Alsace Flashcards
What are the 7 most important grapes grown in Alsace?
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat,
Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Pinot Noir
True or False Alsace labels its wines by where they are grown NOT by the variety?
False
What are Vendange Tardive (VT) wines?
A category of wine made from super ripe, late harvested grapes. The wines can taste slightly sweet but are more powerful and concentrated.
What are Selection de grains nobles (SGN) wines?
A category of wine made from super concentrated, late harvested botrytis infected grapes. The wines are very concentrated in taste not so much sugary in taste. But are sweet wines.
What are the 3 types of wine that almost every producer in Alsace makes?
Regular, Reserve, and Late Harvest
How may a Reserve wine be labeled in Alsace.
The label may carry the name of a well known vineyard.
Or if the grapes come from a Grand Cru vineyard it may be labeled with the words Grand Cru + the vineyard name.
A reserve wine may also be given a tile such as Reserve Personelle, or Reserve Exceptionnelle.
What category does sparkling wine from Alsace fall in to?
Cremant de Alsace AOP
What grapes are permitted for Cremant de Alsace?
Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay-(Only permitted for Cremant de Alsace nothing else)
What is a Producer of Note for Cremant de Alsace?
Lucien Albrecht
What Mountain range acts as a Rain Shadow protecting Alsace from harsh weather?
The Vosges Mountain Range to the West of Alsace.
What two rivers run through Alsace.
The Rhine and Ill (EEL) rivers just east of Alsace
What type of Climate does Alsace experience?
A semi-Continental Climate, it is mostly sunny hot and dry thanks to the Vosges Mountain Range.
What is the orientation of the best vineyard sites in Alsace?
South Facing for maximum sun exposure. Most of the best vineyards are located in the Haut Rhine (Lower Rhine)
What is Alsace’s signature pink sandstone called?
Gres de Vosges
What soil types are found in Alsace?
A Checkerboard of soil including Chalk combined with clay, limestone, granite, Schist, Sandstone, and Volcanic Rock Sediment.
When was the Grand Cru Classification in Alsace added? how many vineyards were classified?
In 1983, 25 Vineyard sites were classified.
How many more vineyard sites were later added to Alsace’s Grand Cru classification?
26 more for a total of 51
What is the yield limit per acre/hectare for Grand Cru Vineyards in Alsace?
686 Gallons per Acre/65hectoliters per hectare
By law what are the only 4 varieties allowed to be called Grand Cru in Alsace?
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat.
1 exception (Grand Cru Zotzenberg) Sylvaner
Gewürztraminer is a colored mutation clone of what grape?
The ancient grape Savignin.
Name 5 producers of Note from Alsace?
Domaine Trimbach
Domaine Zind Humbrecht
Domaine Ostertag
Famille Hugel
Domaine Albert Boxler
What are the two Muscat Varieties grown in Alsace?
Muscat blanc a petits grains, and Muscat Ottonel
What is Coulure?
A condition where the buds of grapes lose their flowers before they can be fertilized to become grapes. (Muscat Ottonel has this condition)
What is Pinot Blanc also called in Alsace?
Klevner
True or False: The grapes for making (VT) Vendange Tardive wines must be affected with Botrytis Cinerea?
False: They may be but don’t have to be.
By law what are the only 4 grapes allowed for making VT and SGN wines?
Riesling Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat
True or False: (SGN) Selections de Grains Nobles wines are always sweet and always effected by Botrytis Cinerea?
True
What year did Alsace achieve AOC Status?
1962
What are the 2 departements Alsace is divided into?
The Haut Rhine (Lower Rhine in the South)
The Bas Rhine (Upper Rhine in the North)
What is Alsaces main Appelation?
Alsace AOP or (Vine d’Alsace AOP)
what is Chassales also called in Alsace?
Gutedel
What percentage of grapes must a bottle be to be labeled varietally in Alsace?
100%
What does the term Edelswicker mean?
Means Noble Mixture ( Wines with this label are inexpensive blends usually, but could be one varietal. They are not required to list vintage, grapes or percentages on the label.
What does the unofficial term gentil refer to?
A superior designation for blends that contain 50% or more of Noble Alsace varieties. The base wines must be vinified separately.
What is the oldest Grand cru vineyard in Alsace? When was it designated?
Scholssberg Vineyard in 1975 when the Grand Cru AOP was first made in Alsace.
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Riesling and Muscat Grand Cru.
11%
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer Grand Cru?
12.5%
What are the minimum sugar levels required for VT- Vandange Tardive Wines
244g per Liter for Riesling and Muscat
270g per Liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
What is the minimum sugar levels required for SGN- Selection de Grains Nobles Wines
276g per Liter for Riesling and Muscat
306g per Liter for Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer