Somm1 - Loire Valley

Question 1

How long is the Loire River and how does it affect the region?

Answer 1

Starting in the Cevennes mountains, it flows 620 miles through 12 departements. This is reflected through an immense variety of grapes, soils, and macroclimates within the 4 major wine producing districts of the Loire Valley.

Question 2

What does this label mean: “Muscadet Sur Lie”

Pays Nantais

Answer 2

Indicates wines are matured on lees for 6-12 months following harvest.

Must be used in conjunction with one of the Pays Nantais AOCs.

Question 3

The Loire Valley is A.K.A.:

Answer 3

The Garden of France.

Question 4

What are the 3 Crus (sub-zones) of Pays Nantais?

Answer 4

Clisson.
Gorges.
Le Pallet.

Question 5

What are the 4 major districts of the Loire Valley?

Answer 5

Pays Nantais.
Anjou-Saumur.
Touraine.
Central Vineyards.

Question 6

What are the AOCs of Anjou-Samour?

Answer 6

Anjou.
Rose d'Anjou/Cabernet d'Anjou.
Anjou-Villages.
Savennieres.
Lanyon Valley.
Saumur.
Cremant de la Loire.
Saumur Champigny.

Question 7

What are the AOCs of Central Vineyards?

Answer 7

Sancerre.
Pouilly-Fume.
Menetou-Salon.
Quincy.
Reuilly.

Question 8

What are the AOCs of Coteaux du Layon?

Answer 8

Bennezeaux.
Quarts de Chaume (Grand Cru).
Coteaux du Layon.

Question 9

What are the AOCs of Touraine?

Answer 9

Vouvray.
Montlouis-sur-Loire.
Chinon.
Bourgueil/Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.

Question 10

What are the other notable AOCs of Pays NantaisNantais?

Answer 10

Gros Plant du Pays Nantais
~Gros Plant/Folle Blanche
~Sur lie designation like Muscadet
Fiefs Vendeens
Coteaux d'Ancenis
~In hot vintages, can surpass Muscadet Sevre et Maine

Question 11

What are the primary red grape varieties in the Loire Valley?

Answer 11

Cabernet Franc.
Pinot Noir.
Gamay.
Groslot.

Question 12

What are the primary white grape varieties of the Loire Valley?

Answer 12

Chenin Blanc.
Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet).
Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 13

What climate/soils most characterizes the Pays Nantais?

Answer 13

Climate: Maritime

Soils: Gravel/Sand over schist/granite/Basalt

Question 14

What is Anjou AOC?

Answer 14

Whites from Chenin Blanc & Sauvignon Blanc.

Cabernet Franc based red.

Question 15

What is Anjou-Villages AOC?

Answer 15

Red wines from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 16

What is Bourgueil/St. Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC?

Answer 16

Same styles as Chinon.

Sandy Soils.

Question 17

What is Chinon AOC?

Answer 17

Red wines from primarily Cabernet Franc.

Tufa Soils.

Question 18

What is Cremant de la Loire AOC?

Answer 18

Methode Traditionnelle sparkling wines.

Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and others.

Question 19

What is Layon Valley AOC?

Answer 19

Sweet, botrytis, Chenin Blanc wines.
Appellation of Anjou.
Made only in exceptional years.
Coteaux de Layon AOCs.

Question 20

What is Melon de Bourgogne A.K.A.?

Answer 20

Muscadet.

Question 21

What is Menetou-Salon AOC?

Answer 21

White, Red and Rose from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Adjacent to Sancerre.

Question 22

What is Montlouis-Sur-Loire AOC?

Answer 22

Chenin Blanc wines in the same styles as Vouvray.

Question 23

What is Pouilly Fume AOC?

Answer 23

Limestone and Silex Soils.

Whites from Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 24

What is Quincy AOC?

Answer 24

Whites from Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 25

What is Reuilly AOC?

Answer 25

White, Red and Rose from Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Question 26

What is Rose d'Anjou/Cabernet d'Anjou AOC?

Answer 26

Rose from Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 27

What is Sancerre AOC?

Answer 27

Whites from Sauvignon Blanc. Reds and roses from Pinot Noir (25% total production). Limestone-based soils.

Question 28

What is Saumur AOC?

Answer 28

Sparkling (Mousseux) made by Methode Traditionnelle. 100% Chenin Blanc whites. Cabernet Franc based reds.

Question 29

What is Saumur Champigny AOC?

Answer 29

Cabernet Franc reds.

Question 30

What is Savennieres AOC?

Answer 30

``` Dry Chenin Blanc. Tiny Appellation of Anjou. Very low yields legally enforced. Best wines have great aging potential. Two vineyards have own AOCs. ```

Question 31

What is Sevre-et-Maine AOC?

Answer 31

Key AOC of Pays Nantais, Loire for quality Muscadet (Accounts for 85% Produced)

Question 32

What is the most important grape of Pay Nantais?

Answer 32

Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet).

Question 33

What is the most important grape of the Loire Valley?

Answer 33

Chenin Blanc. (Styles include: Dry, semisweet, sweet, & sparkling)

Question 34

What is Vouvray AOC?

Answer 34

``` Whites from Chenin Blanc. Tufa Soils. Wide range of styles: ~Sec-demisec-moelleux/doux ~Still-Petillant-Mousseux ```

Question 35

What vineyards of Savennieres have their own AOCs?

Answer 35

Coulee de Serrant. | Roche aux Moines.