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D3 KID > Alsace > Flashcards

Alsace Flashcards

1
Q

Alsace climate

A

Continental

Warm, sunny and unusually dry

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2
Q

Account for Alsace’s warm, sunny and unusually dry climate

A

Protection of the Vosges mountains t the west

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3
Q

White wine what % of Alsace production

A

90%

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4
Q

Alsace returned to France when?

A

1945

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5
Q

Rain falls on which side of the Vosges mountains

A

Mostly on west side. Alsace vines on east side are protected. Only 600mm per year, less than half the rainfall on other side

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6
Q

Wettest months in Alsace

A

August

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7
Q

Driest months in Alsace

A

normally during harvest (September and October)

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8
Q

Alsace has high or low sunshine hours?

A

High

Important for ripening grapes at this northerly latitude

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9
Q

Key drying influence in Alsace?

A

Fohn wind

Warm wind that raises temperature and reduces fungal

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10
Q

Best Alsace vineyards at what altitudes

A

200-250m

Some at higher up to 450m

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11
Q

Best exposition for Alsace

A

South, south-east and south-west

Maximum sunlight interception

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12
Q

River in Alsace

A

Rhine

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13
Q

Soils on Alsace’s plain

A

Deeper, more fertile
More vegetative growth
Suited to higher yielding grape growing, high volume wine

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14
Q

Soils on Alsace’s hillsides

A

Better draining (vs on the plains)
Lower fetility
Slower growth
Better fruit quality

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15
Q

Most highly planted grape in Alsace?

A

Riesling (by a nose!)

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16
Q

Which two grape varieties can be labelled Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

A

Pinot Blanc

Auxerrois

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17
Q

Noble grape varieties in Alsace (4)

A

Riesling
Gewurtztraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat

Permitted for Grand Cru, Vendage Tardive

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18
Q

Why is Riesling suited to regions with cold winters?

A

It’s cold-hardy and buds late (vs frost)

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19
Q

Riesling buds early or late

A

LATE

protect against spring forst

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20
Q

What does Riesling need to ripen fully

A

Good site with full sun exposure and good drainage

Long growing season

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21
Q

Can Riesling take high yields?

A

Yes. if conditions are good (sun, drainage, long season), it can yield 70hl/ha without losing quality

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22
Q

Riesling is resistant to what?

A

Downy
Powdery
BBR

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23
Q

Typical Alsace Riesling style

A

Dry (no RS or low amount not evident in tasting)
Medium to full body
Medium alcohol
High acid
Citrus (lemon, grapefruit), stone fruit (peach) and pronounced stony/steely

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24
Q

Gewurtz buds early or late

A

Early

Spring frost

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25
Q

Gewurtz ripens early or late

A

Early

Avoids autumn rain

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26
Q

Why is Gewurtz picked late in Alsace?

A

Achieve fully ripen skins to maximise aromas and avoid unripe tannins

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27
Q

Gewurtz is vigorous but not necessarily productive. Why?

A

Vigorous so needs careful pruning and canopy mgmt
BUT
only moderately productive because coulure reduces yield (also powdery, chlorosis, grape vine moth, etc)

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28
Q

Why is Gewurtz wine medium lemon in colour?

A

Ripe grapes are light pink

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29
Q

Typical Gewurtz aromas

A

Lychee, peach/aprciot, rose, spice

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30
Q

Gewurtz style Alsace

A 
Lychee, peach, apricot, rose, spice
Medium to high alcohol
Medium to full body
Low acid
Dry to sweet
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31
Q

Still Pinot Blanc in Alsace: style

A

low intensity apple and peach
Medium acid
Medium alcohol

32
Q

Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois mostly used for what in Alsace?

A

Cremant

33
Q

Pinot Gris buds early or late

A

Early

Spring forst

34
Q

Pinot Gris ripens early or late

A

Early

Avoids rain

35
Q

Pinot Gris style in Alsace

A 
Medium intensity peach, apple
Full bodied
Medium acid
Rich oily texture
Ageing capacity (honey, smoke notes)
36
Q

Why are picking dates very important for Pinot Gris in Alsace?

A

Grape accumulates sugar very quickly and drops acid very quickly
Earlier picking = drier style
Led by mkt demand for dry Pinot Gris

37
Q

What has allowed growers to pick Pinot Gris earlier in Alsace? So what?

A

Warmer seasons, earlier start to season
Better canopy management
Earlier picking = drier style

38
Q

Only black grape allowed for Alsace AOC wines?

A

Pinot Noir

39
Q

Significant Pinot Noir producers in Alsace (2)

A

Domaine Muré

Domaine Albert Mann

40
Q

Why is Sylvaner in decline in Alsace?

A

Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc easier to grow

41
Q

Why is Sylvaner getting a reputation for very good quality wines in Alsace?

A

Other grapes easier to grow so fewer new plantings

Sylvaner that’s here is now older vine (40+ years) yielding better fruit and better wine

42
Q

Which two Muscats are grown in Alsace?

A

Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains

Muscat Ottonel

43
Q

Which ripens earlier: Muscat Blanc PG or Muscat Ottonel?

A

Muscat Ottonel

Attractive to avoid autumn rains

44
Q

Common vine training in Alsace?

A

Single or double Guot

required by AOC regulations

45
Q

Fruit zone higher in Alsace than other regions. T/F? Why?

A

Yes, typically it’s 1-1.2m above the ground
Reduce frost risk, especially on the valley plain
Reduce humidity

46
Q

Why are canopies trained high in Alsace?

A

Up to 1.9m above ground

Maximise sun exposure

47
Q

Why is row spacing wider in Alsace than elsewhere?

A

Both fruit zone and canopy are higher than elsewhere, 1.2m for fruit zone and 1.9m for canopy

Density: 4,400-4,800v/ha

48
Q

In Alsace, where is planting more dense: slopes or plain?

A

Slopes

49
Q

Main pests and diseases in Alsace

A

Powdery
Downy
Grape vine moth
Esca

50
Q

Why is fungal pressure low in Alsace?

A

Warm sunny climate, low rainfall

51
Q

What % of Alsace vineayrds are certified organic? (And what’s the French national average?)

A

15%

National average is 10%

52
Q

When does harvest take place in Alsace?

A

Long period: early September to late OCtober
Range of styles and diversity of sites
Sparkling –> late harvest/botrytis

53
Q

Which vineyards in Alsace are picked by hand?

A 
Steep slopes (can't be picked by machine)
Grand Cru (AOC rules)
54
Q

Alsace: Muscat, Riesling and Sylvaner fermetned at what temperature range?

A

Cool temperatures

Preserve aromas

55
Q

Alsace: Gewurtztramienr fermented at what temperature range?

A

Mid-range
Pronounced aromas aren’t affected by higher temp
Higher sugar levels = higher temperature ensures yeast can ferment properly

56
Q

Why avoid low ferment temp for Gewurtztraminer?

A

Want to avoid banana aromas

57
Q

Chaptalisation in Alsace?

A

Permitted within EU rules

Used because northerly region, especially in cool years

58
Q

Max yields for Alsace whites? (it varies by grape)

A

Pinot Gris, Gewurtz: 80hl/ha
Riesling: 90hl/ha
Pinot Blanc: 100hl/ha

59
Q

Alsace + commune name AOC. How many communes? And give an example.

A

13 communes
e.g. Bergheim
Alsace Bergheim AOC

60
Q

Alsace Pinot Noir max yield

A

60hl/ha

61
Q

Alsace + commune name AOC - max yield?

Alsace + lieu-dit name AOC - max yield

A

with commune: 72hl/ha

with lieu-dit: 68hl/ha

62
Q

Alsace Grand Cru yield(s)

A

55hl/ha

Some, e.g. Rangen, are 50hl/ha

63
Q

Alsace Grand Cru category introducd when?

A

1975

64
Q

Examples of Alsace Grand Cru vineyards?

A

Rangen
Geisberg
Schoenenbourg

65
Q

How many Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace?

A

51

66
Q

Debate about Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace?

A

Whether delimitaiton was overly generou
Permitted yields too high
Trimbach and Hugel initially rejected Grand Cru labelling but now use it

67
Q

Are there Premier Crus in Alsace?

A

No although there are discussions at the moment

68
Q

Requirements for Vendange tardive and Selection de grains nobles

A

Alsace AOC or Alsace Garnd Cru
Four noble varieties
Minimum sugar levels (varies)
Vendange tardive = no botrytis (or sweetness) requirement
Selection grain noble = botrytis and sweet mandatory

69
Q

Vendange Tardive minimum sugar levels

A

Muscat or Riesling: 235g/L
Pinot Gris or Gewurtztraminer: 257g/L

not obliged to be sweet. would reach 14-15%abv if fermented to dryness

70
Q

Selection de Grains Nobles minimum sugar levels

A

Muscat or Riesling: 276g/L

Pinot Gris or Gewurtztraminre: 306g/L

71
Q

Average vyd holding in Alsace

A

3.5ha

72
Q

Co-ops what % of sales in Alsace?

A

40%

Reputation for high quality wines

73
Q

What % of Alsace production sold domestically?

A

75% domestic

74
Q

Bottle requirement for Alsace?

A

AOC wine must be tall thin flute bottle

BiB not allowed

75
Q

Medium to large domaines in Alsace might make approx how many bottlings each year?

A

20-35
all available styles: dry, off dry, vendage tarvide and selection grain noble; four or more varieties; for our more quality levels

76
Q

Significant Alsace producers

A

Zind-Humbrecht
Hugel
Trimbach

77
Q

Large co-op in Alsace

A

Cave de Turckheim

50 bottlings per year from seven varieties

D3 KID (35 decks)

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