Loire

Question 1

CREMANT DE LOIRE- highlights

Where is sparking wine grown in Loire?

Answer 1

7 sparkling wine appellations in the Loire

3 major ones: Crémant de Loire, Vouvray, and Saumur

• account for 13% of Loire Appellation wines
• production centered around Saumur for Crémant de Loire and sparking Saumur.

Question 2

CREMANT DE LOIRE- highlights

describe the typical Cremant de Loire?

Answer 2

90% is white, Chenin Blanc dominant

med intensity apple, citrus, light toasty autolytic notes

-wine with 2-3 years age can develop honeyed aromas

-high acidity, most brut in style but Demi-Sec is also made

Brut Nature increasingly popular

priced mid priced with few premiums

Question 3

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

Cremant de Loire covers what regions?

Answer 3

vineyard area declared for production have increase from 1,600Ha in 2012 to 2,100Ha in 2017.

Fruits grown in districts of Anjou-Saumur and Touraine only

200km stretch of river Loire and tributaries

river moderates temperature

most fruit is sourced zone south and south-west of Saumur

Question 4

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

Climate?

Answer 4

Atlantic Ocean extends cool, mile influence to just east of Tours

covering most of the delimited appellation

Tours is in the center or Touraine

___ produces w/ low potential alcohol, high acidity level

hazard fungal disease and untimely rain (flowering/ fruit set, harvest)

Question 5

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

Soils?

Answer 5

Wide range of soils – clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel, tuff

ANJOU- schist and limestone

TOURAINE- chalk

• good drainage and water retention characteristic of limestone
• Tuff rock excavated for building -castles make caves for maturation chambers for lees ageing

Question 6

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

Soils best exposed sites?

Answer 6

Lower % of clay sites are kept for still wines, and will be a little warmer -producing fruit with concentration and ripeness

Higher % of clay sites are made into sparkling wines,

-takes longer to get warm

-higher acidity b/c not as ripe at harvest

Highest % of clay not in appellation as it would be too cold and lack good drainage

Question 7

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

choice of root stock?

Answer 7

due to the lime content in soil and need to protect against chlorosis the following are used:

Fercal

Riparia Gloire de Montpellier

Question 8

rootstock: Riparia Gloire de Montpellier

Answer 8

, are tolerant of water-logged soil and so can be useful in regions with high rainfall and water-retaining soils. In areas where salinity (high levels of salt in the water) is a problem,

– Rootstocks can be used to moderate or enhance the vigor of the vine. Low vigor rootstocks can advance ripening, which may be useful in cool climates.

Question 9

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

Grape varieties

Answer 9

Chenin Blanc of the most part

Cab franc, Cab sauv, Grolleau Noir, Gris, Pineau d’aunis, PN and Chardonnay

• max of 30% of Cab sauv and Pineau d aunis is allowed either together or separately

Suav Blanc not suited for traditional method

Question 10

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

Winemaking

Answer 10

Pneumatic press to produce the juice

1^st ferm in steel tanks, oak flavors not desired mostly

some top cuvess are fem in oak

• MLF choices of all. part, and none
• may be blended before 2^nd ferm
• 9mts to 2 years lees ageing - time on lees varies
• reserve more typical as premium wine

Question 11

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

prestige de Loire

Answer 11

2018 launch

aim to establish wine at a minimum price

white wine from Chenin Blanc, Cab franc, chard, PN

single or blended 24mts on lees age required

vintage dated

brut style including nature and extra brut

producers achieve enviro standards, aiming sustainable viticulture in 5 years

Question 12

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Crémant de Loire

structure of industry

Answer 12

19 houses 10 co -ops 400 producer

9 large houses account for 80% of production

Ackerman, Bouvet-Ladubay, Gratien & Meyer, Veuve-Amiot and Langlois-Chateau

• larger house grow own grapes and buy fruit
• buying grapes vs buying must means health of fruit can be checked before pressing
• around ½ sparking wine is exported to Germany, US, UK

Question 13

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Saumur Mousseux and Vouvray Mousseux

highlights?

Answer 13

Saumur and Vouvray make both still and sparking

ratio approx. 60:40

deep cellars carved from tuff are feature of both area and ideal for lees aging

Mousseux is an option w/in __ appellations to make still white

Question 14

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Saumur Mousseux and Vouvray Mousseux

Saumur Mousseux

Answer 14

must be minimum 60% Chenin Blanc

may contain 10% Sauv blanc

Rose: must be 60% Cab Franc and can have 10% sauv blanc

Machine harvest allowed

more juice can be extracted than for crémant 100 L from 130Kilos

enabling producers to make more wine, cheaper, potentially lower quality

Question 15

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Saumur Mousseux and Vouvray Mousseux

Vouvray Mousseux

Answer 15

Chenin Blanc dominant

Orbois also permitted to take minority blend

Vouvray Petillant (lightly sparking) and grow fashion for PetNat

Question 16

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Saumur Mousseux and Vouvray Mousseux

2^nd ferm notes for both AOCs

Answer 16

common to entrust specialist for ferment sparking

• don’t have equipment or expertise
• custom crush bottling, 2^nd ferm, lees age, disgorgement, and labeling with producers’ label & distribution

Question 17

CREMANT DE LOIRE- Saumur Mousseux and Vouvray Mousseux

vineyard notes for both AOCs

Answer 17

AOC pruning for 20% greater crop load for still wine,

attractive for growers to make sparking = less risk grapes

grapes picked early –lower chace of rain issues or botrytis spoilage