Week 1b - Loire Valley

Question 1

Longest river in France:

Answer 1

Loire

Question 2

Loire climate:

Answer 2

1. Generally cool
2. Some mesoclimate variation as you move inland

Question 3

Loire wine styles:

Answer 3

1. Predominantly white
2. Also sparkling and dessert
3. All three colours

Question 4

3 most important grapes in the Loire:

Answer 4

Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blank
Cabernet Franc

Question 5

How are Loire wines labeled?

Answer 5

By region

Question 6

Strong community of natural and organic wine makers?

Answer 6

Yes. Duh.

Question 7

Two red-wine AOP’s in Anjou Saumur

Answer 7

1. Saumur (black)
2. Saumur Champigny (red)

Question 8

Grand crus in Loire?

Answer 8

No.
Highly acclaimed areas in each major appellation

Question 9

Two general appellations that cover all of the Loire:

Answer 9

1. Crémant de Loire (AOP in 1975)
2. Rosé de Loire (AOP in 1974)

Question 10

Describe a Crémant de Loire (4 pts)

Answer 10

1. White and rosé
2. Traditional method
3. 12 months ageing, 9 months min on lees
4. CB / Char / Arbois / CF / Groll / PN / Pineau d’Aunis

Question 11

Describe a Rosé de Loire (3 pts)

Answer 11

1. Dry, still rosé
2. No prescribed ageing requirements
3. Grolleau / CF /CS / PN / Gam / Pineau d’Aunis

Question 12

Pays Nantais climate:
(3 pts)

Answer 12

1. Cool
2. Maritime
3. Wet

Question 13

Pays Nantais main grape:

Answer 13

Melon Blanc

Question 14

Pays Nantais: what is essential to wine-making style?

Answer 14

Lees contact

Question 15

Three appellations in the Pays Nantais that allow extended ageing on lees:

Answer 15

1. Muscadet Côte de Grandlieu
2. Muscadet Côteaux de la Loire
3. Muscade Sèvre et Main

Question 16

Number of ‘cru’ or sub zones that may be on label in Muscadet Sèvre et Main

Answer 16

7

Question 17

Three crus in Sèvre et Main (highlighted)

Answer 17

1. Clisson
2. Gorges
3. Le Pallet

Question 18

3 secondary AOP’s in Pay Nantais:

Answer 18

1. Gros Plant du Pays Nantais (purple outline)
2. Fief Vendeens (green)
3. Coteaux d’Ancenis (black outline)

Question 19

Gros Plant du Pays Nantais grape/wines:

Answer 19

Folle Blanche based wines

Purple outline

Question 20

Synonym of Folle Blanche:

Answer 20

Piquepoul

Question 21

Fief Vendeens: main grapes

Answer 21

CB/SB/Grolleau
PN/CF/Gamay
Others

Green outline

Question 22

Coteaux d’Ancenis grapes and wines:

Answer 22

Pinot Gris based wines
Gamay: reds and rosés

Black outline

Question 23

Three core white-wine AOP’s in Anjou-Saumur:

Answer 23

1. Savennières - black outline
2. Savennières Roches aux Moines (now AOP)
3. Coulée de Serrant (now AOP)

Question 24

Four sweet-wine AOP’s in Anjou-Saumur:

Answer 24

1. Coteaux du Layon - white
2. Bonnezeaux - black
3. Quarts du Charme Grande Cru - red
4. Coteaux de l’Aubance - purple

Question 25

Two red-wine AOP’s in Anjou-Saumur:

Answer 25

1. Saumur -thin red
2. Saumur Champigny - thick red

Question 26

.

Question 27

Four red-wine-only AOP’s in Anjou-Saumur

Answer 27

1. Saumur
2. Saumur Champigny
3. Anjou Village
4. Anjou Village Brissac

Question 28

Two rosé only AOP’s in Anjou-Saumur

Answer 28

1. Cabernet d’Anjou
2. Rosé d’Anjou

Question 29

Three white-wine-only core AOP’s of Touraine:

Answer 29

1. Vouvray
2. Montlouis-sur-Loire
3. Cour-Cheverny (Romorantin only)

Question 30

Map of Anjou / Saumur and Touraine side by side…

Answer 30

Easy to confuse the AOP’s in each…