Loire Valley Flashcards

1
Q

How many sparkling wine appellations are in Loire?

A

7 in total - only three will be studied in WSET dip

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2
Q

What are the three Loire appellations covered in WSET for sparkling wines

A

Cremant de Loire, sparkling Vouvray, and sparkling Saumur

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3
Q

describe the amount of production of Cremant de Loire

A

it is about equal to sparkling Vouvray and sparkling Saumur combined

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4
Q

How much sparkling wine in Loire account for total wine production?

A

about 13%

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5
Q

Where is production centered for Cremant de Loire and sparkling Saumur?

A

Saumur

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6
Q

How is Champagne connected to Cremant de Loire and sparkling Saumur?

A

major companies are owned by Champagne houses
ex: Bouvet-Ladubay owned by Taittinger
Gratien & Meyer owned by Champagne Alfred Gratien
Langlois-Chateau majority owned by Bollinger

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7
Q

Where were the first sparkling wine cellars in the Loire based and why?

A

around Saumur due to the availability of caves suitable for aging wines

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8
Q

How much of Cremant de Loire is white?

A

90%

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9
Q

General SAT for Cremant de Loire

A

white (chenin blanc dominant)
med intensity apple and citrus flavors
light autolytic toasty notes
wines with two or 3 years of age can develop honeyed aromas
high acidity
most are brut in style (demi sec also made)
mid priced with a few premium prices

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10
Q

How much has vineyard area declared for Cremant production increased between 2012-2017

A

2012 = 1600
2017 = 2600

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11
Q

How much has vineyard area declared for Cremant production increased between 2012-2017

A

2012 = 1600
2017 = 2600

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12
Q

How many producers are in Cremant de Loire?

A

600

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13
Q

Where are the only places fruit for Cremant de Loire are grown?

A

in the middle of Loire districts of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine only

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14
Q

What helps to moderate the temperature in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine?

A

200km stretch of the River Loire and its tributaries

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15
Q

What zone is the source of most of the fruit for Crement

A

in the zone south and south-west of Saumur

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16
Q

What does the Atlantic Ocean provide for Loire Valley

A

it extends its cool mild influence to just east of Tours in the center of Touraine (most of area delimited for Cremant de Loire appellation)

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17
Q

What is the benefit of the cool climate in Loire Valley

A

helps to produce grapes with low potential alcohol and high acidity levels

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18
Q

what is a disadvantage of the climate in Loire Valley?

A

fungal diseases and ultimately rain (during flowering and at harvest) can be a problem.

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19
Q

what type of soil is found in Loire Valley?

A

there is a wide range: clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel, and tuff.
Anjou = schist and limestone
Touraine = chalk

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20
Q

What is important for a good property in Loire Valley

A

good drainage, water retention characteristics of limestone elements

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21
Q

What are ideal for maturation chambers for lees aging sparkling wines and wihy?

A

caves made from underlying tuff that has been excavated for building, as there is little fluctuation in the temperature and humidity.

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22
Q

What are the best-exposed sites in Loire Valley used for?

A

still wines as they need a greater level of ripeness

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23
Q

What type of sites are grapes used for sparkling wines typically found in Loire Valley

A

less exposed sites with higher proportion of clay, however excessive clay are not classified within the appellation (too cold and lack drainage)

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24
Q

What type of rootstock are used in Loire Valley

A

due to high lime content Fercal and Riperia Glorie de Montpellier (high tolerance to lime)

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25
Q

What varieties can Cremant de Loire be made from?

A

common varieties of the region: Chenin Blanc (major part of most wines), Cab franc, Can Sauv, Groileau Noir and Gris, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

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26
Q

what is the max allowed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pineau d’Aunis allowed in a Cremant de Loire blend? why?

A

30%
aromatic profile not suited for traditional method

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27
Q

How are vines pruned in Cremant de Loire?

A

to a greater crop load than for still wines as the base wines do not require high levels of fruit concentration

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28
Q

what is the max yield for Cremant de Loire?

A

74 hl/ha

29
Q

when do producers declare to make Cremant in Loire?

A

July

30
Q

what is the most common type of press used for Cremant de Loire

A

pneumatic press to produce juice with low level of phenolics

31
Q

what are base wines for Cremant de Loire fermented typically fermented in and why?

A

stainless steele tanks as oak flavors are not desired
(some top cuvees are fermented in oak)

32
Q

Do producers use malolactic conversion?

A

the practice varies with some putting the wine through full or partial while others avoid it.

33
Q

why are some wines from different regions within the cremant de Loire appellation often blended before 2nd fermentation?

A

to maintain consistency esp in larger brands

34
Q

Describe the time on lees for Cremant de Loire wines

A

it varies depending from the min of 9 months (primary fruit main flavor) to 2 yrs (more autolytic style)

35
Q

When is the use of reserve wine more common in Cremant de Loire?

A

more common in premium-priced bottles less in mid priced

36
Q

What is a new top tier sparkling Loire category that was introduced in 2018?

A

Prestige de Loire

37
Q

What was the aim of Prestige de Loire?

A

to establish the wine at a min price of 10 euros in France

38
Q

What appellation does Prestige de Loire apply to?

A

Cremant de Loire, Anjou, Saumur and Vouvray appellations

39
Q

What style must Prestige de Loire wines be made?

A

white wines only
only in brut (including brut nature and extra brut)

40
Q

What varietals are allowed in Prestige de Loire?

A

Chenin Blanc, Cab Franc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir - single or blended

41
Q

How many months on the lees is required for Prestige de Loire

A

min 24 months

42
Q

What are the rules around sustainability for Prestige de Loire wines?

A

they much achieve a set of environmental standard with the aim at sustainable viticulture within 5 yrs

43
Q

What do Prestige wines have to be in terms of NV or vintage?

A

they have to be vintage dated

44
Q

How is Cremant de Loire production divided?

A

19 merchant houses
10 co-operatives
400 producers

45
Q

How many large houses in Cremant de Loire account for 80% of production? Name some examples

A

9 - Ackerman, Bouvet-Ladubay, Gratien & Meyer, Veuve-Amiot, and Langlois-Chateau

46
Q

What do the larger houses in Cremant de Loire make use of in terms of fruit?

A

both their own fruit and fruit bought in from growers

47
Q

how does buying grapes instead of their must assist in wine making for Cremant de Loire?

A

the health of the grapes can be checked and then pressed according to requirements

48
Q

What are the main export markets for Cremant de Loire?

A

Germany, USA and UK

49
Q

How much sparkling wine from Loire is sold in france?

A

about 1/2

50
Q

How are sparkling wines of Saumur and Vouvray like Cremant de Loire?

A

being made by 2nd fermentation in the bottle
min of 12 mths between tirage and release
more sparkling wine made than still (60:40)
Deep cellars carved from tuff are a feature of both areas and are ideal for lees aging in bottle

51
Q

What is an option in both Vouvray and Saumur that allows for other options such as still white wines

A

mousseux

52
Q

What is the vineyard area for Saumur Mousseux

A

1300 ha

53
Q

What are the varieties that can be used for Saumur Mousseux?

A

min 60% Chenin Blanc and may contain max of 10% Sauvignon Blanc

54
Q

What are the varieties that can be used for Rose’s in Saumur Mousseux

A

min of 60% Cab franc and may contain max of 10% Sauvignon Blanc

55
Q

Is hand harvest or mechanical harvest used in Saumur Mousseux?

A

mechanical is allowed

56
Q

How much juice can be extracted in Saumur Mousseux?

A

100 litres from 130 kilos more than Cremant de Loire

57
Q

What is the dominant varietal in Vouvray Mousseux?

A

Chenin Blanc - can be 100%, but must make up majority of the blend

58
Q

What is the only other grape variety allowed in Vouvray Mousseux besides Chenin Blanc?

A

Orbois - local variety to Loire - must be minority of the blend

59
Q

What is the vineyard area in Vouvray Mousseux

A

around 1200 ha

60
Q

what are the production rules around Vouvray Mousseux?

A

broadly similar to Saumur

61
Q

what is Vouvray Petillant?

A

lightly sparkling wine that there is a tiny production of in Vouvray Mousseux

62
Q

what is a growing fashion in Vouvray Mousseux

A

Pet Nat

63
Q

How are vines pruned in both Saumur and Vouvray AOCs?

A

to allow a greater crop load (20% greater for sparkling than for still) as base wines do not need high levels of fruit concentration

64
Q

What are the max yields in both Saumur?

A

67 hl/ha

65
Q

What are the max yields in both Vouvray?

A

65 hl/ha

66
Q

What is common for winemakers in Vouvray and Saumur to do with 2nd fermentation?

A

entrust to a specialist who can carry out the bottling, the 2nd fermentation, lees aging and disgorgement and then return to the producer for labelling and distribution

67
Q

Who is a best know specialist in Saint Martin ie Beau (Cher Valley) that winemakers send their base wines to

A

Berger Elaborateur

68
Q

Which production entities in Vouvray and Saumur carry out all stages of production in house?

A

sparkling wine houses and co-operatives