The Loire Valley(France)

Question 1

The Loire Valley can be loosely grouped into four sub-regions. From east to west, what are they?
These are not appellations themselves and , furthermore, unlike most other French regions there is no regional generic appellations for the whole of the Loire.

Answer 1

They are the Central Vinyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur and Nantais.

Question 2

Overall the climate is cool but the Central Vinyards, which are well inland, have a ______1_____climate whereas the Nantais region, with its coastal location, experiences a _____2____climate.

Answer 2

1=continental

2=maritime

Question 3

The vineyards of Anjou are slightly ____1____ and ____2____ than might be expected given their proximity to the ocean. They are protected by the Mauges hills and certain vineyards there benefit from___3_____soils.
Touraine, which is further inland, has a _____4______climate and ___5____soils.

Answer 3

1=warmer
2=drier
3= warm stony 
4=cooler, wetter
5=clay

Question 4

________1_______linked to high levels of rainfall can be a particular issue.
The most desirable locations are those with a southerly aspect, generally on the mid-slope, and facing the river for extra heat and reflected light.

Answer 4

Fungal disease

Question 5

Sauvignon Blanc is mainly grown in the Central Vineyards and Touraine. The Central Vineyards area has by far the smallest production of the four sub-regions, but it contains two of the most prestigious appellations for Sauvignon Blanc wines:____1_____ and _____2_____.

Answer 5

1=Sancerre

2=Pouilly-Fumeプイイフュメ

Question 6

(Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume)

Where are these vineyards are located?

Answer 6

On very chalky, well-drained stony soil.

Question 7

Describe the Sauvignon wines from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.
プイイフュメ

(In most cases Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume are not wines for ageing.)

Answer 7

tend to be dry and high in acidity, with hints of green apple and wet stones. It is often said that those from Poully-Fume have subtle smoky notes.

Question 8

What kind of winemaking techniques can be used for Sauvignon Blanc wines : Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.

Answer 8

Gentle pneumatic pressing and temperature controlled stainless steel vats are used to crest fresh, fruity wines.

Question 9

(Sauvignon Blanc wines: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume)
Certain producers ferment and mature their wines in old oak vessels and keep the wines on the lees to give them a broader texture. Whether or not MLF take place depends on the style of wine the producer wants to create, and is most likely to be encouraged in cooler vintages. Why?

Answer 9

In order to lower the acidity of the wines.

Question 10

To the west and south of Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc is also produced from vineyards lying on the tributaries of the Loire. Here the most important appellations is_____1_____, which provides a source of more moderately priced wines made in the same style as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.

Answer 10

Menetou- Salon

Question 11

The majority of Sauvignon Blanc, however, comes from this region. Here, this grape is used to make white ______1_____, a generic appellation that covers the whole of this region.
They have less concentration and usually made in a simple fruity style.

Answer 11

Touraine

Question 12

______1____ is a high acid non-aromatic grape variety that is responsible for the greatest white wines of both Touraine and Anjou-Saumur. One peculiarity with this variety is that even within one bunch it is common for grapes to reach different levels of ripeness. Several passes through the vineyard may be necessary at harvest time to ensure grapes are picked at the desired level of ripeness.

Answer 12

Chenin Blanc

Question 13

(Chenin Blanc)
Young wines can have flavours that vary from fresh apple through tropical fruit, depending on the ripeness of the grapes. The dry wines can also have a _____1_____character and the sweet wines often have the______2_____ flavours of noble rot.

Answer 13

1=steely, smoky

2=apricot and citrus peel

Question 14

Dry and sweet Chenins can age for decades. With age, they become richer and rounder and develop aromas of _________1________, with balance well with the high acidity common to all of these wines.

Answer 14

Honey, toast and hay

Question 15

(Chenin Blanc)
_____1_____, located to the east of the city of Tours. The cool climate and clay soils here mean that ____1____tends to be light to medium in body, with fresh fruity and floral notes.
To the west, ____2____and ____3___ have similar climates and soils. 2 is renowned as a source of sparkling Chenin Blanc by the traditional method, whereas 3 is better known for dry wines, that are often matured in new oak.

Answer 15

1=Vouvray
2=Saumur
3=Anjou

Question 16

____1_____ produces full-bodied Chenin Blanc in a dry style. Air circulation around these well-exposed vineyards impedes the development of noble rot, but enables late-harvested Chenin Blanc grapes to be used for full-bodied, complex dry wines. The best wines are noted for their ability to evolve for decades in the bottle.

Answer 16

Savennieresサヴニエール

Question 17

(Chenin Blanc)
______1_____makes some of the most renowned sweet wines in the region. The appellation is located in the sheltered valley of the River Layon to the south of the Loire, where noble rot develops well.

Answer 17

Coteaux du Layonコートドゥレイヨン

Question 18

This variety is sometimes referred to as Muscadet or Melon de Bourgogne. It ripens ______and is ________, making it well suited to the cool climate. What is this?
The vast majority of this is grown in the Nantais region.

Answer 18

Melon Blanc

early, frost resistant

Question 19

(Melon Blanc)
The appellations of Muscadet covers the widest area but the greatest production comes from the more highly regarded appellation of _____1____.
All wines from the Muscadet appellations are dry with medium alcohol( the maximum permitted alcoholic strength for the wines is 12%abv.)

Answer 19

Muscadet Serve et Maine
ミュスカデセーヴルエメーヌ

(The wines display high acidity, a light body and subtle green fruits flavours. They should be drunk young.)

Question 20

(Melon Blanc)
______1_____ is a speciality from the Muscadet sevre et Maine area. The wines is bottled in the spring following the vintage, having spent the winter on its lees(lie is the French for lees). This lees contact gives the wines a richer texture. The wine is handled very little, to retain delicacy and freshness.

Answer 20

Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie

ミュスカデセーヴルエメーヌシュールリー

Question 21

Which 3 appellations are important for Cabernet Franc?

Answer 21

Chinonシノン
Bourgueilブルグイユ
Saumur-Champignyシャンピニー

Question 22

(Rose wine style)
_____1____ can be produced in both Anjou-Saumur and Touraine, it is always dry and must have a minimum of 30percent Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the blend.

Answer 22

Rose de Loire

Question 23

Anjou-Saumur has another two appellations for different styles of Rose, if which the highest quality is _____1______. This is always _____2_____ in style and is made from a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Answer 23

1=Carbernet d’Anjou

2= medium-sweet

Question 24

Rose wine style

____1____ is less sweet than Cabernet d’Anjou and is made predominantly of ______2_____(a local high yielding black grape) blended with Cabernet Franc and other local varieties.

Answer 24

Rose d’Anjou
Grolleau
グロロー

Question 25

What are the three principal white grape varieties?

Answer 25

Melon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc

Question 26

What is the one principal black and the two other black grape varieties?

Answer 26

Cabernet Franc

Grolleau
Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 27

Cabernet Franc is well suited to the Loire as it ___1____ and ____2______.

Answer 27

1= flowers
2= ripens early