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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
Gewurtz ripens early or late
Early | Avoids autumn rain
26
Why is Gewurtz picked late in Alsace?
Achieve fully ripen skins to maximise aromas and avoid unripe tannins
27
Gewurtz is vigorous but not necessarily productive. Why?
Vigorous so needs careful pruning and canopy mgmt BUT only moderately productive because coulure reduces yield (also powdery, chlorosis, grape vine moth, etc)
28
Why is Gewurtz wine medium lemon in colour?
Ripe grapes are light pink
29
Typical Gewurtz aromas
Lychee, peach/aprciot, rose, spice
30
Gewurtz style Alsace
``` Lychee, peach, apricot, rose, spice Medium to high alcohol Medium to full body Low acid Dry to sweet ```
31
Still Pinot Blanc in Alsace: style
low intensity apple and peach Medium acid Medium alcohol
32
Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois mostly used for what in Alsace?
Cremant
33
Pinot Gris buds early or late
Early | Spring forst
34
Pinot Gris ripens early or late
Early | Avoids rain
35
Pinot Gris style in Alsace
``` Medium intensity peach, apple Full bodied Medium acid Rich oily texture Ageing capacity (honey, smoke notes) ```
36
Why are picking dates very important for Pinot Gris in Alsace?
Grape accumulates sugar very quickly and drops acid very quickly Earlier picking = drier style Led by mkt demand for dry Pinot Gris
37
What has allowed growers to pick Pinot Gris earlier in Alsace? So what?
Warmer seasons, earlier start to season Better canopy management Earlier picking = drier style
38
Only black grape allowed for Alsace AOC wines?
Pinot Noir
39
Significant Pinot Noir producers in Alsace (2)
Domaine Muré | Domaine Albert Mann
40
Why is Sylvaner in decline in Alsace?
Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc easier to grow
41
Why is Sylvaner getting a reputation for very good quality wines in Alsace?
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
Which two Muscats are grown in Alsace?
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains | Muscat Ottonel
43
Which ripens earlier: Muscat Blanc PG or Muscat Ottonel?
Muscat Ottonel | Attractive to avoid autumn rains
44
Common vine training in Alsace?
Single or double Guot | required by AOC regulations
45
Fruit zone higher in Alsace than other regions. T/F? Why?
Yes, typically it's 1-1.2m above the ground Reduce frost risk, especially on the valley plain Reduce humidity
46
Why are canopies trained high in Alsace?
Up to 1.9m above ground | Maximise sun exposure
47
Why is row spacing wider in Alsace than elsewhere?
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
In Alsace, where is planting more dense: slopes or plain?
Slopes
49
Main pests and diseases in Alsace
Powdery Downy Grape vine moth Esca
50
Why is fungal pressure low in Alsace?
Warm sunny climate, low rainfall
51
What % of Alsace vineayrds are certified organic? (And what's the French national average?)
15% | National average is 10%
52
When does harvest take place in Alsace?
Long period: early September to late OCtober Range of styles and diversity of sites Sparkling --> late harvest/botrytis
53
Which vineyards in Alsace are picked by hand?
``` Steep slopes (can't be picked by machine) Grand Cru (AOC rules) ```
54
Alsace: Muscat, Riesling and Sylvaner fermetned at what temperature range?
Cool temperatures | Preserve aromas
55
Alsace: Gewurtztramienr fermented at what temperature range?
Mid-range Pronounced aromas aren't affected by higher temp Higher sugar levels = higher temperature ensures yeast can ferment properly
56
Why avoid low ferment temp for Gewurtztraminer?
Want to avoid banana aromas
57
Chaptalisation in Alsace?
Permitted within EU rules | Used because northerly region, especially in cool years
58
Max yields for Alsace whites? (it varies by grape)
Pinot Gris, Gewurtz: 80hl/ha Riesling: 90hl/ha Pinot Blanc: 100hl/ha
59
Alsace + commune name AOC. How many communes? And give an example.
13 communes e.g. Bergheim Alsace Bergheim AOC
60
Alsace Pinot Noir max yield
60hl/ha
61
Alsace + commune name AOC - max yield? | Alsace + lieu-dit name AOC - max yield
with commune: 72hl/ha | with lieu-dit: 68hl/ha
62
Alsace Grand Cru yield(s)
55hl/ha | Some, e.g. Rangen, are 50hl/ha
63
Alsace Grand Cru category introducd when?
1975
64
Examples of Alsace Grand Cru vineyards?
Rangen Geisberg Schoenenbourg
65
How many Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace?
51
66
Debate about Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace?
Whether delimitaiton was overly generou Permitted yields too high Trimbach and Hugel initially rejected Grand Cru labelling but now use it
67
Are there Premier Crus in Alsace?
No although there are discussions at the moment
68
Requirements for Vendange tardive and Selection de grains nobles
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
Vendange Tardive minimum sugar levels
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
Selection de Grains Nobles minimum sugar levels
Muscat or Riesling: 276g/L | Pinot Gris or Gewurtztraminre: 306g/L
71
Average vyd holding in Alsace
3.5ha
72
Co-ops what % of sales in Alsace?
40% | Reputation for high quality wines
73
What % of Alsace production sold domestically?
75% domestic
74
Bottle requirement for Alsace?
AOC wine must be tall thin flute bottle | BiB not allowed
75
Medium to large domaines in Alsace might make approx how many bottlings each year?
20-35 all available styles: dry, off dry, vendage tarvide and selection grain noble; four or more varieties; for our more quality levels
76
Significant Alsace producers
Zind-Humbrecht Hugel Trimbach
77
Large co-op in Alsace
Cave de Turckheim | 50 bottlings per year from seven varieties

D3 KID (35 decks)

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