D3 - Loire: Central Vineyards

Question 1

The climate of the Central Vineyards (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé) is ___.

What are the main grapes grown here?

Answer 1

• Continental;
• Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir.

Question 2

Fill in the blank:

The rainfall in Central Vineyards is high for a continental climate: ____ mm/year.

Answer 2

750mm/year

Question 3

What are the environmental threats in Central Vineyards?

Answer 3

• Spring frost
• Summertime hail

Question 4

Fill in the blanks:

Sauvignon Blanc is an ideal grape for the Central Vineyards.

It buds _____ and ripens _____.

Answer 4

Buds late, ripens early

Question 5

In the Central Vineyards, how do row orientation and canopy management affect the flavor profile of Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 5

• Fruit grown in shadier conditions = more green pepper and grassy notes
• Fruit grown with more sunlight = more tropical fruit flavors

Question 6

In Central Vineyards, malolactic conversion will often be blocked but some producers choose to allow it.

Why is that?

Answer 6

It depends on the vintage and the winemaker’s desired style.

Question 7

Fill in the blanks

Maximum yields in Sancerre AOC are set at:

• ____ hL/ha for white wines;
• ____ hL/ ha for rosés;
• ____ hL/ha for reds.

Answer 7

• 65 hL/ha for white wines
• 63 hL/ ha for rosés
• 59 hL/ha for reds

Question 8

What 3 things in Sancerre AOC provide moderating influences against frosts in spring?

Answer 8

1. Hillside slopes 200-400m
2. Loire River
3. Nearby forests

Question 9

What are the 3 types of soil found in Sancerre AOC?

Answer 9

1. Caillottes
2. Terre Blanches
3. Silex

Question 10

What are three characteristics of Caillottes soils in Sancerre?

Answer 10

1. Very shallow soils (25–40 mm) over limestone
2. Said to produce the most aromatic wines that are first to be ready to drink
3. Said to have less potential for aging in the bottle

Question 11

What are three characteristics of Terre Blanches soils in Sancerre?

Answer 11

1. Same soil as Chablis (limestone and marl).
2. Slow ripening on these soils which include some of Sancerre’s most famous vineyards: Côte des Monts Damnés, Cul de Beaujeu.
3. Said to produce the most structured wines that need long maturation before they are ready to drink and age well.

Question 12

What are two characteristics of Silex soils in Sancerre?

Answer 12

1. Flinty soils that accumulate heat and lead to early ripening
2. Said to produce wines with stony or smoky aromas

Question 13

Name 3 other Sauvignon Blanc AOCs in Central Vineyards besides Sancerre AOC and Pouilly-Fumé AOC.

Answer 13

1. Reuilly AOC
2. Quincy AOC
3. Menetou-Salon AOC

Question 14

Fill in the blank:

For the Loire Valley as a whole, négociants are very important – they sell ____% of all wine by volume.

Answer 14

50%

Question 15

The distinction between négociants and estates in the Loire Valley has become somewhat blurred over the last 20 years.

What’s going on?

Answer 15

• Négociants are increasingly vinifying their wines themselves rather than relying mainly on buying finished wine, and some have even bought estates.
• An increasing number of family estates have added a négociant side to their business.
• This shift is happening with the recent frosts and hail damage, which have severely reduced crops so buying grapes, juice or wine can be a way of keeping their clients and avoiding severe financial problems.

Question 16

Select the correct answer.

In terms of exports by both volume and value, does Sancerre:
a) outperform
or
b) underperform
all the other still wine appellations in the Loire?

Answer 16

Outperform
Sancerre achieves a price that is twice as much as the average price of other still
white wines.