France

Front 1

What is a nick name for Loire Valley?

Back 1

The Loire Valley, or Jardin de la France, is a patchwork of agriculture, history, and natural beauty, and was designated a World Heritage Site in 2000.

Front 2

What are classic white varietals of Loire Valley and which anther white grapes can b found in the Valley?

Back 2

Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are the classic white varietals for Loire wines.  In addition, Chardonnay, Orbois, Romorantin, Gros Plant (Folle Blanche), and Chasselas.

Front 3

What about red variatels in Loire Valley?

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For lighter-bodied, high acid red wines,  Cabernet Franc—known locally as Breton—is the most important varietal, followed by Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec (Cot), Pineau d’Aunis, and Groslot (Grolleau).

Front 4

Which aria in France produces most white wine?

Back 4

The Loire Valley produces more white wine than any other French region, and is second only to Champagne in sparkling wine production. 

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little bit about Loire wine history!

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Winemaking in the Loire dates to at least the 1st century CE.  Viticulture in Touraine was chronicled in the 6th century, and Chenin Blanc may have appeared by 845 just south of Angers, although conclusive evidence of the grape's presence in the Loire Valley does not arrive until 16th century. Cabernet Franc also has a long history in the region.  Despite its Basque origin, Cabernet Franc's long migration to Loire vineyards was confirmed by the French writer François Rabelais in a 1534 publication, and it may have arrived in the region as early as the 11th century. 

Front 6

What is a grape and climate of Pays Nantais and where is located?

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The vineyards of the Pays Nantais sweep from the south toward the northeast of the city of Nantes near the Atlantic coast.  This is Muscadet country: a cool, wet maritime region planted primarily to the Melon de Bourgogne grape.  The grape arrived in the area in the 17th century as distillation fodder for the Dutch, but gained prominence after a notable 1709 frost and ensuing moratorium on red grapes that transformed the Nantais into a white wine region.  Today, four appellations exist for the grape: Muscadet AOP, Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP, Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP, and Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP.

Front 7

What are existing appellations for Muscadet?

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Muscadet AOP, Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP, Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOP, and Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP.

Front 8

What is a character of Muscadet?

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To ensure lighter, fresher character, Muscadet wines show best at 12% abv or below.

Front 9

Muscadet AOP grape and its character?

Back 9

Muscadet AOP is the basic appellation for Melon de Bourgogne, and the wines are neutral, bone dry to dry, high in acid, and designed for youthful consumption.  The appellation is seldom used, as most producers qualify for one of the other three sub-appellations. 

Front 10

The Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine wine?

Back 10

The Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine wines, which account for over 80% of Muscadet production, are sourced from a collection of 23 communes near the confluence of the Sèvre and Maine Rivers.  Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOP offers—but does not promise—classic Melon de Bourgogne sourced from a range of complex soils including gneiss, silica, clay, and granite.  Nearly half of the Sèvre-et-Maine production is bottled sur lie.

Front 11

In order to label Muscadet as sur lie...what r requriments?

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In order to label Muscadet as sur lie, the wine must originate from land qualifying for one of the three sub-appellations.  Sur lie wines are aged on their lees over the winter, and are bottled directly off the fine lees (without filtering) between March 1 and November 30 of the year following the harvest.  The process adds complexity, richness and a slight sparkle to the finished wines. 

Front 12

What sur-lie process adds to the wine?

Back 12

The process adds complexity, richness and a slight sparkle to the finished wines. 

Front 13

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP?

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Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP is a more northerly appellation, and the wines are correspondingly leaner.  In warmer vintages the area is an excellent source. 

Front 14

What is the youngest AOP of Muscadet and what about its wines?

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Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOP is the newest appellation, created in 1994.  The wines struggle to achieve quality beyond basic Muscadet.  

Front 15

What is Hermine d Or

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Some producers in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine are striving to create a badge of quality for the better wines.  Guy Bossard and others adopted “Hermine d’Or”, an unofficial label term that promotes terroir and stresses ageability.  A “Cru Communaux” designation was proposed in 2001, requiring eligible wines from specified schist soils to spend a minimum 18 months sur lie—longer than the actual sur lie term allows.  In 2011, this proposal finally bore fruit with the introduction of three subzones for Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine: Clisson, Le Pallet, and Gorges.  More new crus may soon follow.  Although the minimum length of aging for each subzone precludes the use of sur lie on the label, wines from these areas may be destined to become some of the finest expressions of the Melon grape available.  

Front 16

What is a “Cru Communaux”?

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A “Cru Communaux” designation was proposed in 2001, requiring eligible wines from specified schist soils to spend a minimum 18 months sur lie—longer than the actual sur lie term allows.  In 2011, this proposal finally bore fruit with the introduction of three subzones for Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine: Clisson, Le Pallet, and Gorges.  More new crus may soon follow.

Front 17

What happened after the elimination of the VDQS tier in 2011?

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With the elimination of the VDQS tier in 2011, three new regions in Pays Nantais gained AOC status: Gros Plant du Pays Nantais, Coteaux d'Ancenis, and Fiefs Vendéens.  Like Muscadet, Gros Plant may be produced as a sur lie wine, but it will require some serious effort on the part of the region's producers to improve perceptions, lees aging or not.

Appellations of Pays Nantais

Muscadet, Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire, Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu, Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Fiefs Vendéens, Gros Plant du Pays Nantais, Coteaux d'Ancenis

Front 18

what are the Appellations of Pays Nantais?

Back 18

Muscadet, Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire, Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu, Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Fiefs Vendéens, Gros Plant du Pays Nantais, Coteaux d'Ancenis

Front 19

What is Loire’s largest region?

Back 19

Between the Pays Nantais and Touraine lies the Loire’s largest, most diverse and most dynamic region, Anjou. 

Front 20

What is Loire’s center for sparkling wine production?

Back 20

Saumur is!

Front 21

Saumur is what to Anjou?

Back 21

A subregion!
Although Anjou and Saumur are often considered collectively, Saumur is an eastern sub-region of Anjou, adjacent to Chinon in Touraine.  Together, they deliver every style of wine the Loire offers.

Front 22

What is wine production in Anjou - which stiles and from which grapes?

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Anjou produces both sweet and dry interpretations of Chenin Blanc, known locally as Pineau de la Loire.  Whereas the highest praise is reserved for these white wines, 45% of Anjou’s total production is devoted to rosé, a blended wine dominated by Grolleau grapes

Front 23

What is local sinonim for Chenin Blanc in Anjou?

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Pineau de la Loire.

Front 24

What is % of rose wines produced in Anjou and what is its dominant grape?

Back 24

45% of Anjou’s total production is devoted to rosé, a blended wine dominated by Grolleau grapes.

Front 25

What is "the umbrella appellation" for the region of Anjou?

Back 25

 Anjou AOP, a designation for red, white, and sparkling wines, is the umbrella appellation for the region.  Many Saumur wines may be bottled as Anjou AOP, but not vice versa.

Front 26

How big Anjou’s plantings of Cabernet Franc are, and what are the results?

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Nearly one third of Anjou’s plantings are Cabernet Franc, with the resulting red wines achieving a higher quality than in the past. 

Front 27

What are characteristics of Chenin blanc in Anjou and why?

Back 27

Chenin Blanc is slow to ripen, and in northerly climates like Anjou the grape will maintain its persistent, high acidity in the finished wine.  Astringency from high levels of extract is also common.  Whereas Anjou Blanc AOP dry wines tend toward this aggressive acidity and bitterness, the best wines of Savennières AOP develop great complexity and honeyed richness with age.  Produced from 100% Chenin Blanc and generally dry, the wines of Savennières are austere and rigid in their youth.

Front 28

What is a soil of Savennières?

Back 28

Blue schist mixed with volcanic debris.
On the north bank of the Loire, Savennières enjoys a steep southern exposure and a unique soil structure composed of blue schist mixed with volcanic debris. 

Front 29

What are unofficial "Grand Cru's" of Savennieres?

Back 29

 Two sub-appellations, long regarded as unofficial "Grand CRU's" of Savennieres, finally received their own AOCs in 2011: Roche aux Moines and Coulee de Serrant, the latter a monopole of the rigidly biodynamic Nicolas Joly.

Front 30

What are sweet wine districts of Anjou?

Back 30

Districts of Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP.
South of Angers and the Loire, Chenin Blanc is harvested later in the season as producers hope for botrytis in the sweet wine districts of Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP.  Harvesting in tries is mandatory in both appellations, resulting in either healthy grapes with pure late-harvest flavors, or the selection of grapes gripped by noble rot.  With a minimum residual sugar content of 34 grams per liter, neither appellation commands the richness and unctuousness of Sauternes; however, the wines gain versatility at the table.

Front 31

what are 2 best sub appellations of Coteaux du Layon and why?

Back 31

Bonnezeaux AOPand Quarts de Chaume AOP are noteworthy for the high quality of their sweet wines.  These two appellations enjoy south-facing aspects in the communes of Thouarcé and Rochefort-sur-Loire, respectively, and often deliver botrytis-affected fruit

Front 32

which appellation has a Grand Cru moniker?

Back 32

Quarts de Chaume AOP, entitled to the "Grand Cru" moniker from the 2010 harvest forward, consists of a small band of sandstone and schist hillsides on the banks of the Layon River.  Protected from the prevailing winds and touched by morning mists streaming from the Layon, the small appellation is a good incubator for pourriture noble, and, like Sauternes, its regulations require manual harvests to be conducted in successive tries. 

Front 33

how big production of Quarts de Chaume is and why?

Back 33

10000 cases of wine.
At 54 ha, Quarts de Chaume is just a few hectares larger than Burgundy's Clos de Vougeot AOP, and the appellation's total production each year is under 10,000 cases of wine. 

Front 34

which are 2 good Savennieres and Quarts du Chaume producers?

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Domaine des Baumard and Château Pierre-Bise—both highly regarded producers of Savennières—are good addresses for the sweet wines of Quarts du Chaume.

Front 35

who is a well known producer in Bonnezeaux?

Back 35

Chateau des Fesles is one of the most respected estates in Bonnezeaux, a larger appellation that is nonetheless often harder to find in the marketplace.   

Front 36

which seven villages are entitled to add their names to the basic Coteaux du Layon?

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Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Faye d’Anjou, St-Lambert du Lattay, St-Aubin de Luigné, Rablay-sur-Layon, and Chaume.

Front 37

Anjou-Villages AOP?

Back 37

 Anjou-Villages AOP, a red wine-only appellation, provides some of the region’s finest.  Anjou-Villages producers typically bolster Cabernet Franc with a proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in sturdier and fuller wines.

Front 38

Anjou Villages Brissac AOP?

Back 38

 Anjou Villages Brissac AOP, a more recent red wine appellation, covers the same ten communes that are authorized for Coteaux de l'Aubance.  Gamay, vinified as the purely varietal "Anjou Gamay", produces the region's lightest red but may not be blended in standard Anjou Rouge bottlings

Front 39

Saumur AOP

Back 39

Saumur AOP covers red, dry white, and sparkling white and rosé wines.  Although regulations call for a move to pure Chenin Blanc wines in the future, Saumur whites may currently contain a combined optional addition of up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc—a recipe indentical to Anjou Blanc.  Saumur Rouge wines allow Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pineau d’Aunis.  Rosé wines are not authorized.           

Front 40

 Crémant de Loire AOP

Back 40

Over half of Saumur’s grapes are destined for Saumur AOP sparkling wines or méthode traditionnelle Crémant de Loire AOP.  The latter offers the most promise, allowing blending across Touraine and Anjou-Saumur while permitting fewer restrictions on grape usage. 

Front 41

Appellations of Anjou-Saumur

Back 41

AnjouRosé d'Anjou, Anjou-Villages, Anjou-Villages Brissac, Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire, Cabernet d’AnjouCabernet de Saumur, Coteaux de l’Aubance, Coteaux du Layon, Bonnezeaux, Quarts du Chaume, Savennières, Savennières-Roche aux Moines, Savennières-Coulée de Serrant, Saumur, Saumur-Champigny, Coteaux de Saumur, Haut-Poitou (south of Saumur and Touraine)

Front 42

What is the “field of fire?

Back 42

While the soft tuffeau limestone soils of Saumur resemble those of Touraine, near the commune of Champigny—the “field of fire”—the limestone is harder, iron-rich and inflected with shale.  Eight surrounding villages may produce the red wine Saumur-Champigny, a light, bright and elegantly floral expression of Cabernet Franc.  Haut-Poitou, about 50 miles due south of Chinon and the eastern edge of Saumur, achieved AOC/AOP status in late 2011 with the dissolution of the VDQS category.

Front 43

What is classic Loire Valley Cabernet Franc?

Back 43

Chinon AOP, Bourgueil AOP, and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOP set the standard for classic Loire Cabernet Franc.  Brimming with raspberry and green tobacco aromatics and framed by silky tannin, the wines demonstrate remarkable terroir distinctions—especially in Chinon.

Front 44

Chinon soils?

Back 44

Chinon soils are broadly divided into three types: tuffeau, clay, and varennes.  The sandy, alluvial varennes soils are closest to the river Vienne—a Loire tributary—whereas tuffeau is more common on the slopes.

Front 45

Wine production in Chinon, and Bourgueil, and St. Nicolas...

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All three appellations permit the addition of up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil offer only red and rosé wines, whereas Chinon produces a small amount of white wine from Chenin Blanc.

Front 46

What is largest and most important white wine district in Touraine - and couple words about it?

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Vouvray AOP is Touraine’s largest and most important white wine district.  The tuffeau limestone subsoil of Vouvray provided soft material for excavation, resulting in an impressive network of cellar tunnels running underneath the eight delimited communes of Vouvray.  The wines are produced from Chenin Blanc; the rustic Orbois (Menu Pineau) grape is allowed but seldom encountered.  Vouvray may be produced in a range of sweetness levels: sec, sec-tendre (off-dry), demi-sec, moelleux, and liquereux. The final decision on residual sugar is usually a response to the vagaries of each vintage, rather than a consistent stylistic choice.  Vouvray producers may also choose to make a sparkling wine, a successful strategy in cooler years.  The sparkling wines are made by méthode traditionnelle and may be either pétillantor mousseux.