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
What type of Climate does the Jura region experience.
A Continental climate, very harsh cold winters.
What are the main soil types in the Jura?
Jurassic Limestone and Marl
Clay in the lower valleys
What is the main appellation in Jura
Cotes du Jura AOP
What are the 3 main red grapes of the Jura?
Poulsard (Ploussard)
Trousseau
Pinot Noir
What are the 3 main white grapes of the Jura?
Chardonnay (Gamay Blanc)
Savagnin (also known as Nature and Traminer)
Gewurztraminer
What percentage of White Cotes du Jura must be made up of Chardonnay and Savagnin?
80%
True or False: Pinot Noir is excluded from vin de paille production?
True
What are Vin de Paille (straw wines) ?
Wines made from very ripe but not botrytised grapes. Left to dry for a minimum 6 weeks after harvest. Traditionally dried on straw mats the grapes surpass a 320g per liter must weight.
The sweet wines are balanced by high acid and a minimum 14% Alcohol. They are aged for a minimum 3 years with 18 months in neutral oak.
What are Vin Jaune (Yellow Wines)
Style of wine produced exclusively from Savagnin grapes. Aged in an oxidative environment. It is kept in barrel until December 15th of the 6th year following harvest. The barrels are not topped to allow a voile (veil) yeast to develop. The wine is dry, nutty and almost curried in flavor.
What type of bottle must Vin Jaune be bottled in?
A Clavelin (squat 62-centiliter) bottle.
What commune is known for Vin Jaune production?
Chateau Chalon AOP
What grapes are permitted in Cremant du Jura AOP? Established in 1995
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Trousseau. These 3 grapes must make up a minimum 70% of the cuvee.
What percentage of grey/black varieties must make up Cremant du Jura Rose?
50%
What are the two lakes moderating the region of Savoie
Lake Bourget and Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)
What type of climate does Savoie Experience?
Continental Climate
What is the overarching appellation in Savoie?
Vin de Savoie AOP
What are the main white grapes of Savoie?
Jacquere (most common)
Altesse (also known as Roussette)
Roussanne (also known as Bergeron)
Chardonnay
What are the most common red grapes in Savoie?
Gamay
Mondeuse
Pinot Noir
What grapes are used for Cremant de Savoie? Established in 2015
Primarily Jacquere, Altesse, Chardonnay, and some reds.
Who produces Clos St-Hune Riesling?
Domaine Trimbach
Which department of Alsace produces most of the premier wines?
The Haut Rhine
What city is the capital of Alsace?
Stasbourg, located in the Bas Rhine.
What is the capital city of the Haut Rhine?
Colmar
What producer of note from Alsace prefers to focus on making blends rather than varietal wines?
Marcel Deiss
True or False: Alsace AOP does NOT cover fortified wines?
True
Gutedel is an Alsatian synonym for what grape?
Chasselas
What is the workhorse grape for Cremant de Alsace AOP?
Pinot Blanc
Varietal Alsace AOP wines labeled Pinot Blanc may also have what grape blended into them.
Auxerrois
True or False: Gewürztraminer is permitted for Cremant de Alsace?
False it is not permitted.
What is the smallest Grand Cru in Alsace?
Kanzlerberg
What Grand Cru allows Varietal Sylvaner to be produced?
Zotzenberg
True or False: Varietal labeling is required for Alsatian Grand Cru bottling?
False
Cotes de Toul AOP is located where?
In Lorraine
What forrest has a climatic influence on Alsace?
The Black Forest to the East of Alsace.
What is the largest Alsatian Grand Cru?
Scholssberg
Name an Alsatian Grand Cru permitted to produce blends?
Altenberg de Bergheim
True or False: Riesling is usually the first of the noble grapes in Alsace to fully ripen?
False: usually the last
In what part of France is Savoie located?
In Eastern France, south of Alsace and east of Burgundy.
What is Macvin du Jura AOP?
AOP for Vin de Liqueur. Aged Marc is added to unfermented grape must as a fortifier. The result is a sweet alcoholic unfermented grape juice. it must be aged for 10 months in oak after Mutage.
Which river runs through Savoie from lake Geneva in Switzerland.
The Rhone River
What is the most planted grape in the Jura?
Chardonnay
Savoie is located in what direction of the Jura Region?
Southeast of Jura
Dried grapes are used to produce what type of wine in Jura?
Vin de Paille
What style of wine is aged under Flor, called Voile in the Jura region?
Vin Jaune
What is the sole style of Bugey de Cerdon wines
Sparkling Method Ancestral Roses.
What type of landscape is Savoie?
Alpine, Mountainous
What is the most planted red grape in Jura?
Poulsard
How many Crus are in Vin de Savoie AOP
16 Crus
What 3 appellations may Vin de Paille be released under?
Cotes de Jura AOP
Arbois
L’Etoile
What is the capital of Savoie?
Chambery
What is the most planted grape in Savoie?
Jacquere
True or False: grapes are typically dried prior to use for Vin Jaune production?
False
What red grapes are authorized for Cotes du Jura AOP
Pinot Noir, Poulsard, Trousseau
Roussette wines are 100% what varietal?
Altesse
What single commune may append its name to the village of Arbois, the Jura’s leading wine village?
Pupillin
What lake borders Roussette de Savoie AOP?
Lake Bourget
What style of wine does L’Etoile produce?
White wine from Chardonnay, Poulsard, and Savagnin. The wines are bottled late in an oxidative style.
What is the grape of Chignin-Bergeron?
Roussanne
Name a producer of note that produces Vin Jaune?
Stephane Tissot
What style of Wines may Seyssel AOP produce?
White and Sparkling Wines
