The Loire Flashcards
How is Cabernet Franc from Saumur sometimes drunk, and why?
Chilled - it has light body and low tannins
What are the 4 sub-regions of the Loire Valley, from the coast to inland?
- Nantais
- Anjou-Saumur
- Touraine
- The Central Vineyards
What is the regional generic appellation for the whole of the Loire?
There isn’t one, but is does have an IGP (Val de Loire IGP)
Where is Rosé de Loire made?
Anjou
What is the highest quality appellation for rosé in Anjou-Saumur?
Cabernet d’Anjou
Which appellation makes traditional method sparkling Chenin Blanc?
Saumur
In what style is Cabernet d’Anjou made?
Medium-sweet
Is there much vintage variation in the Loire?
Yes
What is Anjou-Saumur’s centre of production for Cabernet Franc?
Saumur-Champigny
In which 2 Loire sub-regions are the best Chenin Blancs made?
Touraine and Anjou-Saumur
Which appellation produces full-bodied Chenin Blanc in a dry style?
Savennières
What is the climate of the Loire?
Overall cool.
Maritime towards Nantais, and continental towards the Central Vineyards
Which appellation makes moderately priced Sauvignon Blanc in the style of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé?
Menetou-Salon
Where is the majority of Sauvignon Blanc produced in the Loire?
Touraine
Name 3 aromas which aged Loire Chenin Blancs might acquire.
Honey, Toast, Hay
What is added to dry wines in Savennières: late-harvested grapes, or grapes affected by noble rot?
Late-harvest Chenin Blanc adds body and complexity
From which 2 grapes is Cabernet d’Anjou made?
Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
Which Loire wine:
- High acidity
- Dry
- Green Apple
- Wet Stone
- Not suitable for ageing
Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre / Pouilly-Fumé
What are the 2 most prestigious appellations for Sauvignon Blanc in the Loire?
In which sub-region are they?
- Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé
- The Central Vineyards
What is Touraine’s main soil type?
Clay
What are the 2 main appellations in Anjou-Saumur for white wines?
1) Savennières
2) Coteaux de Layon
What are the 3 key white varieties of the Loire Valley?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chenin Blanc
- Melon Blanc
What is the main variety for Rosé d’Anjou?
Grolleau
What sort of wines are made in Coteaux de Layon?
Sweet wines from botrytised Chenin Blanc
What choices might be made in the winery during the production of Loire Sauvignon Blanc?
(4 points)
1) Protective winemaking
2) Oak fermentation/maturation
3) Lees ageing
4) MLF
Why is picking Chenin Blanc very labour-intensive in the Loire?
The grapes ripen at different times within the same bunch, so I requires several passes through the vineyard to pick grapes at the desired ripeness
In which 2 appellations in Touraine is Cabernet Franc grown?
1) Chinon
2) Bourgueil
What 2 methods of production are used to make Loire rosé?
1) Direct pressing
2) Short maceration on the skins
Why can Loire Chenin Blanc have the full range of sweetness styles?
There are different degrees of ripeness at the time of picking
What 3 attributes do the best vineyard sites in the Loire share?
1) Southerly aspect
2) Mid-slope
3) Facing the river
Where is Crémant de Loire production focused?
Saumur
Cabernet Franc is grown in 2 different soil types in Touraine. What sort of soil produces:
1) Light, fruity, early drinking
2) Full-bodied, tannic
1) Sandy soil
2) Limestone and clay
What is the best appellation in Nantais for Melon Blanc?
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine
What 2 natural factors give Vouvray Chenin Blanc a light to medium body with fresh and floral notes?
1) Cool climate
2) Clay soil
What sort of Chenin Blanc grapes will be used for:
1) Sparkling
2) Sweet
1) Barely ripe grapes
2) Shrivelled in sun / affected by noble rot
What is the most important black grape variety in the Loire?
Cabernet Franc
What is the maximum ABV permitted for any Muscadet from the Loire?
12% ABV
What is the soil type in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé?
Well-drained chalk and stone
Where are the appellations of:
1) Quarts de Chaume
2) Bonnezeaux
and what do they produce?
1) Coteaux de Layon
2) Anjou-Saumur
- World-class sweet wines
What is white Touraine?
Generic, simple, fruity Sauvignon Blanc
Which variety must be used to make Sancerre Rosé?
Pinot Noir
Which Nantais wine is bottled during the spring after harvest?
Why?
- Muscadet (Sèvre et Maine) Sur Lie
- It spends the winter on its lees for richer texture
For roughly how long can dry and sweet Chenin Blancs age?
Decades
Of what must there be a minimum in a Rosé de Loire blend?
30% Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon
In which appellation are:
- The village of Chavignol
- The vineyard of Les Monts Damnés
Sancerre
What keeps Anjou warm and dry in spite of its proximity to the ocean?
The Mauges Hills
Which Loire wine:
- Dry
- Medium alcohol
- High acidity
- Light body
- Green fruit
Muscadet
What is much of the soil like in Anjou?
Stony
When might MLF be encouraged in a Loire Sauvignon Blanc?
To lower acidity in grapes from a cool vintage
What is Touraine’s climate like in comparison with Anjou-Saumur’s?
Touraine is cooler and wetter
What are 2 other names for Melon Blanc?
1) Melon de Bourgogne
2) Muscadet
Other than Anjou-Saumur, where can Rosé de Loire be produced?
Touraine
Which variety’s grapes ripen at different rates within the same bunch?
Chenin Blanc
What are the 3 main black grape varieties in the Loire Valley?
- Cabernet Franc
- Gamay
- Pinot Noir
Why is Melon Blanc suitable for the cool climate of Nantais?
2 points
1) Frost resistant
2) Early ripening
What issue does high rainfall cause in the Loire?
Fungal disease
