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WSET D3 > Alsace > Flashcards

Alsace Flashcards

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
Describe **Long harvest period** in **Alsace**
* September to October due to range of styles and diversity of sites
26
Describe **allowed yields** in **Alsace**
* Quite high (80 for Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer/90 for Riesling/100 for Pinot Blanc)
27
Describe **Chapitalisation** in **Alsace**
* Used especially in cool years
28
Describe **average vineyard holding** in **Alsace**
* 3.5ha
29
Describe **Co-op sales** in **Alsace**
* Over 40% of the sales by co-ops with a reputation for high quality wines
30
Describe **large number of styles/varieties** in **Alsace**
* Domaines may produce all styles, all all varieties at all quality levels (20-35+) bottlings
31
Describe the wines of **Alsace**
* 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
What is the influence of **Vessel** on the of **Alsace**
* Inert fermentation (either old oak or stainless)
33
What is the influence of **MLF** on the of **Alsace**
* Generally avoided to retain fruit
34
What is the influence of **oak** on the of **Alsace**
* Very little new oak is used * Reduces costs
35
What is the influence of **lees aging** on the of **Alsace**
* Typicall on fine lees, unstirred * Retains primary flavours
36
What are the **wine-making** factors that influence the of **Alsace**?
* Vessel * MLF * oak * lees aging
37
Describe **Riesling** in **Alsace**
* 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
Describe **Gewurztraminer** in **Alsace**
* 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
Describe **Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois** in **Alsace**
* 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
Describe **Pinot Gris** in **Alsace**
* 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
Describe **Pinot Noir** in **Alsace**
* Only black grape allowed in AOC
42
Describe **Sylvaner** in **Alsace**
* Majority comes from older vines on the hillsides, so can be a source of good value wines of very good quality
43
Describe **Muscat** in **Alsace**
* Both Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and Muscat Ottonel
44
What are the characteristics of **Riesling** in **Alsace**?
* cold hardy * buds late * good disease resistance
45
Why are the advantages of **Riesling** being **cold hardy** in **Alsace**
* suitable to grow in regions with cold winters
46
Why are the advantages of **Riesling** being **buds late** in **Alsace**
* protection against spring frosts
47
Why are the advantages of **Riesling** being **good disease resistance** in **Alsace**
* resistance to downy * fairly resistant to powders, and botrytis bunch rot
48
What are the characteristics of **Gewurztraminer** in **Alsace**?
* early budding * early ripening * vigorous
49
Why are the advantages of **Gewurztraminer** being **early ripening** in **Alsace**
* avoid autumn rains
50
Why are the disadvantages of **Gewurztraminer** being **early budding** in **Alsace**
* prone to spring frosts
51
Why are the disadvantages of **Gewurztraminer** being **vigorous** in **Alsace**
* needs careful pruning and canopy management
52
What are the characteristics of **Pinot Gris** in **Alsace**?
* early budding * early ripening * can accumulate high sugar * can rapidy increase sugar/decrease acid
53
Why are the advantages of **Pinot Gris** being **early ripening** in **Alsace**
* avoids autumn rains
54
Why are the advantages of **Pinot Gris** being **can accumulate high sugar** in **Alsace**
* leads to medium-high alcohol levels
55
Why are the disadvantages of **Pinot Gris** being **early budding** in **Alsace**
* prone to spring frosts
56
Why are the disadvantages of **Pinot Gris** being **can rapidy increase sugar/decrease acid** in **Alsace**
* Picking dates are important
57
What are the characteristics of **Muscat** in **Alsace**?
* earlier ripening (Ottonel)
58
Why are the advantages of **Muscat** being **earlier ripening (Ottonel)** in **Alsace**
* Avoids autumn rains

WSET D3 (11 decks)

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