Massif Central Flashcards
(24 cards)
Where does the Loire river takes it source?
The Loire’s source is in the Massif Central, a volcanic region geographically closer to Burgundy than most of the other Loire vineyards (on a clear day the vineyards of the Mâconnais are visible from the Côte Roannaise).
What grape varieties are producers from the upper Loire focusing on?
Upper Loire focuses on a set of grape varieties also influenced by Burgundy: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Gamay.
What is the name of the growers’ association formed in late 2019 for producers from the upper Loire regions?
the Loire Volcanique growers’ association
4 AOP make up the Central France/upper Loire region. List them.
Saint-Pourçain
Côtes d’Auvergne
Côtes du Forez
Côte Roannaise
There are 2 IGP denominations as well in the Central France/upper Loire region. List them.
IGP d’Urfé
IGP Puy de Dôme
The Saint-Pourçain AOP runs just west of which Loire tributary?
L’Allier
What are the rosés and reds of Saint-Pourçain made of?
Rosés are 100% Gamay, while reds must be blends of Pinot Noir and Gamay.
What are the whites of Saint-Pourçain made of?
Whites are from Chardonnay and Tressallier, a variety grown almost nowhere else and of which the locals are particularly proud.
What has led some of the more independently minded growers to make 100% Tressallier as Vin de France instead of Saint-Pourçain?
Because of the requirement to blend it with 50-50% of Chardonnay
What is another name used to refer to the Tressallier variety?
Sacy
Where is the Côtes d’Auvergne AOP located and on which soil type?
An hour’s drive south of Saint-Pourçain is Côtes d’Auvergne that is located mostly south of the industrial city of Clermont-Ferrand.
How has the Côtes d’Auvergne vineyard area changed now from before phylloxera?
It was an important winegrowing area encompassing thousands of hectares in the years before phylloxera. Now, it is just 350 hectares.
Which chain of mountain looms all around the Côtes d’Auvergne AOP?
The Puy mountain chain
What are the 5 recognized crus of the Côtes d’Auvergne AOP and which color of wine do they produce?
Corent (excl. rosé)
Boudes (excl. red)
Madargue (excl. red)
Chanturgue (excl. red)
Châteaugay (excl. red)
What are the reds and rosés of Côtes d’Auvergne made from?
All reds and rosés of the Côtes d’Auvergne are made from Gamay, possibly with a minority percentage of Pinot Noir.
What are the whites of Côtes d’Auvergne made from?
Whites must be 100% Chardonnay
What is the climate like in the Massif central/upper Loire region?
Semi continental climate with cold & dry winters and warm summer with low precipitation. The vineyards grow between 200 and 600 meters in altitude.
Where is the Côtes du Forez AOP located?
East of the Côtes d’Auvergne and across the Forez mountains, only a short distance to the west away from the Loire that flows north.
What is the Côtes du Forez AOP for in terms of wine style/category?
The appellation is for reds and rosés only, from 100% Gamay.
Some producers within the Côtes du Forez defined production area grow varieties as varied as Roussanne, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Syrah. Under which IGP label are they bottling such wines?
IGP d’Urfé (same goes for producers from Côte Roannaise growing other varieties than Gamay)
Some producers within the Côtes du Forez defined production area grow Gamaret (not eligible for the AOP) as it is less susceptible to rot than Gamay. What is the crossing of that grape?
It is a Swiss-derived cross between Gamay and Reichensteiner.
Where is the Côte Roannaise AOP located?
North of Côtes du Forez, stretching on east-facing vineyards in the foothills of the Madeleine mountains, 400 to 500 meters above sea level.
What is the Côte Roannaise AOP for in terms of wine style/category?
The appellation is for reds and rosés only, made exclusively from Gamay.
What is the preferred Gamay clone in the Côte Roannaise AOP for producers seeking to make serious and attention-worthy wines?
Gamay Saint-Romain, which has a conveniently upright growth habit and smaller berries than the Gamay of nearby Beaujolais, as well as a distinctly peppery quality.
