17 - Alsace Flashcards
how is Alsace unusal for a French wine region?
most of its wines are varietally labelled
Climate in Alsace
Cool to Moderate Continental
The more northerly part of the vineyard area has the coolest climate and the least protection from the Vosges
Region near Vosges Mountains
Alsace
What mountains shelter the vineyards in Alsace from the prevailing westerly, rain-bearing winds?
The Vosges Mountains
- what affects the climate in Alsace?
- how does it affect the grapes?
- what can the negative effect be?
Vosges Mountains:
- shelter the vineyards from the prevailing westerly, rain-bearing winds
- lack of clouds results in sunny summers & dry autumns
- these conditions ensure that the grapes can achieve high levels of sugar ripeness
- in the driest years drought can be an issue
hazard in Alsace
drought in the driest years
best vineyards are located
- on the steepest slopes with east & south-east aspects
lesser vineyards lie …
on the plain between the Vosges foothills and the Rhine
what are the grapes that are grown between the Vosges foothills and the Rhine used for
the production of Crémant d’Alsace
(the local AC sparkling wine)
soil & geology in Alsace
- dramatic geological history
- great variety of soils in the vineyards that lie on the foothills of the Vosges
- this geological complexity is a key factor that contributes to the variety of styles of wines produced
- the influence of geology on wine production is more clear here than in many other regions
geology mentioned about Alsace & Burgundy (kap. 16)
- Burgundy
“The soils in Burgundy are very varied. A large number of small geological faults, combined with gradual erosion, mean that precise soil types change significantly over small areas. These variations are often linked to subtle changes in the styles of the wines although the exact role the soil plays in this is the subject of much debate. What is certain is that the soils on the hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage, whereas the soil on the flat land is deeper and more fertile” - Alsace
“Alsace has had a dramatic geological history and as a consequence there is a great variety of soils in the vineyards that lie on the foothills of the Vosges. This gelogical complexity is a key factor that contributes to the variety of styles of wines produced, and the influence of geology on wine production is more clear here than in many other regions.”
grape growing practices in Alsace vary depending on …
… whether the vineyards are on slopes or on the plain
grape growing practices in Alsace
- On the slopes:
- vines are trained low to benefit from radiated heat
- the rows are oriented to maximise the vine’s exposure to the sun
- harvesting is done by hand - On the plain:
- the vines are trained high to minimise the risk of spring frost
where and why are the vine’s trained high/low in Alsace?
high: on the plain. To minimise the risk of spring frost
low: on the slopes. To benefit from radiated heat
Viticulture in Alsace
- organic & biodynamic viticulture is widely practised
- in part due to the low disease pressure in the sunny, dry conditions
challenge at harvest in Alsace
- logistical
- have a number of small plots of vines planted with different varieties
Why can the vintage in Alsace be spread over quite a long period?
From-until …?
- different varieties that ripen at different times
- normally starts towards the middle of September & may last until the end of November or even the beginning of December for VT & SGN wines
Alsatian appellations & classifications
- only 2 principal appellations for still wines
1. Alsace
2. Alsace Grand Cru - 2 other classifications
1. Vendanges Tardives
2. Sélection de grains nobles
what does the classifications Vendanges Tardives & Sélection de grains nobles depend upon?
the sugar ripeness of the grapes
what appellations in Alsace can apply to use the term Vendanges Tardives & Sélection de grains nobles?
both Alsace & Alsace GC
what problems can the simplicity in the Alsatian appellation system cause?
- producers seek to distinguish between the different qualities of wine that they produce
- common to find on labels statements such as:
Réserve personnelle & Cuvée spéciale
–> have no legal status
Alsace AOC
(general info: production, sv/bl, label, villages)
- accounts for the vast majority of the region’s production
- most wines are made from a single grape variety & varietally labelled
- if a grape variety features on the label, 100% of the grapes used must be from the named variety
- a small number of blends are also made - not varietally labelled
- some villages have the right to add their name to this appellation for certain styles of wine, although such wines are rare
Alsace Grand Cru
(general info: vy, grapes, label, controversy)
- over 50 vineyards that each have their own GC appellation
- the wines must be produced from a single noble grape variety
(Riesling, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris)
–> a few exceptions to this rule do exist - the label must state the name of the vineyard, the vintage and, where appropriate, the grape variety
- controversy has dogged the Alsace GC appellation from the start
–> the major issue continues to be that of vy boundaries
–> many grands crus are considered by some top producers & commentators to be far too large & encompass land not worthy of the appellation
–> some producers with grand cru vineyards choose not to label their wines as grand cru
what controversy has dogged the Alsace GC appellation?
controversy has dogged the Alsace GC appellation from the start
- the major issue continues to be that of vy boundaries
- many grands crus are considered by some top producers & commentators to be far too large & encompass land not worthy of the appellation
- some producers with grand cru vineyards choose not to label their wines as grand cru
what is Vendanges Tardives (VT)
- ‘Late Harvest’
- can only be made from one of the four noble varieties
- must have a specific minimum sugar ripeness depending on grape variety
- in the best wines the grapes will have undergone passerillage, and there may be some influence of noble rot
what is Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)?
- can only be made from one of the four noble varieties
- must have a certain minimum sugar ripeness depending on grape variety
- minimum sugar ripeness levels are set higher than those for VT
- usually achieved with noble rot
- not produced every year & only ever in small quantities
what are the noble varieties of Alsace?
- Riesling
- Muscat
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
What grape varieties is grown in Alsace?
- a range of grape varieties
- the most important are the ‘noble’ varieties
1. Riesling
2. Gewurztraminer
3. Pinot Gris
4. Muscat
the only grapes that can be used for VT, SGN & GC in Alsace
the ‘noble’ varieties
- Riesling
- Muscat
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
sv or bl in Alsace?
- the vast majority are made from a single grape variety
- blended wines tend to be inexpensive & made from juice that was not selected for varietal wines
what is Edelzwicker & Gentil?
- blended wines from Alsace
- tend to be inexpensive & made from juice that was not selected for varietal wines
- some very high-quality blends are made, including some from grand cru vineyards, but these are very rare indeed
blended wines in Alsace can be labelled
- Edelzwicker
- Gentil
- brand name
winemaking in Alsace
- most of Alsace’s grape varieties are aromatic and there fore winemaking is focused on retaining the aromas & flavours of the grapes
- Traditional producers: ferment their wines in large old oak barrels, often more than 100 years old (with thick tartrate deposit inside)
- Modern cellars: stainless steel vats (temp.contr.)
- MLF if normally NOT encouraged for aromatic varieties, some producers allow it to aoccur
- bottlig usually takes place in the spring following the vintage
- most wines are then ready to drink, but many are capable of further evolution in the bottle
wine styles in Alsace & sweetness
- with the exception of VT & SGN styles, the best wines have traditionally been dry but in recent years more & more wines, particularly at grand cru level, have been made with noticeable sweetness
–> no official labelling scheme to indicate the level of sweetness in a wine -
VT: can vary in style even more, ranging from dry to medium sweet
–> no official labelling scheme to indicate the level of sweetness in a wine - SGN: always sweet although the extent of the influence of noble rot will vary from wine to wine
Sweetness & label:
- knowing the house style of the producer can therefore be very important
Riesling in Alsace
- the most widely planted of the noble varieties
Best:
- medium- to full-bodied
- dry, many are now being made with some residual sugar
- medium alcohol
- high acidity
- citrus & stone fruit aromas
- often with a pronounced stony/steely character
- do NOT typically show as much floral character as those from Germany
Gewurztraminer in Alsace
- pungent aromatic spicy nose reminiscent of lychees, roses & sweet baking spices
- skin: light pink tinge
- some of the wines: golden colour
tend to be - full-bodied
- rich oily texture
- low to medium acidity
- high alcohol (wines of 14% abv are not uncommon)
Pinot Gris in Alsace
Best:
- rich
- full-bodied
- high in alcohol
- often more acidity than Gewurztraminer
- can have a similar colour to Gewurztraminer
- less aromatic than Gewurztraminer
- richly textured
- pronounced flavour intensity
- fresh & dried fruits
- honeyed character
Muscat in Alsace
- a number of grape varieties called Muscat - 2 grown in Alsace
Best wines
- Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
- intensely aromatic
- flavours of orange blossom, rose & grape
- light to mediu body
- low to medium acidity
- MBaPG: prone to poor fruit set & rot
Muscat Ottonel
- less aromatic
- more widely planted
- can be relied on to crop more regularly
Other grape varieties in Alsace
Pinot Blanc
- widely planted
- tends to be grown in the more fertile soils of the plain rather than on the better sloped sites
- widely used for the production of sparkling wines
- still wine: generally light, simple & refreshing, non-aromatic
Auxerrois
- similar characteristics to Pinot Blanc
- slightly spicier & more full-bodied
- sometimes blended with PB
Sylvaner
- used to be widely planted but has now made way for noble varieties
- can give wines that are delicately perfumed with some richness (far less than Gew.tr.)
- best drunk young
Pinot Noir
- the only black grape permitted in Alsace
- typically lack the weight & concentration of Burgundian PN
- often at their best as a light fruity red or rosé
- some winemakers make more concentrated wines with new oak flavours
List of grape varieties in Alsace (9)
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
- Muscat Ottonel
- Pinot Blanc
- Auxerrois
- Sylvaner
- Pinot Noir
