Alsace Flashcards
When was Alsace granted AOC status?
1962
What are the two departements of Alsace?
Bas-Rhin (North)
Haut-Rhin (South)
Where are most of the Grand Crus located? Haut-Rhin or Bas-Rhin?
Haut-Rhin
Roughly what % of Grand Crus are located in the Haut-Rhin?
66% (2/3s)
What effect do the Vosges mountains have on Alsace?
Rain shadow protecting from harsh winds off the Northern Coast of France
Describe the climate of Alsace.
Dry
Sunny
Continental Climate
Where are vines found in Alsace in relation to the Vosges Mountains?
Foothills and lower slopes
What Aspect do the top vineyards have in Alsace?
Southern, southeastern, or a warm eastern exposure
Is underripeness an issue facing Alsace?
No - so much sun during the summer
What is Grés de Vosges?
Pink sandstone
Is there a common soil type that is shared among most vineyards in Alsace?
No - many different soil types varying widely by vineyard
Steep mountain slopes are generally comprised of what three soil types?
Schist
Granite
Volcanic sediments
Lower slopes are generally comprised of what type of soil?
Limestone base - varying topsoil
The plains beyond the foothills generally comprise of what soil types?
Alluvial clay and Gravel
What % of Alsace AOP wine is white?
90%
What red grape is allowed for rose and rouge production?
Pinot Noir
What are the Noble Grapes of Alsace?
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Muscat (a Petits Grains, Rose a Petits Grains, Ottonel)
Gewurztraminer
What white grapes (aside from the Noble Grapes) are allowed to be planted for AOC production?
Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois
Chasselas (and Chasselas Rose)
Sylvaner
If a wine is varietally labeled in Alsace what is the minimum requirement of that grape?
100%
What varietal labeling exceptions are there for Alsace AOC production?
Pinot Blanc may be made from Auxerrois
If a wine is labeled ‘Pinot’ - what grapes may be included?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois
What is another name for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?
Kelvner
What is another name for Chasselas?
Gutedel
What is the most planted grape variety in Alsace?
Riesling
What grape variety is Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Savagnin Rose
When did the ‘Noble grapes’ of Alsace become dominant plantings?
Mid 19th century
What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Klevner = Pinot Blanc
Klevener = Savagnin Rose
What are the communes that may bottle Klevener de Heiligenstein varietally?
Heiligenstein
Bourgheim
Gerwiller
Goxwiller
Obernai
What does Edelzwicker translate to?
Noble mixture
What does ‘Gentil’ indicate on a bottle of Alsatian wine?
Blended wine with at least 50% noble varieties
For edelzwicker wines, must wines be vinified together or separately?
Separately
Who is the biggest proponent of making field blends?
Marcel Deiss
What Grand Crus allow blending in the final wines?
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
What Grand Cru allows for Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
What blend is allowed in Kaefferkopf?
60-80% Gewurztraminer
10-40% Riesling
Max 30% Pinot Gris
Max 10% Muscat
What blend is allowed for Altenberg de Bergheim?
50-70% Riesling
10-25% Pinot Gris
10-25% Gewurztraminer
Max 10% Combined: Muscat (petit grains and ottonel), Chasselas, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc
Where are the Grand Crus ‘Geisberg’ and ‘Osterberg’ located?
Ribeauville
What soil type is found in Schlossberg Grand Cru?
Granite
What is the smallest Grand Cru?
Kanzlerberg
What is the largest Grand Cru?
Schlossberg
When were alsace VT and SGN categories created?
1984
May SGN wines be dry?
Yes, they may be dry but seldom in practice
What grape varieties are allowed in Cremant d’Alsace AOP?
Blanc: Reisling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Rose: Pinot Noir
What is the dominant grape variety used for Cremant d’Alsace production?
Pinot Blanc
Marcel Deiss produces what grape variety in the Mambourg Grand Cru?
Pinot (all types - Gris, Noir, Meunier, Blanc)
Why is Marcel Deiss allowed to state Grand Cru Mambourg and Schoenenbourg while blending grapes in each of the vineyards?
Grand Crus don’t need to declare grape variety on label so they do what they want - in defiance of INAO.
Can two grand Crus be blended together and still be called Alsace Grand Cru AOP?
No. Must be bottled only by individual vineyard.
What is the elevation range for Alsace vineyards?
550 and 1800ft (170-550masl)
What is Muschelkalk?
Fossilized limestone soils in Alsace
Who decides on whether blends are allowed in each Grand Cru?
A management committee
