loire
What is Anjou-Villages AOP?
Red wine only appellation with Cab Franc/Cab Sauvignon
Loire
What is Anjou-Villages Brissac AOP?
Covers 10 communes for the Coteaux de l’Aubance
Cab Franc/Cab Sauvignon
Loire
What is Saumur AOP?
Large AOP covering red, white, sparkling white and sparkling rose wines
Current whites are allowed up to 20% Chard/Sav Blanc
Reds allow Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Pineau d’Aunis
Still rose not allowed
Tuffeau limestone soils
Loire
What is Cremant de Loire AOP?
MT in Saumur where 1/2 of Saumur’s grapes go to
Can allow blending across Touraine and Anjou-Saumur
Loire
What is Saumur-Champigny AOP?
AOP with 8 villages in limestone and iron-rich and shale soil
Produces light and bring Cab Franc
Loire
What is Haut-Poitou AOP?
AOP 50 mi south of Chinon and achieved AOP status in 2011
Loire
What is Chinon AOP? What are the soils? What styles of wine are permitted?
AOPs for Cabernet Franc in Touraine
Up to 10% Cab Sauvignon
Tuffeau, clay and varennes (sandy alluvium) soil
Tuffeau is best for the Cab Franc
Roses permitted
Whites from Chenin Blanc
Loire
What is Bourgueil AOP?
AOP for Cab Franc in Touraine
Up to 10% Cab Sauvignon
Has some Tuffeau and varennes soils
Roses permitted
Loire
What is St-Nicholas-de-Bourgueil AOP?
AOP for Cab Franc in Touraine
Up to 10% Cab Sauvignon
Almost all on varennes soils
Roses permitted
Loire
What is Vouvray AOP?
Touraine’s largest and most important wine district
Chenin Blanc and Orbois is allowed but seldom used
Tuffeau limestone
Sweetness: sec, sec-tendre, demi-sec, molleux, liquereux
RS usually determined by vintage
Can make sparkling, which is often done in cooler years - MT and can be petillant or mousseux
Loire
What is Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP?
AOP formerly part of Vouvray
Very similar in style
Orbois is not permitted
Loire
What is Touraine AOP?
Overall AOP for Touraine
Sav Blanc and a max 20% Sav Gris (Although until 2016 Chenin, Sav Blanc, Orbois, Sav Gris and Chard may be used)
Red and rose varieties - Gamay, Groslot, Pineau d’Aunis, Cab Franc
Can have petillant and Mousseux
Loire
What is special about the Gamay in Touraine AOP?
Often sold locally as primeur in the style of Beaujolais noveau
Loire
What five villages are allowed to add their name to the Touraine AOP?
Mesland
Azay-le-Rideau
Amboise
Oisly
Chenonceaux
Loire
What is Touraine Noble-Joue AOP?
Created in 2001 for rose in Touraine
Blend of Pinot Meunier (Gris Meunier), Pinot Gris (Malvoise) and Pinot Noir
Loire
What is Coteaux du Loire AOP?
Tributary of the Loire to the north of Touraine
Reds and roses based on Pineau d’Aunis
Whites from Chenin Blanc
Loire
What is Jasnieres AOP?
Sub-appellation of Coteaux du Loir AOP for Chenin Blanc
Similar in style to Vouvray, but more green and herbacious
Loire
What is Coteaux du Vendomois AOP?
Newer appellation northeast of Coteaux du Loir specializing in dry roses from Pineau d’Aunis
Loire
What are Cheverny AOP and Cour-Cheverny AOP?
AOPs on Eastern edge of Touraine
Cheverny light reds are PN and Gamay based, whites from Sav Blanc
Romorantin is bottled as Cour Cheverny
Loire
What is Valencay AOP?
AOP south of Touraine for both wines and goat’s milk cheese
Predominantly Sav Blanc
Reds and roses based on Gamay, Pinot Noir and Cot
Loire
What is the climate of the Central Vineyards?
Continental with cold winters, short summers and brisk days during harvest
Frost danger at budbreak
Loire
What is Sancerre AOP?
AOP in the Central Vineyards
Sav Blanc that is steely, herbaceous and mineraly
Silex (flint-laden), terres blanches (Kimmeridgian clay) and caillotes (stony, fossil laden soil) soils
Pinot Noir may be vinified as Sancerre Rouge or Rose
Loire
What is Pouilly-Fume AOP?
AOP in the Central Vineyards
Sav Blanc that is steely, herbaceous and mineraly
Loire
What is Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP?
AOP with the same area as Pouilly-Fume AOP
Whites from Chasselas
Loire
What is Mentou-Salon AOP?
Designation for Sav Blanc and Pinot Noir in the Central Vineyads
Loire
What is Reuilly AOP?
AOP in Central Vineyards
Produces varietal Sav Blanc and Pinot Noir
Roses from Pinot Gris
Loire
What is Quincy AOP?
White only AOP in the Central Vineyards with Sav Blanc and a max 10% Sav Gris
Second only after Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Loire
What is Coteaux du Giennois AOP?
AOP in Central Vineyards producing varietal Sauvignon Blanc
Reds and Roses from Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir
Loire
What is the significance of Saumur?
Center of Loire’s sparkling wine production
Loire
What is Orleans AOP?
AOP in the Central Vineyards elevated in 2006
R/W/R from large proportion of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay
Loire
What is Orleans-Cleary AOP?
AOP in the Central Vineyards
Reds from Cab Franc