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WSET D3 > Alsace > Flashcards

Alsace Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is Alsace?

A
  • North Eastern France (48º-48º30′)
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2
Q

Describe noble varieties?

A
  • Riesling
  • Muscat
  • Pinot Gris
  • Gewurztraminer
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3
Q

Describe Grand Cru?

A
  • 51 Grand Cru vineyards
  • Normally restricted to single varietal noble varieties
  • Since 2011, each is an individual grand cru - allowing each to set own rules
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4
Q

Describe Vendange Tardive?

A
  • High sugar levels required at harvest
  • Made from four noble varieties
  • No requirement to have noble rot or be sweet
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5
Q

Describe Sélection de grains noble?

A
  • High(er than Vendange Tardive) sugar levels required at harvest
  • Made from four noble varieties
  • Must have noble rot and be sweet
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6
Q

What is the influence of Vosges Mountains on the wines of Alsace

A
  • To the west of the region
  • Contribute to the warm, sunny, unusually dry climate this far north
  • Acts as a rainshield, reducing rainfall to ~600mm
  • Foothills provide diverse sites, 200-250m with some up to 450m
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7
Q

What is the influence of Northerly Latitude on the wines of Alsace

A
  • Long growing season
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8
Q

What is the influence of Inland location on the wines of Alsace

A
  • continental climate with warm cold winters and warm, sunny summers
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9
Q

What is the influence of Föhn wind on the wines of Alsace

A
  • Raises temperature and reduces incidence of fungal disease
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10
Q

What is the influence of vineyard location on the wines of Alsace

A
  • best quality sites on foothills at altitudes 200-250m (some 400m)
  • lesser quality sites between foothills and the Rhine
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11
Q

What is the influence of soils on the wines of Alsace

A
  • Vineyards on plain are deeper, more fertile
  • Vineyards on foothils have lower fertility and better drainage
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12
Q

What is the influence of Long harvest period on the wines of Alsace

A
  • September to October due to range of styles and diversity of sites
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13
Q

What is the influence of allowed yields on the wines of Alsace

A
  • Quite high (80 for Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer/90 for Riesling/100 for Pinot Blanc)
  • Can lead to low concentration
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14
Q

What is the influence of Chapitalisation on the wines of Alsace

A
  • Used especially in cool years
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15
Q

What is the influence of average vineyard holding on the wines of Alsace

A
  • 3.5ha
  • Many growers sell to co-ops or large wineries
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16
Q

What is the influence of Co-op sales on the wines of Alsace

A
  • Over 40% of the sales by co-ops with a reputation for high quality wines
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17
Q

What is the influence of large number of styles/varieties on the wines of Alsace

A
  • Domaines may produce all styles, all all varieties at all quality levels (20-35+) bottlings
  • Focus is on the general image of Alsace/producer rather than individual labels
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18
Q

What are the growing-environment factors that influence the wines of Alsace?

A
  • Vosges Mountains
  • Northerly Latitude
  • Inland location
  • Föhn wind
  • vineyard location
  • soils
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19
Q

What are the grape-growing factors that influence the wines of Alsace?

A
  • Long harvest period
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20
Q

What are the wine-law factors that influence the wines of Alsace?

A
  • allowed yields
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21
Q

What are the wine-making factors that influence the wines of Alsace?

A
  • Chapitalisation
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22
Q

What are the wine-business factors that influence the wines of Alsace?

A
  • average vineyard holding
  • Co-op sales
  • large number of styles/varieties
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23
Q

Describe Vosges Mountains in Alsace

A
  • To the west of the region
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24
Q

Describe Northerly Latitude in Alsace

A
  • Long growing season
25
Q

Describe Long harvest period in Alsace

A
  • September to October due to range of styles and diversity of sites
26
Q

Describe allowed yields in Alsace

A
  • Quite high (80 for Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer/90 for Riesling/100 for Pinot Blanc)
27
Q

Describe Chapitalisation in Alsace

A
  • Used especially in cool years
28
Q

Describe average vineyard holding in Alsace

A
  • 3.5ha
29
Q

Describe Co-op sales in Alsace

A
  • Over 40% of the sales by co-ops with a reputation for high quality wines
30
Q

Describe large number of styles/varieties in Alsace

A
  • Domaines may produce all styles, all all varieties at all quality levels (20-35+) bottlings
31
Q

Describe the wines of Alsace

A
  • Mainly white, overwhelmingly single varietal and unoaked
  • Pre-fermentation maceration or keeping pressed grapes in press for longer practiced by some to extract flavour/add texture
  • Cool temps for Muscat/Riesling/Sylvaner
  • Mid temps for Gewurztraminer as ensures yeast can ferment effectively in high sugar
32
Q

What is the influence of Vessel on the of Alsace

A
  • Inert fermentation (either old oak or stainless)
33
Q

What is the influence of MLF on the of Alsace

A
  • Generally avoided to retain fruit
34
Q

What is the influence of oak on the of Alsace

A
  • Very little new oak is used
  • Reduces costs
35
Q

What is the influence of lees aging on the of Alsace

A
  • Typicall on fine lees, unstirred
  • Retains primary flavours
36
Q

What are the wine-making factors that influence the of Alsace?

A
  • Vessel
  • MLF
  • oak
  • lees aging
37
Q

Describe Riesling in Alsace

A
  • needs a good site (exposure/drainage) and long season to ripen, but can produce very good quality grapes at relatvely high yields
  • typically medium to pronounced aromas, unoaked high acid
  • good to outstanding, mid to premium priced
  • typically dry, medium to full body, medium alcohol, high acid
  • citrus (lemon, grapefruit), stone fruit (peach), pronounced stony/steely character
38
Q

Describe Gewurztraminer in Alsace

A
  • picked late to achieve fully ripe skins or maximise aromas and avoid unripe tannins
  • only moderately productive due to coulure
  • typically medium lemon, pronounced lychee, peach, apricot, rose, spice
  • (Gewurz means spice)
  • medium to high alcohol, medium to full body, low acidity
  • styles dry to sweet
  • good to outstanding, mid to premium priced
39
Q

Describe Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois in Alsace

A
  • Low intensity apple/peach, medium acid, medium alcohol
  • Mainly acceptable to good wines
  • Auxerrois can be labelled as Pinot Blanc, has low aromas and low acidity
  • Mostly used in blends
40
Q

Describe Pinot Gris in Alsace

A
  • Moderate yields
  • Susceptible to botrytis and downy mildew
  • Best have an oily texture
  • Can age, developing honey/smoke notes
  • Full range of styles, dry to sweet
41
Q

Describe Pinot Noir in Alsace

A
  • Only black grape allowed in AOC
42
Q

Describe Sylvaner in Alsace

A
  • Majority comes from older vines on the hillsides, so can be a source of good value wines of very good quality
43
Q

Describe Muscat in Alsace

A
  • Both Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and Muscat Ottonel
44
Q

What are the characteristics of Riesling in Alsace?

A
  • cold hardy
  • buds late
  • good disease resistance
45
Q

Why are the advantages of Riesling being cold hardy in Alsace

A
  • suitable to grow in regions with cold winters
46
Q

Why are the advantages of Riesling being buds late in Alsace

A
  • protection against spring frosts
47
Q

Why are the advantages of Riesling being good disease resistance in Alsace

A
  • resistance to downy
  • fairly resistant to powders, and botrytis bunch rot
48
Q

What are the characteristics of Gewurztraminer in Alsace?

A
  • early budding
  • early ripening
  • vigorous
49
Q

Why are the advantages of Gewurztraminer being early ripening in Alsace

A
  • avoid autumn rains
50
Q

Why are the disadvantages of Gewurztraminer being early budding in Alsace

A
  • prone to spring frosts
51
Q

Why are the disadvantages of Gewurztraminer being vigorous in Alsace

A
  • needs careful pruning and canopy management
52
Q

What are the characteristics of Pinot Gris in Alsace?

A
  • early budding
  • early ripening
  • can accumulate high sugar
  • can rapidy increase sugar/decrease acid
53
Q

Why are the advantages of Pinot Gris being early ripening in Alsace

A
  • avoids autumn rains
54
Q

Why are the advantages of Pinot Gris being can accumulate high sugar in Alsace

A
  • leads to medium-high alcohol levels
55
Q

Why are the disadvantages of Pinot Gris being early budding in Alsace

A
  • prone to spring frosts
56
Q

Why are the disadvantages of Pinot Gris being can rapidy increase sugar/decrease acid in Alsace

A
  • Picking dates are important
57
Q

What are the characteristics of Muscat in Alsace?

A
  • earlier ripening (Ottonel)
58
Q

Why are the advantages of Muscat being earlier ripening (Ottonel) in Alsace

A
  • Avoids autumn rains

WSET D3 (11 decks)

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