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Loire Valley Flashcards

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1
Q

What is France’s longest river?

A

The Loire river (1012km)

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2
Q

What are the regions in the Loire Valley from west to east?

A

Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Centre Loire

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2
Q

Where does the Loire originate?

A

The Massif Central (near Mont Gerbier de Jonc)

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3
Q

Describe the soils of Sèvre et Maine

A

Mostly gneiss, granite and schist.

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4
Q

What are the four appellations for Muscadet in the Pays Nantais?

A

Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP

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5
Q

Describe the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine wines

A

Muscadet: Very dry, slightly salty with firm acidity.
Sèvre et Maine wines specifically are lively and scented.

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6
Q

Describe Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire wines

A

Made inland around Arcenis, on schist or granite.
A little leaner than Sèvre et Maine

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7
Q

Describe Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu

A

Made on sandy, stony soils closest to the Atlantic.
More supple and riper than Sèvre et Maine

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8
Q

What is Muscadet’s traditional vinification in the Loire?

A

Bottled sur lie
Straight from the fermentation vat, unracked.
Therefore the lees deepen the flavour and texture, while sometimes leaving a prickle

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9
Q

What is a more modern approach to Muscadet vinification in the Loire?

A

To throw off the reputation for simplicity:
Harvest healthier and riper grapes
Extending lees-ageing
Ageing some of the best wines in oak or amphora

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10
Q

What were the first approved villages crus of Pays Nantais for Muscadet?

A

Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet

In 2011.

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11
Q

What were the village crus of Pays Nantais for Muscadet introduced in 2019?

A

Château Thébaud
Goulaine
Monnières-Saint-Fiacre
Mouzillon-Tillières

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12
Q

What is the minimal sur lie ageing on the villages crus of Pays Nantais?

A

18 months minimum

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13
Q

What is another name for the Loire Valley?

A

Le Jardin de la France

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14
Q

What is Hermine d’Or?

A

An unofficial label term in Pays Nantais that promotes terroir and stresses ageability.

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15
Q

What three regions gained new AOP status in Pays Nantais in 2011?

A

Gros Plant du Pays Nantais (White)
Coteaux d’Ancenis (White, rosé & red)
Fiefs Vendéens (White, rosé & red)

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16
Q

What grape has to be used in Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP?

A

Folle Blanche/ Gros Plant

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17
Q

What wines are produced in Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP?

A

White: Pinot Gris
Rosé & red: Gamay & Cab. Franc

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18
Q

Where is a Malvoisie wine from?

A

Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP, Loire

100% Pinot Gris

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19
Q

What wines are produced in Fiefs Vendéens AOP?

A

White: Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay
Rosé & red: Gamay & Pinot Noir

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20
Q

What are the main soils of Anjou?

A

Schist, slate, clay and limestone

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21
Q

Describe the climate of Anjou

A

Grapes don’t always ripen, so therefore sparkling wine in nearby Saumur is very important to earn money

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22
Q

What was the Loire’s first official Grand Cru?

A

Quarts de Chaume
Since 2010

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23
Q

Name Anjou’s “fine-wine” appellations

A

Coteaux de Layon (sweet)
- Quarts de Chaume
Bonnezeaux (sweet)
Coteaux de l’Aubance (sweet)
Savennières
- Roche aux Moines
- Coulée de Serrant

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24
Name Anjou's "basic" white appellations
Anjou Blanc
25
Name Anjou's "basic" rosé appellations
Rosé d'Anjou Rosé de Loire Cabernet d'Anjou (off-dry)
26
Name Anjou's red appellations
Anjou Rouge Anjou-Villages Anjou-Villages-Brissac Cab. Franc with sometimes Cab. Sauv. in the best years
27
What is the unique soil of Savennières?
Blue schist with volcanic debris
28
Name two well regarded producers of Quarts du Chaume
Domaine des Baumard Château Pierre-Bise
29
Name two well regarded producers of Savennières
Domaine des Baumard Château Pierre-Bise
30
Name a well regarded producer of Bonnezeaux
Château des Fesles
31
Describe Saumur's soils
White/sparkling: White (soft) tuffeau (porous limestone) Red: Sand + tuffeau
32
What are the main varieties used for sparkling wine from Saumur?
Chenin Blanc Chardonnay Cabernet Franc
33
What producer is this label from?
Clos Rougeard Saumur Champigny
34
What grapes may be used for Saumur Blanc?
Before 2016: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay After 2016: Chenin Blanc
35
What grapes may be used for Saumur Rouge?
Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Pineau d'Aunis
36
Describe Haut-Poitou
South of Chinon New AOP in Saumur since 2011 White: Sauvignon Blanc & Gris Rosé & red: Cabernet Franc
37
What are the sparkling wine AOPs in Saumur?
Saumur Brut Crémant de Loire
38
Describe Saumur Brut
Traditional method It tends to be less complex than Crémant de Loire 9 months sur lie requirement
39
What is Prestige de Loire?
An informal category of superior, vintage-dated Crémant de Loire.
40
Describe Saumur-Champigny wines
Red One of the most fresh and fragrant Cabernet Franc expressions
41
Name a highly regarded producer from Saumur-Champigny
Clos Rougeard (cult wine!)
42
Name two Saumur red appellations
Saumur-Champigny Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame
43
Name three Touraine red appellations
Chinon Bourgueil St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
44
Describe the soils of Chinon, Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
Sand Gravel Limestone
45
Describe the difference in style between the Touraine reds
Chinon: Most charming Bourgueil: Most structured St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil: Lightest (due to more sand)
46
What grape is Touraine white made of?
Sauvignon Blanc
47
What grapes are Touraine red made of?
Gamay Côt Cabernet Franc
48
Does Chinon produce white wine?
Yes, from Chenin Blanc Very small amount
49
Name two highly regarded producers in Montlouis-sur-Loire
Domaine de la Taille aux Loups (Jacky Blot) François Chidaine
50
Name a highly regarded producer from Vouvray
Domaine du Clos Naudin (Foreau)
51
How sweet can Vouvray AOP wines be?
Dry (sec) Off-dry (sec-tendre (unofficial term)) Medium-dry (demi-sec) Quite sweet (moelleux) Very sweet (liquoreux)
52
What are the best sites of Vouvray?
Le Mont (owned by Huet) Clos du Bourg (first to be converted to biodynamics in 1980s & owned by Huet) Le Haut-Lieu
53
Why do Vouvray wines vary so much each vintage?
The Atlantic influence meets the continent influence, therefore weather varies enormously each year
54
Describe Vouvray & Montlouis sparkling wine
Traditional method The best ones: Pétillant rather than very sparkling, and can age very well
55
Describe Vouvray vs. Montlouis soil
Vouvray is tuffeau Montlouis has more clay-limestone soil close to the river, with more sand southwards
56
Describe the historical wine of Touraine Noble-Joué AOP
Vin gris: A blend of Gris Meunier (Meunier), Malvoisie (Pinot Gris) and Pinot Noir
57
What is the limestone soil called in Sancerre/Pouilly?
Caillottes: a stony soil littered with fossils
58
What is the clay-limestone soil called in Sancerre/Pouilly?
Terres blanches: gives mores sturdy wines. A continuation of the Kimmeridge of Chablis
59
What is the flint soil called in Sancerre/Pouilly?
Silex: gives more ageworthy and flinty wines
60
What is the town of Pouilly Fumé called?
Pouilly-sur-Loire
61
What grape will have been used in a wine that has "Pouilly-sur-Loire" on the label?
Chasselas
62
Where will silex be the most in the Centre Loire?
Pouilly Fumé, together with some clay
63
Where will the terres blanches be the most in the Centre Loire?
West of the Sancerre appellation
64
Where will the caillottes soil be the most in the Centre Loire?
In between both Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé, mixed with pebbles. Gives more aromatic and expressive wines when young.
65
What are the three best sites of Chavignol in Sancerre? Describe the terroir
Les Monts Damnées Le Cul de Beaujeu La Grande Côte All on steep Kimmeridgian marl (clay-limestone) slopes
66
What are the two best sites of Bué in Sancerre?
La Poussie Chêne Marchand
67
What are the three best sites between the hilltop town of Sancerre and Ménétréol? Describe the wine style
La Moussière Les Romains (silex) Belle Dame Particularly steely style
68
Which producer is this?
Château du Nozet in Pouilly, owned by De Ladoucette
69
Name a highly regarded producer in Pouilly
Domaine Didier Dagueneau
70
Why was Didier Dagueneau such a pioneer?
He pioneered seriously low yields and experimentation with oak in Pouilly. Giving almost a Bordeaux Blanc style
71
Describe the Coteaux du Giennois
A northward extension of the Pouilly vineyards Producing white, rosé and red Whites: Vibrant Sauvignon Blanc Red: Gamay (can be 100%) & Pinot Noir (needs to be blended)
72
What are the "Vignobles du Centre"?
Menetou-Salon Quincy Reuilly Châteaumeillant
73
Describe Menetou-Salon
Bordering west of Centre Loire Low Kimmeridgian hills Impressive Sancerre-like whites Reds of value
74
Describe Quincy
West of Centre Loire Low sand & gravel (frost prone so they use wind turbines) White wine of Sauvignon Blanc
75
Describe Reuilly
West of Centre Loire Steep limestone marl hills, gravel & sand terraces Crisp Sauvignon white Pinot Noir red & rosé Pinot Gris "vin gris"
76
Describe Châteaumeillant & St-Pourçain
South of the Centre Loire Winemakers from the Vignobles du Centre buy vineyards here to make legal Gamay & Pinot Noir wine
77
Describe Orléans-Clery
Once-significant wine region supplying Paris Far north (slightly west) of Centre Loire Only red Cabernet Franc wines
78
Describe Orléans
Once-significant wine region supplying Paris Far north (slightly west) of Centre Loire, east of Touraine White, rosé and red of Meunier and Chardonnay
79
What was the second demarcated AOP in France (after Châteauneuf-du-Pape)?
Quincy AOP
80
What are the generic appellations of the Loire?
Cremant de Loire Rose de Loire
81
What are the sub-regions of the Loire?
Pays Nantais Anjou-Saumur Touraine Central France Central Vineyards
82
What is the name of the separate rosé appellation in Touraine?
Noblé-Joue Meunier, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris allowed
83
What are three appellations in Touraine known for high quality Cabernet Franc?
Chinon St Nicolas de Bourgueil Bourgueil
84
What Loire appellation is solely for Chasselas?
Pouilly-sur-Loire
85
What is the synonym for Cabernet Franc in the Loire?
Breton
86
What is the synonym for Malbec in the Loire?
Pressac Noir
87
Name the allowed white varieties of the Loire
8 grapes: Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Melon de Bourgogne Chardonnay Orbois (Arbois/Menu Pineau) Romorantin Gros Plant (Folle Blanche) Chasselas
88
How long does Crémant de Loire have to age on the lees?
9 months
89
When was Prestige de Loire launched?
2018
90
Give the specifications for Prestige de Loire (variety, sur latte time, vintage/nv, style, price)
Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (single or blended) Minimum 24 months sur latte Must be a vintage Must be a brut style (incl extra brut) Must have a minimum price of 10eu)
91
What is the minimum residual sugar content of Coteaux du Layon AOP?
35 grams per liter
92
What is the grape allowed in Cour-Cheverny AOP?
100% Romorantin
93
What is the only AOP where Romorantin is used? Where is it?
Cour-Cheverny AOP In betwen Orléans, Tours and Bourges
94
What are the AOPs within the Central France sub-region?
Côtes d'Auverge (white, rosé, red) Côtes du Forez (rosé, red) Côte Roannaise (rosé, red) Saint-Pourçain (white, rosé, red)
95
What grapes are used in the Côtes d'Auvergne?
White: Chardonnay Rosé & red: Min. 50% Gamay, Pinot Noir
96
What grapes are used in the Côtes du Forez?
Rosé & red: 100% Gamay
97
What grapes are used in Côte Roannaise?
Rosé & red: 100% Gamay
98
What grapes are used for Saint-Pourçain?
White: 70-80% Chardonnay, 20-40% Sacy (Tressalier), max. 10% Sauvignon Blanc Rosé: 100% Gamay Red: 40-75% Gamay, 25-60% Pinot Noir
99
What are the AOPs of Central Vineyards?
Orléans Orléans-Cléry Sancerre Pouilly Fumé Pouilly-sur-Loire Menetou-Salon Quincy Reuilly Coteaux du Giennois Châteaumeillant
100
What is the AOP called where Folle Blanche is grown in the Loire?
Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP
101
What grapes are used in the Cheverny AOP?
White: Sauvignon Blanc & Gris. Secondary = Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Orbois Rosé & red: Pinot Noir Secondary = Gamay, Cot.

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