The Loire Valley Vineyards and Their Wines 2019 Edition
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THE LOIRE VALLEY VINEYARDS AND THEIR WINES 2019 EDITION www.vinsvaldeloire.fr • www.vins-centre-loire.com THE LOIRE VALLEY VINEYARDS AND THEIR WINES General Overview History of the Vineyards Soils, Climate and Grapes AOP/IGP Wines Key figures www.vinsvaldeloire.fr • www.vins-centre-loire.com GENERAL OVERVIEW The Vineyards of France The Vineyards of the Loire Valley www.vinsvaldeloire.fr • www.vins-centre-loire.com 4 THE VINEYARDS Page OF FRANCE The Loire Valley 47° North The main winegrowing regions in France are: • Bordeaux • The Rhône Valley • Burgundy • Champagne • Alsace • Languedoc The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • General Overview 5 THE LOIRE VALLEY VINEYARDS Page FRANCE’s 3RD LARGEST AOP WINEGROWING AREA The longest, most diverse vineyard area in France. Stretches horizontally across the country, giving it a unique profile. The Loire Valley vineyards are made up of several discrete vineyard areas. Touraine Anjou-Saumur Centre-Loire Nantais Auvergne The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • General Overview THE HISTORY OF THE VINEYARDS From the birth of the vineyards in the 5th century to the present day www.vinsvaldeloire.fr • www.vins-centre-loire.com 7 THE LOIRE VALLEY VINEYARDS Page AN INTEGRAL PART OF FRENCH HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE 4TH CENTURY 4th century: The birth of the Loire vineyards From the Middle Ages to the 17th century: First the religious orders, then the Kings of France, played a major part in developing the Loire Valley vineyards. The Loire: The river Loire is an inextricable part of the vineyard landscape, casIng its unique light over the surroundings and creaIng a breathtaking panorama. The Châteaux on the Loire: One of the most popular tourist desInaIons in France. Home of writers and other notable personaliFes: Including Joan of Arc, Leonardo da Vinci, Jules Verne, Balzac, Rabelais and George Sand. The Loire Valley is the largest French region to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jeanne d’Arc Léonard de Vinci François Rabelais Honoré de Balzac The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • History 15 THE LOIRE VALLEY VINEYARDS Page PRESENT DAY: THE SUSTAINABILITY REVOLUTION Since the end of the 1990s, the Loire Valley winegrowing sector has been fully commiSed to taking a more environmentally responsible approach to its winegrowing acFviFes, intervening only where strictly necessary. Today 47% of the Loire Valley winemakers farm organically or are engaged in a sustainable cer/fica/on (1380 winemakers). = 51% of the lands (23 425 ha) Between 2018 and 2020 : +149% organic farming Today the Loire Valley are proud to acknowledge their close bonds with their terroir and the unrivalled quality of their wines. The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • History SOILS, CLIMATE AND GRAPES The Loire River Basin and its Geology: A basis for diversity Climate: Tidal influences and the Loire Grapes: A wide range of different varieAes www.vinsvaldeloire.fr • www.vins-centre-loire.com 17 THE LOIRE VALLEY Page THE LOIRE RIVER BASIN The Loire is the longest river in France, its hydrographic network covering a full one-fih of the country. The Loire and its tributaries have an essenIal part to play in the idenIty and variety of Loire Valley wines. The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 18 THE LOIRE VALLEY Page SUB SOILS: TWO ANCIENT MASSIFS FLANKING THE PARIS BASIN Massif Armoricain Bassin (ancient bedrock) Parisien Kimmeridgian (sedimentary) Massif Central (ancient bedrock) The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 19 THE LOIRE VINEYARDS Page A WIDE VARIETY OF SOIL TYPES Nantais Anjou Saumur Touraine Centre-Loire Auvergne Igneous rock from the Schist and sandstone Tuffeau (chalk) Tuffeau to the west, with siliceous clay Kimmeridgian limestone, flint Mica schist, Armorican Massif (black soils) and siliceous sand to the east,and and gravel sandstone and (gneiss, mica, calcareous clay slopes and light gravel granite greenstone rock and on the banks of the Loire. granite). The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 0 2 THE LOIRE VINEYARDS Page CLIMATE: TIDAL INFLUENCES AND THE LOIRE The Loire Valley microclimates change according to alItude and slope orientaIon. The prevailing westerly wind - and someImes the north-easterly breeze - can have a greater or lesser impact on vineyard microclimate. 400 km The « buffer effect » can be a decisive factor in the producCon of sweet wines C° Oceanic climate Semi oceanic / semi continental climate Con7nental climate The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 2 2 8 2 THE LOIRE VALLEY agPage e WHICH VARIETAL GROWS WHERE P Sauvignon Blanc Cabernet Franc and Chenin Pinot Noir Melon de Bourgogne Côt Gamay Folle Blanche Grolleau Chardonnay The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 3 2 THE LOIRE VALLEY Page LOIRE VALLEY WHITE VARIETALS Melon de Bourgogne Sauvignon Blanc 3 main varietals: 30% 28% Melon de Bourgogne, Chenin blanc et Sauvignon blanc. Other varietals include:FolleBlanche,Chardonnay,Chasselas, Divers Romorantin Sauvignon Gris and Tressalier. 4% Folle Blanche These are made into dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling wines, 3% mostly single-varietal. Chardonnay Chenin Blanc 8% 27% The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 24 LOIRE VALLEY WINES Page VARIETALS FOR WHITE WINES Melon de Bourgogne Sauvignon Chardonnay • Muscadets • Haut Poitou (Sauvignon Gris) • Côtes d’Auvergne • Côtes de Tannay (IGP) • Touraine • Côtes de la Charité (IGP) • Reuilly RomoranFn Folle Blanche • Quincy Melon de Bourgogne : • Menetou-Salon dans le Pays Nantais • Gros Plant du Pays Nantais • Cour Cheverny • Sancerre • Pouilly Fumé Chasselas Chenin Blanc • Coteaux du Giennois • Pouilly-sur-Loire • Savennières • Coulée de Serrant Blends and single varietal Chenin : • Savennières Roche aux Moines Anjou Saumur et • Anjou • Coteaux du Vendômois Touraine • Saumur • Cheverny • Jasnieres • Touraine Mesland • Coteaux du Loir • Valençay • Vouvray • Orléans • Montlouis-sur-Loire • Fiefs Vendéens • Touraine Amboise Sauvignon Blanc : • Saint-Pourçain (Tressallier) Centre Loire et • Touraine Azay-le-Rideau Touraine • IGP Val de Loire (Sauvignon, Chardonnay…) The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 25 LOIRE VALLEY WINES VARIETALS FOR Page SEMI-SWEET AND SWEET WHITE WINES Chenin Blanc • Anjou Coteaux de la Loire • Coteaux de l’Aubance • Coteaux du Layon et « Villages » • Coteaux du Layon 1er cru Chaume • Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru • Bonnezeaux • Coteaux de Saumur • Savennières • Vouvray • Montlouis-sur-Loire • Jasnières • Coteaux du Loir Chenin Blanc grapes with Malvoisie (Pinot Gris) concentrated sugars, showing the start of botry@s cinerea. • Coteaux d’Ancenis (demi-secs) The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 26 LOIRE VALLEY WINES Page VARIETALS FOR SPARKLING WINES Chenin Blanc Blends • Vouvray • Anjou • Montlouis-sur-Loire • Saumur • Touraine • Crémant de Loire Chenin et Chardonnay : Anjou Saumur et Touraine The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 27 LOIRE VALLEY Page LOIRE VALLEY RED VARIETALS The 3 main varietals are Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Pinot Noir 56% 5% Other varietals include: Grolleau, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pineau Divers d’Aunis, Côt and Négrette. 6% Grolleau Used to make reds, rosés and sparkling 7% wines, mostly as single varietals. Gamay Pinot Noir 18% 8% The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 28 LOIRE VALLEY WINES Page VARIETALS FOR RED WINES Cabernet Franc Blends and single varietal • Anjou • Fiefs Vendéens (Négrette) • Anjou-Villages • Côtes d’Auvergne • Anjou Brissac • Haut Poitou • Saumur • Touraine Mesland • Saumur Champigny • Touraine Amboise (Côt) • Saumur Puy Notre dame • Coteaux du Loir (Pineau d’Aunis) Cabernet Franc • Bourgueil • Coteaux du Vendômois (Pineau d’Aunis) • Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil • Valençay • Chinon • Cheverny • Orléans-Clery • Touraine • Orléans Gamay • Coteaux du Giennois • Châteaumeillant • Coteaux d’Ancenis • St Pourçain • Anjou Gamay • IGP Val de Loire (Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir…) Gamay • Touraine Gamay Pinot Noir • Sancerre • Reuilly • Menetou salon • Côtes de la Charité (IGP) Pinot Noir The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes 29 LOIRE VALLEY WINES VARIETALS FOR Page ROSÉ WINES Cabernet Franc Blends and single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon • Rosé d’Anjou (tendre) • Cabernet d’Anjou (tendre) • Rosé de Loire • Chinon • Haut Poitou • Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil • Touraine • Bourgueil • Touraine Amboise • Touraine Mesland Cabernet Franc Pinot Noir • Touraine Noble-Joué • Touraine Azay-le-Rideau The only region in the world to • Sancerre • Valençay ‘rosés tendre'. • Menetou-Salon • Cheverny • Orléans Pinot Gris • Coteaux du Giennois • Châteaumeillant • Reuilly • Côtes d’Auvergne Gamay • Coteaux du Loir Pineau d’Aunis • IGP Val de Loire (Gamay, Cabernet Franc…) • Coteaux du Vendômois Gamay • Saint Pourçain Pinot Noir The Loire Valley Vineyards and their Wines • Soils, climate, grapes THE COMBINATION OF 0 SOILS , CLIMATES AND VARIETALS 3 EXPRESS THE WIDE DIVERSITY OF LOIRE VALLEY WINES Page OCEANIC CLIMATE SEMI OCEANIQUE / SEMI CONTINENTAL CLIMATE CONTINENTAL CLIMATE Tidal and river (Loire) influences Paris Basin Armorican Massif Regulation zone Kimmeridgien Pinot Noir Sauvignon Blanc Melon de Bourgogne Cabernet Franc et Chenin Blanc Massif Central VIGNOBLES NANTAIS VIGNOBLES D’ANJOU-SAUMUR VIGNOBLES DE LA TOURAINE VIGNOBLES