The Loire Flashcards
Name some of the best recent vintages from the Loire.
1989*** 1990*** 1995*** 2005*** 2010 2014***
What styles of wine are made in the Loire?
Nearly all styles - it is the most diverse wine region in France.
Describe the geographical layout of the Loire.
It is centered on the Loire river, which begins inland about 200 miles north of Bordeaux in the Massif Central. After flowing North for 300 miles, it turns west and flows another 300 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. This east-west flowing portion is where the most important wine regions are, and it is divided into three main parts:
The Upper Loire (Centre)
The Middle Loire (Anjou-Saumur, Tauraine)
The Lower Loire (Pays Nantais)
What is a common characteristic of Loire wines?
Zesty freshness, they are typically lighter in style.
Describe the general climate of the Loire, along with its pros and cons.
Like Champagne, the Loire is at the limit of temperatures at which grapes can ripen.
Pros: this cool climate produces wines with precise acidity, that are elegant and fresh.
Cons: grapes often do not flower until June 1st, which can be dangerous - especially in rainy years.
What is notable about the ageability of Loire wines?
Both the reds and whites are known to be vibrant and fresh in their youth, but then to undergo a “dumb phase” between 2-5 years where flavors are drastically toned down.
Most finer wines come out of this period with their full palate of flavors and can continue to age well into 20 years.
How many white grapes are allowed in the Loire?
What are the main 2?
BONUS: What are the others?
6.
The main two:
- Chenin Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc
Plus:
- Melon de Bourgogne
….and the minor grapes:
- Arbois
- Chardonnay
- Folle Blanche
How many red grapes are allowed in the Loire?
What is the main grape?
BONUS: What are the others?
8.
The major grape:
- Cabernet Franc
Plus:
- Pinot Noir
- Gamay
- Grolleau
….and the minor grapes:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cot (Malbec)
- Pinot Meunier
- Pineau d’Aunis
List the 3 main regions of the Upper Loire from east to west.
Pouilly-Fume
Sancerre
Menetou-Salon
List the 7 main AOPs of the Middle Loire.
Savennieres Quarts de Chaume Coteaux du Layon Roses d'Anjou Vouvray Chinon Bourgeil
What is the main wine of the Lower Loire?
Muscadet
Describe the soil of Sancerre.
There are many fault lines in Sancerre, which create varied soils that include:
Limestones Terres Blanches (chalk on top of clay) Les Caillotes (gravel mixed with limestone) Silex (flint)
Name 3 great vineyards from Sancerre.
Le Grand Chemarin
Chene Marchand
Clos de la Poussie
What kind of wine is made in Sancerre?
Mostly white, but also red and rose made from Pinot Noir with some Gamay.
Describe the basic geography of the Upper Loire.
AKA the Central Vineyards
It is the easternmost part of the winemaking portion of the Loire, situated just before the river turns from flowing North to flowing West.
Poully-Fume is east of the Loire, with Sancerre across the river and Menetou-Salon just west of Sancerre.
Describe the basic geography of the Middle Loire.
It is the large and widely varied portion of the Loire Valley, divided into Touraine and Anjou-Saumur.
Anjou-Saumur is further west, situated between the Loire to the north and one of its tributaries the Layon River to the south.
The Touraine surrounds the city of Tours, and is the point where the climate shifts from the milder western Loire to a region of hot summers and extremely cold winters.
List the main wines of Touraine.
Chinon
Bourgeil
Vouvray
List the main wines of Anjou-Saumur
Savennieres
Quarts de Chaume
Coteaux du Layon
Roses d’Anjou
Name 2 great producers of Savennieres
Chateau de Chamboureau
Domaine du Closel
(and the famous, single property appelation wine of…)
Clos de la Coulee de Serrant
What kind of wines are made in Anjou-Saumur?
Medium sweet or fully sweet whites in: Quarts de Chaume Bonnezeaux Coteaux du Layon Coteaux de l'Aubance
And rose, usually with a touch of RS
What kind of wines are made in Touraine?
Red, white, and rose.
The 3 most famous red wine appellations of the Loire are here (Chinon, Bourgueil, St.-Nicolas-de-Bourguel), but so are white wine appellations Vouvray and Montlouis.
What is the leading wine of the Loire? (by volume)
Muscadet
What is the grape used in Muscadet?
Melon de Bourgogne
Describe the basic geography of the Lower Loire.
The westernmost part of the Loire Valley, it is centered around the city of Nantes and is right next to the Atlantic.
Where is the best muscadet made?
Mescadet de Sevre-et-Maine
Name two great producers of Chinon.
Domaine de la Perriere
Chateau de la Grille
Name a great producer of Vouvray.
Peter Hahn “Le Clos de la Meslerie”
Name a great producer of Sancerre.
Domaine Pelle “La Croix au Garde”
Name a great producer of Pouilly-Fume.
Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau “Silex”
Name a great producer of Savennieres.
Chateau Soucherie
Clos de la Coulee de Serrant
Name a great producer of Muscadet.
Chateau de la Cassemichere “Clos du Bon Cure” (Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine)
What is the name of the only region of the lower Loire?
Pays Nantais
How are Sur Lie Muscadets made?
They are aged on their lees over the winter and then bottled directly off the fine lees - without filtration.
Name the 4 AOPs that produce Muscadet.
Muscadet AOP
Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
What are the red grapes of Pouilly-Fume?
There are none - only dry whites are made there.
What are the grapes of Sancerre?
Sancerre Blanc - 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Sancerre Rouge - 100% Pinot Noir
What kind of wine is made in Vouvray?
Sparkling
Dry
Off-Dry
Sweet (Moelleux)
All from 100% Chenin Blanc
What grapes are used in Saumur AOP?
What is the region well-known for?
Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc
Saumur AOP is well-known for chenin-based sparkling wines
Which three AOPs of the Loire are known for sweet wines made from Chenin Blanc?
Vouvray
Quarts-de-Chaume
Bonnezeaux
What is tuffeau and where is it found?
It is a chalky or sandy limestone, local to the Loire - namely in Touraine.
