The white wines of Loire Valley

Question 1

What are the four subregions of the Loire Valley?

Answer 1

From East to West, Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Samur, and Nantais. They are not appellations. There is no regional generic appellation for Loire.

Question 2

What is the name of the IGP that covers Loire?

Answer 2

Val de Loire. Straight forward wines displaying freshness, light body and simple fruit flavors.

Question 3

The production of rose in Loire is focused where?

Answer 3

Anjou.

Question 4

Production of cremat de Loire is focused where?

Answer 4

Samur

Question 5

What is the climate of the Loire Valley?

Answer 5

Cool, but the Central Vineyards have a Continental climate whereas Nantais has a maritime climate. Anjou is slightly warmer and drier and protected by the Magus hills, where certain vineyards benefit from warm, stony soils. While Touraine (further inland) has a cooler, wetter climate and clay soils.

Question 6

What can be a problem due to high rainfall?

Answer 6

Fungal disease. The vineyards lie at the Northern edge of production for the varieties grown. Variations in weather from year to year mean vintages can differ widely.

Question 7

What characteristics do the best vineyards of the Loire display?

Answer 7

Those that experience the most sunshine and warmth. Southern aspect, mid slope, facing the river for extra heat and reflected light.

Question 8

What is the main grape varietal in the Central Vineyards and Touraine?

Answer 8

Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 9

Name two important appellations in the Central Vineyards and their primary grape?

Answer 9

Sancerre an d Pouille-Fume. Sauv Blanc. They are located on very chalky, well-drained, stony soil.

Question 10

Describe the wines from Sancerre and Pouille-Fume.

Answer 10

Dry, high in acidity, with hints of green apple and wet stone. Pouille-Fume wines tend to have subtle smokey notes.

Question 11

Name two villages from Sancerre and Pulille-Fume with high reputations for Sauvignon Blanc.

Answer 11

Chavignol and Les Monts Damnes.

Question 12

What are some wine making techniques used on Sauvignon Blanc from Loire?

Answer 12

Gentle pneumatic pressing and temperature controlled stainless steel vats for fresh fruity wines. Fermentation in old oak and keeping the wine on the lees for broader texture. New oak. MLF (generally in cooler vintages to lower the acidity).

Question 13

What appellation produces Sauv Blanc similar to Sancerre and Pouille-Fume at a lower price?

Answer 13

Mentou-Salon.

Question 14

Where is the majority of Sauv Blanc in the Loire grown?

Answer 14

Touraine. Sometimes used to make a generic white wine called Touraine that have less concentration and made in a simple fruity style.

Question 15

What is the greatest white wine of Touraine and Anjou-Saumur?

Answer 15

Chenin Blanc, a high acid, non-aromatic variety.

Question 16

What is a peculiarity of Chenin Blanc grapes?

Answer 16

Even within one bunch, they reach different levers of ripeness which can result in green, herbaceous aromas.

Question 17

What varieties of wine can be made from Chenin Blanc?

Answer 17

Dry, sweet, still or sparkling, with the barely ripe fruit used for sparkling wines.

Question 18

Describe the flavors of Chenin Blanc wines.

Answer 18

Young wines vary from fresh apple to tropical fruit. Dry wines can have a steely, smokey character. Sweet wines have apricot and citrus peel. Dry and sweet Chenins can age for decades. With age they become richer and rounder and develop aromas of honey, toast and hay, balanced by high acidity.

Question 19

Wines from Vouvray are made from what varietal?

Answer 19

Chenin Blanc.

Question 20

Describe a Vouvray Chenin Blanc?

Answer 20

Makes both still and sparkling wines. Still wine range from still to lusciously sweet. Cool climate and clay soils makes them light to medium body with fresh fruity and floral notes. Rarely use new oak.

Question 21

What wine is Samur known for?

Answer 21

Sparkling Chenin Blanc.

Question 22

What wine is Anjou known for?

Answer 22

Dry Chenin blanc matured in new oak.

Question 23

Describe the Chenin Blancs from Savennieres.

Answer 23

Comparatively warm and dry climate producing full bodied complex Chenin Blancs dry in style. Air circulation around the well exposed vineyards impedes noble rot. May evolve for decades in the bottle.

Question 24

What appellation makes the best sweet Chenin Blancs in the area?

Answer 24

Coteaux du Layon. Located in the sheltered valley of the River Layon south of the Loire where noble rot develops well.

Question 25

Name two of the best sites in the Coteaux du Layon for sweet Chenins.

Answer 25

Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux. They have their own appellations and rank among the worlds greatest sweet wines.

Question 26

What are two other names for Melon Blanc and where is it generally grown?

Answer 26

Muscadet or Melon de Bourgogne. Grown principally in Nantais.

Question 27

Name some characteristics of Melon Blanc.

Answer 27

Ripens early and is frost resistant. Dry with medium alcohol (max. al 12%). High acidity, light body, subtle green fruit flavors.

Question 28

What is the more highly regarded Muscadet appellation?

Answer 28

Muscadet Sevre et Maine. Also the greatest production.

Question 29

Describe Muscadet Sevre st Maine Sur Lie.

Answer 29

A speciality from the area. Bottled in the spring following the vintage after spending the winter on its lees. Richer texture. Handled very little to retain its delicacy and freshness.

Question 30

Where are rose wines made in the Loire?

Answer 30

Mainly Anjou-Saumur, but also in Touraine and Sancerre. Always dry and must have a minimum of 30% cab franc or cab.

Question 31

What other styles of rose can be made in Anjou-Samur?

Answer 31

Cabernet d’Anjou a medium sweet blend of cab franc and cab. And Rose d’Anjou which is less sweet and made of Grolleau (a local high yielding black grape) blended with cab franc or other local varieties.

Question 32

How is a Sancerre rose made?

Answer 32

Must be made from Pinot, usually pale in color, light in body, dry with delicate fruit flavors.

Question 33

Generally, how are rose’s from the Loire made?

Answer 33

Either by direct pressing or a short maceration on the skins. Fermented in inert temperature controlled vessels to retain fruit flavors.