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32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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LOCATION/GEOGRAPHY/TOPOGRAPHY
›› including altitude and slopes |
›› Loire France’s longest river
›› Loire Valley stretches last 600kms ›› Approx same latitude of 47°N ›› Altitudes - Nantes 26m; Tours 108m, Bourges 161m ›› Four major sub-regions - Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur, Nantais ›› Varied and complex wine district |
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CLIMATE
›› in general terms ›› GENERAL |
›› Ranges from Continental in Central Vineyards to Maritime Continental in Nantes
›› Many tributaries along the Loire River also have sub-regional influence ›› Best vineyards found on south-facing slopes for sun and warmth, on left bank (northern) |
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CLIMATE
›› in general terms ›› SUB-REGIONS |
›› CENTRAL VINEYARDS - continental with severe winters and hot summers - spring frosts, summer hail
›› TOURAINE - continental - cold winter, warm summer - not as extreme as Central vineyards ›› ANJOU-SAUMUR - maritime, but dryer and warmer than Nantais - all day sun and winds ›› NANTAIS - maritime - temperate, damp and humid - mild winters and summers |
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WEATHER
›› factors which create variation, e.g. frost, hail ›› GENERAL |
›› Avg temp approx 16° across valley
›› Annual rainfall - Nantes 820mm, Tours 696mm, Bourges 748mm ›› September harvest for maritime Nantais, Anjou-Saumur and continental Central vineyards ›› October harvest for cooler continental Touraine |
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WEATHER
›› factors which create variation, e.g. frost, hail ›› SUB-REGIONS |
›› Hazards
- CENTRAL VINEYARDS - spring frosts, summer hail - TOURAINE - Underripeness - need to make several passes through vineyard, fungal disease - ANJOU-SAUMUR - winds - NANTAIS - humidity |
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SOIL
›› all types in the area in question ›› CENTRAL and TOURAINE |
›› CENTRAL VINEYARDS - chalky soils (Sancerre) or silex flint interspersed with limestone (Pouilly-Fume); well-draining soil rich in marine fossils
›› TOURAINE - well-draining limestone soils, rich in calcium and marine fossils (around Vouvray - tuffeau); Chinon, three different soil types: - Vienne River Valley - sandy - Plateau north of Chinon - clay and gravel - Hillside slopes - limestone |
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SOIL
›› all types in the area in question ›› ANJOU-SAUMUR and NANTAIS |
›› ANJOU-SAUMUR - mixture of volcanic, metamorphic, schist, limestone (tuffeau) and carboniferous rock
›› NANTAIS - diverse soils, mainly well-drained schist and gneiss with some granite and sand |
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GRAPE VARIETIES
›› colour, characteristics, ability to age |
›› CENTRAL - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
›› TOURAINE - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Malbec ›› ANJOU-SAUMUR - Chenin Blanc, Grolleau (r)(Anjou only), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gamay ›› NANTAIS - Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet) |
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VITICULTURE
›› including applicable legislation and current issues |
›› 4,000-5,000 vines/ha (up to 10,000 in Sancerre)
›› Consolidated family holdings, averaging around 25ha ›› Mechanical harvesting fairly common, but can’t be used for sweet wines of the middle Loire, where successive TRIES are made to select parcels of grapes at optimum ripeness |
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VINIFICATION
›› including applicable legislation and current issues ›› PART 1 |
›› Traditionally avoid malolactic fermentation and new oak
›› Store wines in inert containers (tanks, concrete, old large format oak) ›› Bottle wines early, possibly after some lees contact (in the case of Muscadet) ›› For many years, reds suffered from lack of extraction ›› Chaptalisation the norm in the Loire, for red and white - max 2.5% alcoholic strength |
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VINIFICATION
›› including applicable legislation and current issues ›› PART 2 |
›› Post drop in demand in 80s/90s:
- experimentation began with barrel fermentation and maturation - some winemakers encouraged malolactic fermentation - red winemakers extracted greater colour and tannin through prolonged skin contact, temperature control, pumping over - skin contact also introduced for some white wines, especially some sauvignons |
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WINE STYLES
›› including spectrum of quality and ability to age ›› GENERAL |
›› No graded classification per Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace
›› No generic regional appellation - Vin de Pays du Val de Loire covers the 13 departements - easy-drinkiing with freshness, light body and simple fruit flavours |
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WINE STYLES
›› including spectrum of quality and ability to age ›› CENTRAL VINEYARDS |
›› Fine white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and some Pinot Gris - herbaceous, elderflower and gooseberry character and high in acidity; develop smoky minerality with age
›› Roses and reds made from Pinot Noir ›› Mostly premium wine producing region, with good propensity for some ageing |
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WINE STYLES
›› including spectrum of quality and ability to age ›› TOURAINE |
›› Range of style of whites from herbal, generic Sauvignon Blanc to purely expressive Chenin Blanc, both dry, sweet and sparkling; premium Chenin Blancs have a good propensity to age
›› Range of style of reds from generic Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Malbec to premium Cabernet Franc with good propensity to age |
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WINE STYLES
›› including spectrum of quality and ability to age ›› ANJOU-SAUMUR |
›› Generic and premium Chenin Blanc in dry to sweet styles, as well as sparkling; very best dry wines in Savennieres and sweet wines in Coteaux du Layon
›› Fresh, fruity, supple and rich styles of roses and reds made from Cabernet Franc, high quality Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau and Gamay blends (Grolleau Anjou AC only) |
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WINE STYLES
›› including spectrum of quality and ability to age ›› NANTAIS |
›› Fresh, delicate, mainly neutral but mineral-driven whites from Melon de Bourgogne; sometimes show added complexity from time on lees
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SCALE OF PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRY SIGNIFICANCE
›› quality, quantity, icon wines |
VINEYARD SIZE
›› Loire Valley - 70,000ha PRODUCTION ›› 1.5-2 million hectolitres - 3rd after Gironde and Rhone |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› GENERAL |
›› Over 70 appellations
›› Extensive differences in terroir and laws governing legal grape varieties ›› Best vineyards on south-facing slopes on left bank of the Loire River (except Savennieres) |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› CENTRAL VINEYARDS |
›› SANCERRE - Red and White, 15 villages, Sauvingon Blanc dominant, traditionally fermented in old oak casks, but now stainless steel; best vineyards reserved for Sauvignon Blanc, 20% vineyards for red and rose, so fruity, light styles
›› POUILLY-FUME - White only, opposite side of Loire from Sancerre, less steeply marked slopes, similar wine style, but often softer because of extended ageing in old oak ›› MENETOU-SALON, REUILLY, QUINCY - west and south of Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris (Reuilly) - moderately prices alternatives to Sancerre and Pouilly Fume |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› TOURAINE ›› PART 1 |
›› TOURAINE - Generic appellation, covers whole region - reds from Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Malbec; whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc; may appear under variety
›› MONTLOUIS - across river from Vouvray - similar wines ›› SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGEUIL - across river and north of Chinon, producing similar wines |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› TOURAINE ›› PART 2 |
›› CHINON - Almost all Cabernet Franc with some rose and Chenin Blanc (2%) - traditionally aged in old oak, experimenting with new oak - three styles:
- Vienne River Valley - light and fruity - Plateau north of Chinon - fuller-bodied with firm tannins - Hillside slopes - finest wines |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› ANJOU-SAUMUR ›› PART 1 |
›› ANJOU - generic appellation for red, rose, whites - has three rose appellations
- Cabernet d’Anjou - medium sweet Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend - Rose d’Anjou - less sweet, Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Grolleau blend - Rose de Loire - dry with at least 30% Cabernet grapes ›› SAUMUR - dry to lusciously sweet Chenin Blanc |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› ANJOU-SAUMUR ›› PART 2 |
›› SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY - red from Cabernet Franc
›› COTEAUX DU LAYON - lusciously sweet Chenin Blanc - two top sites - Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux ›› SAVENNIERES - full-bodied, late harvest Chenin Blanc - two styles - honeyed and smoky with age or riper wines drinkable when young |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› NANTAIS |
›› MUSCADET - basic regional appellation - chaptalisation allowed up to 12%
›› MUSCADET SEVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE - vineyards on rolling hills with high quality sites ›› MUSCADET COTE DE GRANDLIEU - recently established, closer to the Atlantic ›› MUSCADET COTEAUX DE LA LOIRE - longest established vineyards in Muscadet - fuller bodied and less acidic |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› SUR LIE ›› PART 1 |
›› May be mentioned on labels if methodology follows AC rules
›› One racking to remove gross lees permitted ›› Lees contact over winter until bottling ›› Filtering allowed immediately before bottling |
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LEGISLATION
›› classification systems and QWPSR structure, if relevant ›› SUR LIE ›› PART 2 |
›› Bottling must take place between either -
- 1st March to 30th June; or - 15th October to 30th November ›› Wine released for sale after third Thursday in March ›› Must be bottled in winery where wine made, so negociants must buy grapes or must only |
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HISTORY
›› including factors which are relevant to the question and today’s position |
›› Thriving early wine trade due to the Loire and access to the Atlantic
›› French Revolution and modern transportation led to decline (competition from other areas)
›› Sales recovered after WWII ›› Muscadet struggled in exports markets after severe frost in 1991 - now regaining popularity with fruity styles ›› Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume been very successful, enabling prices to rise and vineyard investment ›› Recently, focus on reds improving phenolic ripeness leading to a softer, less austere style |
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CURRENT ISSUES INCLUDING MARKETING
›› key producers, hot topics, brands, generic activity ›› KEY PRODUCERS |
›› Didier Dageneau, Boulay, Gaston Huet, Salmon, Vacheron, Christian Salmon, Yannick Amirault, Nicolas Joly, Bredif
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CURRENT ISSUES INCLUDING MARKETING
›› key producers, hot topics, brands, generic activity ›› HOT TOPICS |
›› Difficulty in achieving phenological ripeness - means can’t add richness and complexity with oak to create more premium wines
›› Investment in marketing and communication - little info available - complication in wine names and identities ›› Suffer enormously when unexpected spring frosts come through - financial burden overlaps many years |
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HISTORY
›› including factors which are relevant to the question and today’s position |
›› Changed many times from French to German rule and back over many centuries
›› Was part of Germany until end of WWI ›› Under German rule, was a bulk producer of average wine ›› Focus on quality started with rule of France ›› Hybrid vines banned in 1925 ›› AC Legislation applied in 1962, bottling by flute made law in 1972 |
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CURRENT ISSUES INCLUDING MARKETING
›› key producers, hot topics, brands, generic activity ›› KEY PRODUCERS |
›› Hugel, Caves de Turckheim, Albert Mann, Marcel Deiss, Domaine Weinbach, Domaine Ostertag, Trimbach, Zind Humbrecht, Cave de Ribeauville, Beyer
›› Trimbach and Deiss don’t support Grand Cru system, so sit outside of it |
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CURRENT ISSUES INCLUDING MARKETING
›› key producers, hot topics, brands, generic activity ›› HOT TOPICS |
›› Size of Grand Crus - there is no quality ranking, so either Alsace AC or Grand Cru - no in-between, so varying qualities among Grand Cru sites
›› Sweetness of wines - dry wines considered sweet by sommeliers, eg dry wine is 15g residual sugar ›› Terroir - Alsace AC covers whole region, not individual terroirs, of which there are around 20 different soil types |
