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利用者:Capsellanaut/sandbox

The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the river Loire from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France. In between are the regions of Anjou wine, Saumur, Bourgueil, Chinon, and Vouvray. The Loire Valley itself follows the river through the Loire department to the river's origins in the Cévennes but the majority of the wine production takes place in the regions noted above. The area includes 87 appellations under the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) and Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) systems. While the majority of production is white wine from the Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Melon de Bourgogne grapes, there are red wines made (especially around the Chinon region) from Cabernet franc. In addition to still wines, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines are also produced. With Crémant production throughout the Loire, it is the second largest sparkling wine producer in France after Champagne.[1] Among these different wine styles, Loire wines tend to exhibit characteristic fruitiness with fresh, crisp flavors-especially in their youth.[2] The Loire Valley has a long history of winemaking dating back to the 1st century. In the High Middle Ages, the wines of the Loire Valley were the most esteemed wines in England and France, even more prized than those from Bordeaux.[3]

ロワールワインは、フランスロワール川に沿った地域で生産されるワインである。該当する地域は、大西洋岸の都市ナントに近くに存在する生産地域であるミュスカデから、中央フランス北部の都市オルレアンの南に位置するサンセールプイィ・フュメにまで広がる。その間には、アンジューソーミュールブルグイユシノンヴーヴレといった産地が存在する。ロワール渓谷自体は、源流であるセヴェンヌ山脈から続いているが、ワイン生産が主に行われるのは先に挙げた地域である。AOCおよびIGPの規定により87のアペラシオンが存在する。造られるワインはシュナン・ブランソーヴィニヨン・ブランムロン・ド・ブルゴーニュといった品種で作られる白ワインが多いが、例えばシノン周辺では赤ワインも造られる。そのほか、ロゼワインスパークリングワインデザートワインも造られている。クレマン[注釈 1]はロワール全域で生産されており、スパークリングワインの生産量としてはシャンパーニュに次いでフランスで2番目に多い[1]。様々なスタイルのワインが作られているが、総じて若いワインはフレッシュで爽やかな果実味を持つ傾向にある[2]。ロワールでのワイン造りは紀元後1世紀にまでさかのぼる長い歴史がある。中世盛期においてはロワールワインはイングランドとフランスにおいて最も高い評価を得ていた[3]

歴史[編集]

Archaeological evidence suggest that the Romans planted the first vineyards in the Loire Valley during their settlement of Gaul in the 1st century AD. By the 5th century, the flourishing viticulture of the area was noted in a publication by the poet Sidonius Apollinaris. In his work the History of the Franks, Bishop Gregory of Tours wrote of the frequent plundering by the Bretons of the area's wine stocks. By the 11th century the wines of Sancerre had a reputation across Europe for their high quality. In the High Middle Ages, the wines of the Loire Valley were the most esteemed wines in England and France, even more prized than those from Bordeaux.[3]

考古学的な証拠から、ロワール渓谷にブドウ畑が拓かれたのは紀元後1世紀のことで、ガリア人の定住とともに行われたと考えられている。5世紀までにはこの地でブドウ栽培がさかんに行われるようになっていたことが、詩人シドニウス・アポリナリスの著作に記されている。トゥールのグレゴリウスの著作『フランク史』によれば、この地域のワインの在庫はブルトン人[2]よってしばしば強奪されていたという。11世紀まにでは、サンセールのワインはヨーロッパ中にその品質の高さを知られていた。中世盛期においては、ロワールワインはイングランドとフランスにおいて最も貴ばれたワインであるといえ、ボルドーワインよりも評価が高かった[3]

気候と地理[編集]

The Loire River near the town of Champtoceaux in the Anjou wine region.

The Loire river has a significant effect on the mesoclimate of the region, adding the necessary extra few degrees of temperature /that allows grapes to grow /when the areas to the north and south of the Loire Valley have shown to be unfavorable to viticulture. In addition to finding vineyards along the Loire, several of the river's tributaries are also well planted-including the rivers Allier, Cher, Indre, Loir, Sèvre Nantaise and Vienne.[2] The area has a continental climate that is influenced heavily by the Loire and the Atlantic Ocean at the western edge of the region. The climate can be very cool with spring time frost being a potential hazard for the vines. During the harvest months rain can cause the grapes to be harvested under ripe but can also aid in the development of Botrytis cinerea for the region's dessert wines.[3]

ロワール川は地域のミクロクリマ[注釈 2]に極めて大きな影響を与える。ロワール渓谷の南北の地域はブドウ栽培に適さないような気候であるが、ロワール川の影響で気温が数度上昇するためにブドウの成熟が可能になる。ロワール川流域のほか、アリエ川シェール川アンドル川ロワール川[注釈 3]セーヴル・ナンテーズ川ヴィエンヌ川といったいくつかの支流沿いの地域でもブドウ栽培はさかんである[2]。この地域は大陸性気候であり、ロワール川の影響を大きく受けるほか、大西洋岸の地域では大西洋の影響も強い。気候は冷涼であり、春に霜害を受けるとワイン生産にとって有害である。収穫期に降雨がある場合、雨を避けて成熟が不十分なままブドウを収穫しなくてはならないことがあるが、貴腐菌の付着が促進されデザートワインの生産に寄与することもある[3]

アンジェ(アンジュー)の月毎の気温、降水量、日照時間は以下のとおりである。

Temperature, rainfall and average sunshine time in Angers (Anjou):

1月 2月 3月 4月 5月 6月 7月 8月 9月 10月 11月 12月 年平均
平均最低気温 (°C) 2,1 2,2 3,9 5,6 8,9 11,8 13,6 13,4 11,3 8,4 4,6 2,8 7,4
平均気温 (°C) 5 5,7 8,2 10.4 13,9 16,2 19,2 19,1 16,5 12,7 8 5,6 11,8
平均最高気温 (°C) 7,9 9,2 12,6 15,3 19 22,6 24,9 24,7 21,8 17 11,4 8,4 16,2
平均降水量 (mm) 62,1 50,8 51,7 44,6 54,4 41,2 43,8 44,9 52,2 59,6 64,5 63,4 633,4
1か月間の日照時間 (hour/month) 70 92 141 179 201 234 248 237 191 129 89 65 1877
出典 : Climatology from 1947 to 2008 - Angers, France

ブドウ栽培と醸造[編集]

ロワール渓谷、ソーミュール近くのブドウ畑

With over 185,000エーカー (750 km2) planted under vine, the Loire Valley is about two-thirds the size of the Bordeaux wine region.[4] Due to its location and marginal climate, the overall quality of a vintage has a dramatic effect on the quality of the region's wines—more so than with other French wine regions. The most common hazard is that the cool climate will prevent the grapes from ripening fully and developing the sugars needed to balance the naturally high acidity of the grapes. During these cool vintages the Sauvignon blanc based wines are lighter in color, less fruity and have more pronounced mineral notes. The Cabernet franc based wines are also lighter in color with more vegetal or "weed"-like aromas. In riper vintages, a Loire Cabernet franc will develop aromas of raspberries and lead pencil shavings.[2]

ロワールにおけるブドウの栽培面積は75,000ヘクタールを超えており、これはボルドーの3分の2程度にあたる。地理的な要因とブドウ栽培の限界に近い気候のため、ヴィンテージの良し悪しがロワールワインの出来栄えに極めて大きな影響を与え、フランスの他のワイン産地よりもヴィンテージ間の差分は大きい。特に、低温によりブドウの成熟が妨げられることは発生しやすく、糖度が十分に上がらないことで元々高い酸度とのバランスが取れなくなる。このような冷涼な気候下では、ソーヴィニヨン・ブランからなるワインは色が薄く、果実味が少ないがミネラル感は顕著になる。カベルネ・フランからなるワインも同様に色が薄くなり、植物性の草のような香りが出る。よりブドウが熟したヴィンテージでは、ロワールのカベルネ・フランはラズベリーや削った鉛筆の香りがある。

The Loire Valley has a high density of vine plantings with an average of 1,600-2,000 vines per acre (4,000-5,000 per hectare). Some Sancerre vineyards have as many as 10,000 plants per hectare. With more vines competing for the same limited resources in the soil, the density is designed to compensate for the excessive yields that some of the grape varieties, like Chenin blanc, are prone to have. In recent times, pruning and canopy management have started to limit yields more effectively.[3]

Winemaking in the Loire is characterised by a general avoidance of barrel ageing and malolactic fermentation. However some winemakers have begun experimenting with both. Chaptalization is permitted here and can help wine makers compensate for the under ripeness of the grapes in some years. For red wines there has been more emphasis on extending the maceration time of skin contact in order to bring out more color and tannins into the wine. Temperature control is also an important consideration with the cold autumn weather sometimes requiring that the must be heated in order to complete fermentation fully.[3]

ロワール渓谷ではブドウは平均して1ヘクタールあたり4000から5000本と密に植えられている。サンセールのブドウ畑では1ヘクタール当たり10000本もの植樹がされていることもある。高密度の植樹により、限られた土壌中の養分を奪い合うことになるので、収量が過剰にならないようにすることができる。これは、シュナン・ブランのような一部の品種で好んで用いられる手法である。近年では、剪定やキャノピーマネジメント[注釈 4]によってより効果的に収量制限を行う試みも行われている[3]

ロワールのおけるワイン醸造の特色としては、樽熟成やマロラクティック発酵が一般的に避けられることが挙げられる。もっとも、これらをともに用いる生産者も現れている。補糖は許可されており、年度によっては未熟なブドウの糖分を補償するために行われる。赤ワインにおいては、マセラシオンの時間を延ばし、果皮を長く接触させることで色素とタンニンの浸出を促進させる手法の重要性が上がっている。温度管理も重要な要素であり、当地の寒冷な秋においてはムストを温めなければ発酵を完了できない場合もある[3]

生産地域[編集]

The Loire Valley is often divided into three sections. The Upper Loire includes the Sauvignon blanc dominated areas of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. The Middle Loire is dominated by more Chenin blanc and Cabernet franc wines found in the regions around Touraine, Saumur, Chinon and Vouvray. The Lower Loire that leads to the mouth of the river's entrance to the Atlantic goes through the Muscadet region which is dominated by wines of the Melon de Bourgogne grape.[5] Spread out across the Loire Valley are 87 appellations under the AOC, VDQS and Vin de Pays systems. There are two generic designations that can be used across the whole of the Loire Valley. The Crémant de Loire which refers to any sparkling wine made according to the traditional method of Champagne. The Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France refers to any varietally labeled wine, such as Chardonnay, that is produced in the region outside of an AOC designation.[2]

ロワールにおけるワイン生産地域は3つに分けられる。上流域には、ソーヴィニヨン・ブランを主に生産する地域であるサンセールやプイィ・フュメが含まれる。中流域ではシュナン・ブランやカベルネ・フランの生産が多くを占める。典型的にはトゥーレーヌ、ソーミュール、シノン、ヴーヴレなどがある。下流域は大西洋に至る河口付近の地域であるが、ここではムロン・デュ・ブルゴーニュ種から造られるミュスカデの生産量が圧倒的である[5]。AOCおよびヴァン・ド・ペイの規定では、ロワールには87(←最新状況確認)のアペラシオンが存在する。ロワール全域で用いることができるアペラシオンは2つ存在する。ひとつはクレマン・ド・ロワールであり、トラディショナル方式(シャンパーニュ方式)で造られたスパークリングワインはこれを名乗ることができる。もうひとつがヴァン・ド・ペイ・デュ・ジャルダン・ド・ラ・フランスであり、これはAOCの指定から外れた地域のワインで、ラベルに品種名を記載できる[2]

サンセールとプイィ・フュメ[編集]

ソーヴィニヨン・ブランはサンセールおよびプイイ・フュメの主要な品種である。

Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir are the principal grapes of this region that is centered around the appellation of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. The two towns of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire (where Pouilly-Fumé is made) sit on opposite sides of the Loire river with Sancerre being about 10マイル (16 km) to the northwest of Pouilly. The Fumé is said to come from the silex flint interspersed with the limestone in the area that can give a smoky gunflint note to the wine. Another possibility for the name is the early morning fog created by the Loire river that can blanket the vineyards. Wines labeled with just Pouilly or Pouilly-sur-Loire are often made from the Chasselas grape.[6]

Unlike many areas of France, the Sancerre region is heavily mechanized with the use of mechanical harvesting rather than hand pickers. One of the best known producers in the region is Didier Dageneau who, until his death in 2008,[7] was an influential voice in the area advocating the reduction of yields and the use of organic viticulture.[5] Pouilly-Fumé only produces white wines while Sancerre produces red, white and rosé wines. The white Sauvignon blanc based wines from this region has characteristic gooseberry and grapefruit flavors with the Pouilly-Fumé version typically being more full bodied and rich in texture. The red Pinot noir wines are very light in both body and color that are not very similar to other French expression of the grape like those in Burgundy. Smaller appellations in the region include-[2]

The region was under the influence of the Duchy of Burgundy for most of its history which partly the reason why plantings were once heavily dominated by the Pinot noir grape. The Phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century altered that dynamic when many of the Pinot noir vineyards were wiped out by the louse. In their place, plantings of the easier to cultivate Sauvignon blanc vine began to increase. While there are still isolated batches of Pinot noir in the region, Sauvignon blanc is now the most heavily planted.[8]

サンセールとプイィ・フュメの周囲に広がる地域であり、ソーヴィニヨン・ブランとピノ・ノワールが主要品種である。サンセールとプイィ・シュル・ロワール(プイィ・フュメを産出する)の2つの街はロワール川を挟んだ対岸に位置し、サンセールはプイィの16kmほど北西に位置する。”フュメ”の語はフランス語で「煙」や「燻製」を意味するが[9]、これはシレックスと呼ばれる火打石が石灰質土壌に混ざっていることで、スモーキーな香りのワインが産出されることに由来する。名前の由来については、ロワール川の影響で早朝に霧が発生し、ブドウ畑を覆うことがあるためであるとも言われている。プイィないしはプイィ・シュル・ロワールとラベルに記載されたワインは通常シャスラから造られる[6]

フランスの多くの産地と異なり、サンセールでは手摘みで収穫されることは少なく、機械化が高度に進められている。プイィ・フュメは白ワインだけを産出するのに対し、サンセールでは白ワインのほか赤ワイン・ロゼワインも生産される。ソーヴィニヨン・ブランで造られる白ワインはグーズベリーグレープフルーツの香りがあり、とりわけプイィ・フュメではフルボディで豊かな味わいがある。ピノ・ノワールで造られる赤ワインは明るい色調でボディも軽く、ブルゴーニュなど他のフランスの地域で造られるピノ・ノワールとは差異がある。以下のような小さなアペラシオンも存在する[2]

  • メヌトゥー・サロン(白・ロゼ・赤)
  • カンシー(白)
  • ルイィ(白・ロゼ・赤)

この地域は、歴史的には長きにわたりブルゴーニュ公国の影響下にあったが、これがかつてはピノ・ノワールの栽培が大多数を占めていた理由である。19世紀のフィロキセラ禍により大部分のピノ・ノワールは壊滅的被害を負い、大規模な植え替えが行われた。これをきっかけに、栽培が容易なソーヴィニヨン・ブランが増えていったのである。現在では、ピノ・ノワールが集中的に栽培されている地域も残ってはいるものの、ソーヴィニヨン・ブランの栽培が圧倒的多数である[8]

Anjou-Saumur[編集]

Many Loire Valley wines are released in Burgundy style wine bottles.

The Anjou region of the Middle Loire is situated around the town of Angers and is known primarily for the rosé wines based on the Grolleau and Cabernet franc, including the Rosé d'Anjou and the Cabernet d'Anjou. White wine made from the Chenin blanc is known as Anjou Blanc while Anjou Rouge is often made from Gamay. Some of the higher quality wines are often labeled with the AOC designation Anjou-Villages.[5] The Chenin blanc grape has been planted in the region since at least 845 AD when it was planted at the Abbey of Glanfeuil. Throughout the years it was known in the region under a variety of synonyms including Pineau de la Loire and Franc-blanc.[10]

The area around Saumur is the third largest sparkling wine appellation in France after the Champagne region and the Crémant d'Alsace AOC with more than 12 million bottles of Saumur Mousseux produced each year. Unlike Champagne which is made with Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier, Saumur sparkling wine is based on the Chenin blanc grape. The area around Saumur-Champigny produces red wine based on the Cabernet franc grape that is similar in profile to the wines produced in St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.[2]

Vouvray and Touraine[編集]

Winemakers in the region build underground wine caves out of tuffeau limestone, as in the Champagne region, in order to store wine at an ideal temperature and humidity.

The region around Vouvray, Montlouis-sur-Loire and Touraine has some of the most diverse plantings of all the Loire region and makes a wide variety of white, red and rosé wines. For white wines the main grape is Chenin blanc but Sauvignon blanc and (to a smaller extent) Chardonnay are also planted. For red wines the main grape is Cabernet franc with some smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay and Malbec. The rosé wines are made from an assortment of Gamay, Pineau d'aunis, Pinot gris and Pinot noir. The villages of Vouvray and Montlouis are the largest appellations in the region and make only white wines from Chenin blanc. The wines can vary in sweetness from bone dry (often appearing as sec on the wine label) to very sweet moelleux wines that are often infected by noble rot.[2]

For years the Touraine region would compete with the Beaujolais region for the release of an early bottling of Gamay that would rival the Beaujolais nouveau. While the competition is not so much of a focal point now, there are still some producers who release early bottlings of the wine around the same time as Beaujolais. The soil around the Touraine area is a variety of limestone with excellent drainage that is known as tuffeau which is the same material used to build many of the famous Loire Valley Châteaux.[5]

Chinon[編集]

A Chinon rosé wine made from Cab franc.

The area around Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil produces the majority of the Loire Valley's red wine based on the Cabernet franc grape—known in this areas as Breton. The wines of the Chinon area are the softest and rich expression of the grape while the Bourgueil area produces more tannic and firm wines. The St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil area produces the lightest colored wines.[2] In the 19th century, the wines of the Chinon area were compared favorably by critics to the wines of Château Margaux and even today is considered some of the best expression of the Cabernet franc grape. The wines from this region can achieve a nice purple color with notes of raspberry fruit and graphite. Unlike Cabernet franc from warmer climates, Chinon are typically served slightly cooler than most red wine.[11]

Muscadet[編集]

The Muscadet region is located at the westernmost edge of the Loire Valley near the city of Nantes. In the 17th century, Dutch wine merchants laid the foundation for the Muscadet style by encouraging the villagers of Nantes to plant the early ripening Melon de Bourgogne grape to use in the production of their brandewijndistilled wine with brandy added to it.[4] Following the devastation in 1709 of winter frost to many of the vineyards in the Loire-Atlantique, King Louis XIV ordered that the frost resistant Melon de Bourgogne grape be given preferential treatment in the replanting of the area. Despite the inference of "Muskiness" in its name, Muscadet is a neutral flavor wine and the Melon de Bourgogne grape has no relation to the Muscat family of grapes.[12] The area's four appellation all produces white wine made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape.[5] The appellations are-

  • Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine
  • Muscadet-Côtes de Grand Lieu
  • Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire
  • Muscadet- A generic appellation covering the whole of the Loire-Atlantique department.

The wines of the Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine and Muscadet-Côtes de Grand Lieu appellation are often bottled sur lie straight from the tank that they are fermented in without any racking or filtering. This create wines that can be very cloudy and require decanting to remove sediments but also produces wines that can be fuller bodied and show extra dimensions of freshness.[2]

Chenin blanc grapes

The white wines of the Coteaux du Layon, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Savennières, and Vouvray are based on Chenin blanc and are known for their high acidity when young and ability to develop and age well. The villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire are known for their crisp and herbaceous Sauvignon blancs. Some producers in the area are experimenting with oak aging their Sauvignon blanc to give them more rounder and softer appeal. The villages of Bourgueil, Chinon and Saumur are known for their Cabernet franc based wines that range from light and fruity in Saumur to rich and velvety in Chinon. The Muscadet wines from the Pays de la Loire are made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape and are known for their citrus and mineral notes.[2]

In addition to the main production grapes, several local grapes are also used to make wine in smaller quantities. These include the Tressallier grape of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, the Romorantin of Cheverny, the Menu pineau and Groslot of Touraine and the Gros Plant of Nantes. There is also some plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gamay, Malbec, Pineau d'aunis, and Pinot gris, Pinot noir.[2]

A characteristic of many Loire wines (both red and white) is the high acidity which highlights the fresh, crisp flavors of their youth only to go through a "dumb phase" between 2 and 5 years of age when the wines flavors are drastically toned down. Many of the better made examples come out of this period with their full palate of flavors and can continue to age well into 20 years. Some of the Sauvignon blanc based wines like Sancerre buck this trend and instead stay more low key till their third year when they mature and develop their full assortment of flavors before they eventually fade around their 7-10th year. However the best made examples in top vintages can often live much longer.[2] Some classic examples of Vouvray can even reach the levels of longevity commonly associated with Port.[13]

Wineries[編集]

Historically the wineries of the Loire Valley have been small, family owned operations that do a lot of estate bottling. The mid-1990s saw an increase in the number of négociant and co-operative to where now about half of Sancerre and almost 80% of Muscadet is bottled by a négociant or co-op.[4]

References[編集]

  1. ^ a b T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pg 196-198 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q C. Fallis, editor The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine pg 168-176 Global Book Publishing 2006 ISBN 1-74048-050-3
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 408-410 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0-19-860990-6
  4. ^ a b c K. MacNeil The Wine Bible pg 259-272 Workman Publishing 2001 ISBN 1-56305-434-5
  5. ^ a b c d e f J. Robinson Jancis Robinson's Wine Course Third Edition pg 180-184 Abbeville Press 2003 ISBN 0-7892-0883-0
  6. ^ a b H. Johnson & J. Robinson The World Atlas of Wine pg 122 Mitchell Beazley Publishing 2005 ISBN 1-84000-332-4
  7. ^ Molesworth, James (2008年9月18日). “Didier Dagueneau Dies in Aircraft Crash at 52”. Wine Spectator. 2013年6月4日閲覧。 “Didier Dagueneau, whose piercingly pure wines helped set a new standard of excellence for the Loire's Pouilly-Fumé appellation, was killed Wednesday when the ultralight aircraft he was piloting experienced trouble on takeoff, and crashed.”
  8. ^ a b T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pg 211 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
  9. ^ ロワールの銘醸地「サンセール」と「プイィ・フュメ」を解説!”. ENOTECA. 2024年6月19日閲覧。
  10. ^ T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pg 202 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
  11. ^ H. Johnson & J. Robinson, The World Atlas of Wine, pg 120. Mitchell Beazley Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-84000-332-4
  12. ^ T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pg 200 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
  13. ^ H. Johnson & J. Robinson The World Atlas of Wine pg 121 Mitchell Beazley Publishing 2005 ISBN 1-84000-332-4

External links[編集]

Template:WinesTemplate:French wine regionsTemplate:Wine by country


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