The Loire Valley

Question 1

What are the four regions of the loire valley?

Answer 1

Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur and Nantais

Question 2

Where is Rose de Loire produced?

Answer 2

Anjou

Question 3

Where is Cremant de Loire produced?

Answer 3

Saumur

Question 4

What is the IGP for Loire Valley

Answer 4

Val De Loire
Fresh, light bodied wines with simple flavours

Question 5

What is the climate of the Loire Valley

Answer 5

Cool

Question 6

What is the climate of the Central Vineyards

Answer 6

Continental Climate

Question 7

What is the climate of Nantais?

Answer 7

Maritime
Coastal

Question 8

What are climatic issues with the loire valley?

Answer 8

Variations in weather patterns due to northern limit
fungal disease
high rainfall

Question 9

What are the main white grape varieties of the Loire Valley

Answer 9

Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Melon Blanc
Muscadet

Question 10

Where is Suavignon Blanc grown in the Loire Valley?

Answer 10

Central Vineyards and Touraine

Question 11

What are the two appelations for Sauvignon Blanc? What are their characteristics?

Answer 11

Sancerre, Pouilly Fume, Menetou Salon

Well Drained, stony limestone based soils.

dry, high acidity
Hints of green apple and wet stones.

Question 12

What are the winemaking techniques of Sauvignon Blanc in The Loire Valley?

Answer 12

Gentle Pneumatic pressing
Temperature controlled stainless
Old Oak
Lees Posisble
A few use new oak and may choose MLF

Question 13

What is the generic appelation for the Touraine Region?

Answer 13

Touraine
Normally labelled as Sauvignon de Touraine.
Normally simple and fruity

Question 14

What is the characteristic of Chenin Blanc?

Answer 14

High Avid
Non Aromatic
Bunches do not ripen evenly
Several Passes normally

Question 15

What kind of wine can be made from Chenin Blanc?

Answer 15

White sweet, still or sparkling.

Question 16

How does ripeness affect Chenin Blanc?

Answer 16

Depends on ripeness
Barely ripe is used for sparkling
dry, medium sweet and sweet styles use similar ripening berries.

Question 17

Can Chenin Blanc Age?

Answer 17

Yes, they become richer and rouger with age.
develop flavours of honey, toast and hay.

Question 18

What are the main chenin blanc appelations?

Answer 18

Vouvray
Saumur - Sparkling
Anjou - Dry
Savennieres - Full Body dry
Coteaux Du Lyon

Question 19

What kind of wines are made in vouvray and how does soil affect it?

Answer 19

Cool Climate
Clay souls
light to medium in body
fresh fruity and floral notes.
Sparkling, still, sweet

Question 20

What kind of wines are made in Savennieres?

Answer 20

Full Body Dry
Air Circulation impededs botrytis but enables late harvest chenin

Question 21

What kind of wine is made in coteaux du Layon?

Answer 21

Sweet wines
Sheltered valley along river Layon.
Quarts de Chaume and bonnezeaux own appelations.

Question 22

What are other names for Melon Blanc?

Answer 22

Muscadet or Melon De Bourgogne.

Question 23

What are the characteristics of Melon Blanc?

Answer 23

Ripens early
Frost resistant
Dry
Medium Alcohol
Old Oak
Concrete, stainless
High Acid, light body

Question 24

What are the appelations for Melon Blanc?

Answer 24

Muscadet
Muscadet Secre et maine
Muscadet - Sur Lie

Question 25

What are the main Red Grape varieties of the Loire Valley

Answer 25

Cabernet Franc Gamay Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 26

What are the main appelations for Cabernet Franc?

Answer 26

Chinon Bourgueil Saumur Champigny

Question 27

What is the terroir like for Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley

Answer 27

Sandy soils Limestone and Clay soils

Question 28

What are the main appelations for Rose in the Loire Valley

Answer 28

Cabernet d'anjou MAde from Cab franc + Sauv Rose D'anjou Made from Grolleau + Cab Franc an dother local vatieties.

Question 29

How Are Rose Wines made?

Answer 29

Direct Press Short Maceration