Alsace Flashcards
1
Q
What is unusual about wine labelling in Alsace?
A
varietally labelled
2
Q
Mountain range that forms rain shadow
A
Voges
3
Q
Weather hazard
A
drought
4
Q
Winemaking practices
A
- hand harvested (vines on slopes)
- organic and biodynamic due to low disease pressure in sunny, dry conditions
- old oak and thick tartrate deposits allow retention of aromatics (reductive/anaerobic)
- MLF usually not encouraged
- traditionally dry
5
Q
Noble grapes
A
- Pinot Gris
- Gewurztraminer
- Muscat
- Riesling
6
Q
Vendanges Tardives (VT)
A
- minimum ripeness level
- dry to medium sweet
- late harvest
- best undergo passerillage or noble rot
7
Q
Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
A
- minimum ripeness level higher than VT
- always sweet
- noble rot
- not produced every year
8
Q
Riesling
A
- most widely planted
- medium to full body
- medium alcohol
- high acid
- citrus, stony/steely
- not as floral as German
9
Q
Gewurztraminer
A
- pungent aromatics
- full body
- high alcohol
- rich, oily texture
- low to medium acid
- spicy
- lychees, roses, sweet baking spices
- golden color from light pink grape skin
10
Q
Pinot Gris
A
- full body
- high alcohol
- less aromatic than Gewurztraminer
- more acid than Gewurztraminer
- similar in color to Gewurztraminer
- richer and fuller body than Pinot Grigio (longer growing season)
11
Q
Muscat (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)
A
- intensely aromatic
- light to medium body
- low to medium acid
- orange blossom, rose, grape
12
Q
Pinot Blanc
A
- grown in fertile soils on the plain
- sparkling wine
- simple, refreshing, not aromatic
13
Q
Only red grape permitted
A
Pinot Noir
14
Q
Blends labelled
A
Edelzwicker or Gentil
