The region of the Loire is also known as what?
Le Jardin de la France.
In terms of production the Loire is _____ for white wine and _____ for sparkling wine?
The Loire valley is the largest white wine region and the second largest producer of sparkling wine. It is France’s fourth largest overall producer of AOC wines.
When did organized viticulture first come to the Loire region?
Organized Viticulture first came to the Loire as early as the 1st century.
- The Romans occupied this portion of Gaul.
- Climate was favorable for a wide selection of grape varieties and
- River traffic ensure it was a commercial success.
What happened in 1152 and how did it effect the Loire Valley?
In 1152, marriage of Eleanor of Aquitain to the Count of Anjou, Henry PLantagenet, took place.
- Their combined land holdings included
- Aquitaine,
- Gascony,
- and the Rich and Fertile Loire Valley.
- The wines of the Loire were served at the King’s table in England.
What happened in the town of Chinon in 1492?
Joan of Arc persuaded the heir apparent and future King, Charles VII, to accept the French crown.
- This set up the foundations for an independant nation.
- The ecclesiatical authorities (Augustinians and Benedictines) promoted wine culture throughout the 17th century
How did the 1600s benefite the Loire valley?
Despite the wars, the Loire became the key supplier of wine to England and the Netherlands.
- The Dutch pushed for more white cultivars (Muscadet and Folle Blanche) so that the Dutch could produce brandewijn.
- This continued for the next two centuries.
How important were the river ways to the Loire valley?
The rivers were very important. So much so that :
- in 1834 an average of 50 boats per day sailed past Orléans en rout to Paris carrying wine bottles.
- Once the railroad could bring wine from other regions … the Loire began to decline.
- In 1880 Phylloxera hit.
What were the first AOCs in the Loire
The first AOCs in the Loire were granted in 1936 to :
- Quincy
- Anjou
- Muscadet
- Sancerre and
- Vouvray
How many AOCs are there in the Loire today and how many acres do they cover?
Today there are approximately :
- 70 different AOCS in the Loire
- 125,000 acres of vineyard land exist in the Loire.
Where is the Loire located on the French wine map?
The Loire valley is in the middle portion on the western coast of France. It is bordered :
- By Cognac to the South.
- Normandy to the North
- The Atlantic on the West
- Bourgogne and the Massif Central Mountains on the East.
How does the Loire river flow through the Loire valley wine region?
The Loire valley stretches more than 620 miles from its headwaters in Central France to its delta on the Atlantic Coast.
- Empties into the Bay of Biscay.
- Most vineyards flank the expansive waterway or its tributaries.
- The River flows North to start and then turns West at Orléans.
What is the climate of the Loire valley.
Depending on the sub-region the Loire valley has different climates.
- Pays Nantais / Lower Loire - possesses a distinct maritime climate
- Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine/Middle Loire - Possesses a maritime climate with continetal influences.
- Centre and Upper Loire - Possesses a continental climate.
How does the Loire River effect the vineyards of the Loire?
The Loire river helps to warm the vineyards that flank it.
- Temperatures near the river itself are an average of two to four degrees warmer on any given day.
- The tributaries also assist in creating favorable mesoclimates suitable to ripening grapes.
How does the Gulf Stream influence the vineyards in the Loire valley?
The Gulf Stream helps to funnel soft breezes from the Atlantic Coast all the way to Orléans.
- This helps soften a potentially harsher climate.
