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WSG FRENCH WINE SCHOLAR > ALSACE > Flashcards

ALSACE Flashcards

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1
Q

Wine shipments were documented in Alsace are early as ?

A

2 AD

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2
Q

Alsace is an amalgamation of which two countries?

A

France and Germany

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3
Q

Are the wines of Alsace labelled in the French or Germanic tradition?

A

Germanic - after the grape variety.

**French -after a place

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4
Q

Which country borders Alsace to the east?

A

Germany

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5
Q

What is the northern limit for vines?

A

The 50th parallel

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6
Q

Alsace lies between which parallels north?

A

The 47th and 49th

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7
Q

What kind of climate does Alsace have?

A

Continental

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8
Q

Do continental climates have small or large diurnal swings?

A

large

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9
Q

Alsace is protected from Atlantic influences by which mountain range?

A

Vosges Mountains

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10
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Alsace lies within the rain shadow of the Vosges mountains?

A

TRUE - Alsace receives some of the lowest rainfall in France.

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11
Q

How many hours of sunshine does Alsace receive a year on average?

A

1800 hours

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12
Q

Most vineyards are planted on the slopes of the Vosges mountains between what altitudes?

A

198-396m

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13
Q

Do vineyards in Alsace suffer from frost?

A

Yes

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14
Q

Autumn in Alsace is marked by humidity which can encourage what to develop?

A

Noble rot

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15
Q

Which vine will begin to degenerate if it does not undergo true dormancy each winter?

A

Riesling

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16
Q

Which two environmental factors are prevalent in Alsace:

  1. Hail
  2. Forest Fires
  3. Thunderstorms
  4. Floods
A

Hail and Thunderstorms

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17
Q

What is a graben?

A

A grave-like trench

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18
Q

Most of the best soils in Alsace are found where?

A

On the slopes of the Vosges foothills.

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19
Q

How many different major soil types are there in Alsace?

A

13

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20
Q

How many primary grape varieties are there in Alsace?

A

7 (6 white and 1 red)

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21
Q

Name the 7 primary grape varietals of Alsace

A

Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat (a Petit Grains Blanc + Ottonel)

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22
Q

Name the 4 secondary grapes of Alsace

A

Chardonnay, Chasselas, Auxerrois Blanc, Klevener de Heiligenstein

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23
Q

What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener?

A

Klevner (Pinot Blanc)

Klevener (the non aromatic version of Savagnin Rose)

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24
Q

What percentage of wine production in Alsace is varietally labelled?

A

80%

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25
Q

If the grape variety is on the label, what percentage of the wine must be that varietal?

A

100%

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26
Q

What are the two terms you will see on the label that indicate the wine is a blend in Alsace?

A

Edelzwicker and Gentil

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27
Q

Gentil blends must contain what minimum percentage of noble grape varieties?

A

50%

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28
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

In Gentil wines, each grape must be vinifed separately?

A

True

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29
Q

To be labelled Gentil - what two things must happen to the finished product?

A

It must have approval from a tasting panel

Vintage must appear on the label

30
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Edelzwicker may contain any of the white grapes approved by the Alsace AOC

A

True

31
Q

Which blended wine allows for the grapes to be vinified together or separately and allows the labelling of vintage to be optional?

A

Edelzwicker

32
Q

Are Gentil and Edelzwicker independant AOCs?

A

No - they are categories within the Alsace AOC

33
Q

What percentage of Alsace’s total production comprises of blends?

A

20%

34
Q

What are field blends?

A

co-planted different variaties that are picked and fermented together.

35
Q

What is Klevner a synonym of?

A

Pinot Blanc

36
Q

Pinot d’Alsace may contain which grape varieties?

A

Auxerrois Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir (vinified as a white wine) and Pinot Gris

37
Q

What percentage of wine production in Alsace is white?

A

90%

38
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Stylistically most white wines in Alsace are stainless steel fermented or fermented in large neutral oak casks

A

True

39
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Most dry whites in Alsace spend extended time in new oak and undergo malolactic fermentation

A

False

40
Q

Cremant d’Alsace is made using which method?

A

Methode Traditionelle

41
Q

Cremant d’Alsace has what ageing requirements?

A

9 months sur lie

cannot be released less than one year after the tirage/bottling

42
Q

Which grape varietal is forbidden for Cremant d’Alsace

A

Gewurztraminer

43
Q

Cremant d’Alsace is:

  1. 100% varietal
  2. A blended wine
  3. Can be either
A

Can be either

44
Q

Cremant d’Alsace Blanc de Noir is made from which grape varietal?

A

Pinot Noir

45
Q

What is Vendanges Tardives?

A

Late harvest wines

46
Q

What grape varietals can be used for a Vendanges Tardives wine?

A

Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat or Gewurztraminer

47
Q

Is noble rot a requirement for Vendanges Tardives?

A

No

48
Q

What is Selections de Grains Nobles?

A

Late harvest wines made from riesling, pinot gris, muscat or gewurztraminer grapes affected by noble rot.

49
Q

Is noble rot a requirement for Selections de Grains Nobles?

A

Yes

50
Q

Why is Selection de Grains Nobles a time consuming wine?

A

Grapes are hand picked, berry by berry, through multiple passes in the vineyard

51
Q

In what year did the Grand cru vineyards start to receive AOC status?

A

1975

52
Q

How many Grand Crus are there in Alsace?

A

51

53
Q

How many Alsace AOCs are there in total

A

53

54
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Alsace AOC wines can be red, white, sparkling or rose, dry, sweet, single varietal or a blend

A

True

55
Q

What is the subcategory AOC that is designed to recognise wines of heightened character, with higher quality standards than the AOC Alsace which allows producers to add the name of the commune to the label?

A

Alsace Communal AOC

56
Q

How many communes are currently recognised under the Alsace Communal AOC?

A

13

57
Q

what is a lieu-dit?

A

A name given to a plot of land or vineyard because of its notable and significant expression of terroir.

58
Q

Which subcategory AOC wines need to meet stringent production standards which include limitations as to the grape varieties planted, specified vine density, pruning methods and trellising, plus higher grape maturity levels at harvest and a more restrictive yield?

A

Alsace Lieu-Dit AOC - the standards are higher than those for communal appellations

59
Q

Can multiple producers farm the same grand cru vineyard?

A

yes

60
Q

What percentage of Alsace wine production is grand cru?

A

4%

61
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Grand Cru AOCs in Alsace produce both white and red wine

A

False - these AOCs are for white wine only

62
Q

What are the 4 noble grape varieties in Alsace?

A

Riesling, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris

63
Q

Sylvaner is permitted in one grand cru only. What is that grand cru?

A

Zotzenberg

64
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Biodynamics are not permitted in Alsace

A

False - Alsace is among the leaders in the organic movement. France’s first biodynamic estate was in Alsace (Eugene Meyer)

65
Q

What are the benefits of ploughing?

A

It encourages vine roots to grow deep dow into the soil vs collect within the shallow topsoil. The roots tap into more minerals this way and are less susceptible to taking on too much water after rain.

66
Q

What are the benefits of growing grass between the rows of vines?

A

It prevents the loss of topsoil due to erosion; it competes with the vines for water and minerals and results in lower yields. Grass absorbs humidity and minimises the threat of fungal disease.

67
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

The AOC approved yields in Alsace are the highest in France

A

True 4.8 tons/acre

68
Q

Most wines in Alsace are designed to be consumed when?

A

between 6 months - 5 years after release

69
Q

What is the longest lived wine in Alsace?

A

Riesling

70
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

The higher the quality of a wine, the more it should be chilled

A

False

71
Q

What is the signature cheese of Alsace?

A

Munster

WSG FRENCH WINE SCHOLAR (7 decks)

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