The Loire Valley Flashcards
What is the river that runs through the Loire Valley?
The Loire river
What is unique about the Loire river?
It is the longest river in France
Where does the Loire River originate?
In southern France in the Massif Central. Then travels 629 miles north and west to the Atlantic Ocean
Are the wines grown along the Loire’s length similar?
No, there are many differences between wines grown up river and down river
Climatic, wine styles, grape varieties and growing conditions
Where is the Loire region located?
Central Western France, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
From west to east, what are the main sub-regions of the Loire?
Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards
Where is Pays Nantais located?
Western Loire, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
What is the climate in Pays Nantais?
Cool and wet maritime
Affected by proximity to the Atlantic
What are the soils of Pays Nantais?
Sand & gravel over schist & granite
What grapes are grown in Pays Nantais?
Melon de Bourgogne
What vinification techniques are used in Pays Nantais?
Sur Lie aging
Adding complexity and richness to the finished wine
What are the appellations of Pays Nantais?
Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP
What is the main city in Pays Nantais?
Nantes
What are the two rivers that feed into the Loire in Pays Nantais?
La Sevre Nantaise
La Maine
Where is Anjou-Saumur located?
East of Pays Nantais, along the Loire river
What is the climate in Anjou-Saumur?
Martime/continental
The climate shifts as you go further east/up river. Shifting from maritime to continental)
It remains very humid in this region
What are the main towns in Anjou-Saumur?
Angers
Saumur
What are the soils of Anjou-Saumur?
The soils shift from granite based to limestone based between the towns of Angers and Saumur
What grapes are grown in Anjou-Saumur?
Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc
What are the appellations of Anjou-Saumur?
Anjou-Villages AOP
Saumur AOP
Savennieres AOP
Bonnezeaux AOP
Quarts-de-Chaume AOP
What kinds of wines are produced in Anjou-Villages AOP?
Dry reds using Cabernet Franc
What kinds of wines are produced in Saumur AOP?
Sparkling wines using Chenin Blanc
Dry reds using Cabernet Franc
What wines is Saumur AOP famous for?
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc
What is the style that is the largest percentage of Saumur’s production?
Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc
What method is used to make sparkling wines in Saumur?
Methode classique
What is a famous Chateau in Saumur?
Chateau de Saumur
Where is Saumur AOP located?
On the eastern end of Anjou-Saumur sub-region
Mostly south of the Loire
What kinds of wines are made in Savennieres AOP?
Dry white wines made from 100% Chenin Blanc
Where is Savennieres AOP located?
On the western end of Anjou-Saumur, on the north bank of the Loire river, southwest of the town of Angers
What topographical feature is in Savennieres?
Steep, south-facing hillsides
What kinds of wines are produced in Bonnezeaux AOP?
Sweet white wines made from Chenin Blanc
What viticultural techniques are used in Bonneazeaux AOP?
Late-harvest, botrytis-affected grapes are used
Where is Bonnezeaux AOP located?
In central Anjou-Saumur, south of the Loire River
On the bank of the Layon river
What is the climate of Bonnezeaux AOP?
Humid
maritime/continental
What kinds of wines are produced in Quarts-de-Chaume AOP?
Sweet white wines made from Chenin Blanc
What viticultural techniques are used in Quarts-de-Chaume AOP?
Late-harvest, botrytis-affected grapes are used
Where is Quarts-de-Chaume AOP located?
In western Anjou-Saumur, south of the Loire River
On the bank of the Layon river
What is the climate of Quarts-de-Chaume AOP?
Humid
maritime/continental
Where is Touraine located?
East of Anjou-Saumur, along the Loire river
What is the climate in Touraine?
Continental
Less maritime influence than Pays Nantais or Anjou-Saumur
What are the soils in Touraine?
Tuffeau (soft & limestone-based)
What grape varieties are used in Touraine?
Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc
What are the main appellations in Touraine?
Chinon AOP
Bourgueil AOP
Vouvray AOP
What is the main city of Touraine?
Tours
What kinds of wines are made in Chinon AOP?
Dry red wines made from Cabernet Franc
Where is Chinon AOP located?
On the western end of Touraine, south of the Loire river
What kinds of wines are made in Bourgueil AOP?
Dry red wines made from Cabernet Franc
Where is Bourgueil AOP located?
On the western end of Touraine, north of the Loire river
What kinds of wines are made in Vouvray AOP?
White wines of all varieties made from 100% chenin blanc
What kinds of white wines are made in Vouvray?
Sparkling wines
Dry wines
Sweet wines (moelleux)
Off-dry wines
What is the soil in Vouvray?
Tuffeau (soft & limestone-based)
Where is Vouvray located?
In central Touraine, north of the Loire river
Where are the Central Vineyards located?
East of Touraine in the center of France
On the Loire river
What is the climate in the Central Vineyards?
Continental
What is the soil in the Central Vineyards?
A mix of silex (flint), limestone, and Kimmeridgian clay
What grape varieties are grown in the Central Vineyards?
Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir
What wine styles are produced in the Central Vineyards?
Dry red and white wines
What are the main appellations of the Central Vineyards?
Sancerre AOP
Pouilly-Fume AOP
What are the major cities in Central Vineyards?
Orleans
Sancerre
Pouilly-sur-Loire
What kinds of wines are produced in Pouilly-Fume?
Dry white wines made from Sauv Blanc
Where is Pouilly-Fume located?
In the eastern Central Vineyards region
On the eastern bank of the Loire
What kinds of wines are produced in Sancerre?
Dry red and white wines made from Sauv Blanc and Pinot Noir
Where is Sancerre located?
In the eastern Central Vineyards region
On the western bank of the Loire
What percent of water in France does the Loire drain?
20%
How important was the Loire to trade?
It was the 2nd largest trading river in France behind the Bordeaux regions (Gironde estuary)
What percents of wine styles are in the Loire?
50% dry white wine
25% rose wine
1/5th red wine
the balance is sparkling and sweet wine
How does the soil shift going from west to east in the Loire?
On the west its primrily granite/schist under gravel and sand. It drains well
Then moving east it shifts to having more limestone (entering the Paris Basin geological area)
Then to tuffeau in Touraine
And finally limestone and kimmeridgian clay in Central Vineyards
Why, traditionally, were wines from Tours and the central/upper Loire the most expensive?
Because it took the longest and cost the most to ship them down the Loire to the Atlantic
What is Nantes known for?
Its seafood and its history around being an important trading center for France
When is harvest in Pay Nantais?
September, before October rains
Why are the wines in Pays Nantais made with such acidity?
Because the growing season is shortened due to October rains, requiring grapes to be picked before fully ripening.
This creates high-acid wines
What does sur lie aging do to Muscadet?
Adds richness and complexity to what is normally a thin and acidic wine
How long is sur lie aging in muscadet?
6-12 months
What famous sauce has its origins in Pays Nantais?
Buerre Blanc white sauce
What is the most important appellation in Pays Nantais and why?
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine.
It accounts for 90% of all wine labeled as muscadet.
It is the largest white wine producing appellation in the Loire Valley
What is unique about Anjou-Saumur in terms of soil and geology?
There is a distinct change between Angers and Saumur in the soil type. It shifts dramatically from granite-based to limestone based
When is harvest in Anjou-Saumur?
October, there is not as much rain as there is in Pays Nantais
What characteristics does Savennieres have?
It is richer and somewhat savory
What are the red wine appellations in Touraine?
Chinon and Bourgueil
Are there distinct differences between Chinon and Bourgueil?
No, they are very similar in terms of their wine styles
What are the characteristics of Vouvray?
Finesse, elegance, fragarence
High levels of acidity
How do Sancerre and Pouilly Fume differ?
Pouilly Fume only makes whites wines from Sauv Blanc, whereas Sancerre also makes reds and roses from pinot noir
