08 Intro to Loire Valley

Question 1

Loire Regions

Answer 1

East to West
- Pays Nantais (close to Atlantic coast line)
- Anjou-Saumur
- Touraine
- Central Vineyards (near central france)

Climate ranges from Maritime (Pays Nantais) to Continental (Central Vineyards)

Question 2

Loire River

Answer 2

• Massif Central
• 629 mi to atlantic ocean
• taxes paid based on river traveled, so only very expensive items every shipped a long way (e.g., brandy)

Question 3

Loire: Pays Nantais Stats

Answer 3

• Location: Atlantic coast
• Climate: Cool, wet Maritime
  –> Lots of rain, so want short growing cycles
• Soils: Gravel & Sand over schist / granite
  –> no deep root systems, but lots of rain
• Grape: Melon B
• Vinification: Sur lie aging (to add richness)
  –> Wines are refreshing & crisp
• Appellations: Muscadet AOP, Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine AOP

Question 4

Loire: Anjou-Saumur Stats

Answer 4

• Location: East of Pays Nantis
• Climate: Maritime / Continental, humid
• Grape: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc
• Anjous Soil: Schist
• Saumur soil: Limestone

Question 5

Anjou-Saumur Appellations

Answer 5

• Anjou-Villages AOP
• Saumur AOP
• Saumur-Champigny AOP
• Savennières AOP

Question 6

Anjou-Villages AOP Stats

Answer 6

• Best sites: warmest, longest growign season with best exposure on south-facing hill
• Grape: Cabernet Franc –> ripens well on schist
• Vinification: Dry red wines

Question 7

Saumur AOP Stats

Answer 7

• Grape: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc
• Vinification: Sparkling wines, traditional method

Question 8

Saumur-Champigny AOP Stats

Answer 8

• Grape: Cabernet Franc –> can ripen b/c warm
  –> most intense style of CF
• Vinification: dry red wines

Question 9

Savennières AOP Stats

Answer 9

• North of Loire River
• Steep, south-facing hill sides
• 100% Chenin Blanc
• Complex wines, treated almost like red wines, can age for a very long wine

Question 10

BonnezeauxAOP& Quarts-de-ChaumeAOP

Answer 10

• Location: South of Loire River & on bank of Layon River
• Climate: Humid
• Grape: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Viticulture: Late harvest, botrytis-affected
• Vinification: sweet white wines

Question 11

Touraine

Answer 11

• Location: East of Anjou-Saumur
• Climate: continental, less maritime with vineyards that are inland toward the east
• Grapes: Chenin Blanc & Cabernet Franc

Question 12

Touraine Appleations

Answer 12

Chinon AOP
- Cabernet Franc (dry red wine)
- Soil: Tuffeau
- South of Loire River

Bourgueil AOP
- Cabernet Franc (dry red wine)
- Soil: Tuffeau
- North of Loire River

Vouvray AOP
- Chenin Blanc
- Sparkling wine, Dry, off-dry, sweet wine (Moelleux)
- Fruit, flowers, minerality, acidity to balance sugar
- Soil: Tuffeau
- North of Loire River

Question 13

Central Vineyards Stats

Answer 13

• Location: East of Touraine, center of France
• Climate: Continental
• Soils: Silex (flint), limestone, kimmeridgian clay
• Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
  –> These grapes can ripen in cool climates, and so can easily ripen here

Question 14

Central Vineyard appeliations

Answer 14

Sancerre AOP
- Location: Western bank of Loire River
- Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir (dry red and white wines)

Pouilly-Fumé
- Location: Eastern bank of Loire River
- Sauvignon Blanc (dry white wine only)