Alsace Flashcards

1
Q

Climate

Grape varietal

A

Cool to moderate continental

Riesling

Pinot Gris

Gewurztraminer

Muscat

(Pinot Noir (Red)

Pinot Blanc (used for sparkling)

Auxerrois

Sylvaner)

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2
Q

Generally speaking, what are the most common styles of wine made in Alsace?

A

Predominantly white wines made from aromatic or semi-aromatic grapes in dry, off-dry, and sweet styles.

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3
Q

Besides still white wines, what other still styles of wine are made in Alsace?

A

Red + rosé wines

The reds are light + fruity in style – nothing like Burgundy.

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4
Q

What is the sole black grape allowed to be planted in Alsace?

A

Pinot Noir

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5
Q

The Alsace’s ___ boundary is ___ that creates a ___?

The ___ boundary for Alsace is the ___, which is the natural boundary with___.

A

western

Vosges mountains

rainshadow effect

eastern

Rhine River

Germany

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6
Q

The top vineyards of Alsace are on ___ facing___ in order to get ___.

A

steep slopes

east and southeast

Gentler morning sun

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7
Q

The majority of grapes that go into ___ come from the ___, located between the ___ and the, rather than the prized hillsides or slopes.

A

Crémant d’Alsace

alluvial plains

Vosges foothills

Rhine

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8
Q

What factor contributes to the broad range of wine styles in Alsace?

A

The geological complexity of the soils

Soils found in Alsace include:

Hillsides - granite, limestone, sandstone, clay, loam, volcanic

Valley floor - alluvial

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9
Q

Alsace is the ___, ___ and ___ region in France.

A

Smallest, driest, sunniest

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10
Q

The dry and sunny climate in Alsace means that vine disease pressure there is:

Low

High

What viticultural practices are widely used?

A

Low

Organic and biodynamic farming/viticulture.

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11
Q

Vines planted on slopes are ___ harvested and trained ___ to take advantage of ___.

A

hand

low to the ground

heat radiating off the ground

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12
Q

Vines planted on the alluvial plains is ___ harvested and trained ___ to ___.

A

machine

high above the ground

mitigate frost

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13
Q

Harvest in Alsace usually starts when and ends when?

A

Mid-September - November

(sometimes will end in December)

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14
Q

What are the 4 noble grapes of Alsace?

___ is the most widely planted and the ___ to ripen in Alsace.

These 4 grape varietals are the only ones allowed to go into ___, ___ and ___wines.

A

Riesling

Pinot Gris

Gewurztraminer

Muscat

Riesling

last

Grand Cru, VT, SGN

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15
Q

Most wines in Alsace are bottled as:

single varietals

blends

A

Single verietals

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16
Q

What are the two terms used in Alsace on bottles of inexpensive white blends?

A

Edelzwicker

Gentil

17
Q

What is the fermentation vessel used by traditional wine producers in Alsace?

A

Large, old oak barrels

These old barrels have a thick layer of tartrate crystal deposits inside of them, preventing the wood from imparting any influence on the wine.

18
Q

In Alsace, modern producers won’t use the traditional, large, old oak barrels. They’ll use ___ , which make it easier to ___.

A

Stainless steel tanks

control fermentation temperatures

19
Q

In Alsace, ___ fermentation is usually blocked for most aromatic white grapes.

Because the___ effects and ___ aromas would ___ the purity of fruit flavors in these aromatic varietals.

A

malolactic

softening

buttery

mask

20
Q

What are 2 classifications that can be used by Alsace AOP and Alsace Grand Cru AOP wines?

A

Vendanges Tardives

Sélection de Grains Nobles

21
Q

Vendange Tardive (VT)

1which grape

2Sweetness

3Grapes for the best wines will have undergone ___.

4Botrytis

5Alsace or Alsace Grand Cru

A

Vendange Tardive (VT): “Late Harvest”

1Made only from the four noble varieties.

2May be dry, off-dry, or medium-sweet.

3passerillage

4May or may not show Botrytis;

5VT may be printed on either Alsace AOP or Alsace Grand Cru AOP labels.

22
Q

Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)

1Which grape

2Sweetness

3Must meet minimum ___ depending on grape varietal

4Botrytis

5Made in ___ in ___ quantities

A

Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN): “Selection of Nobly Rotten Grapes”

1Made only from the four noble varieties.

2Always sweet.

3sugar ripeness

4Must show Botrytis, though levels vary producer to producer.

5excellent vintages only, small.

23
Q

Generally speaking, are Alsatian Rieslings drier or sweeter than their German counterparts?

A

Generally, Alsatian Rieslings are:

drier

less floral

richer & fuller in body

​than German Rieslings.

24
Q

Gewurztraminer

3,4,5,7,8(Age),9

A

Gewurztraminer

3,4,5,7,8(Age),9

3 Full-bodied, oily in texture

4 Dry to Sweet

5 Low to Medium

7 When it is dry, high

8 Floral (Rose)

Stone-fruit (Peach, Apricot)

Tropical-fruit (Lychee)

Age = Honey, Dried fruit

9 Unoaked

25
Q

Why is dry Gewurztraminer usually high in alcohol?

.

A

Gewurtraminer acquires very high levels of sugar as it ripens.

Generally, the more sugar there is for yeasts to eat, the more alcohol there will be in the final wine

26
Q

Alastian Pinot Gris

3,4,5,7,8 (age)

A

3 Medium to Full

4 Dry to Medium

5 Medium

7 High

8 Peach

Mango

(Honey, Ginger)

27
Q

Complex, fuller-styled Pinot Gris are sometimes fermented to off-dry, medium level of sweetness. How are they made off-dry?

A

Interruputing the fermentation by removing the yeasts through filtration.

28
Q

Muscat

3, 5, 7, 8

A

3 Light to medium body

5 Low to medium acidity

7 Medium alcohol

8 Orange blossom, rose, grapey

29
Q

What are the two Muscat varieties grown in Alsace?

1Which Muscat variety in Alsace is prone to poor fruit set and rot?

2Which Muscat variety in Alsace is less aromatic but more reliable?

A

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Muscat Ottonel

1Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

2Muscat Ottonel

30
Q

What are the 2 principal appellations for still wines in Alsace?

A

Alsace AOP

Alsace Grand Cru AOP

31
Q

Alsace AOP

・Nearly ___% of all wine produced in Alsace falls under this AOP.

Alsace Grand Cru AOP

・There are ___ vineyards in Grand Cru AOP.

・An Alsace Grand Cru label will have the name of the___.

・To be Alsace Grand Cru, the grape must be one of the ___.

A

80

51

vineyard and the grape

4 noble grape varietals

32
Q

In Alsace, if the name of a grape is on the label in Alsace, 100% of that grape must be in the bottle.

However, there is one exception: 1___. It is often blended with 2___ even though they are different grapes.

Additionally, 2___ may carry the title of 1___on a label even if it is bottled as 100% 2 ___.

A

1Pinot Blanc

2Auxerrois

33
Q

A weather threat to Alsace is ___.

___ can damage and even devastate tender new shoots and buds, which can ultimately lead to ___.

A

Spring frost

Freezing temperatures

crop loss.

34
Q

Name three white grapes planted in Alsace other than the noble grape varieties.

A

Pinot Blanc (used for sparkling)

Auxerrois

Sylvaner