Alsace

Question 1

When was Alsace granted AOC status?

Answer 1

1962

Question 2

What are the two departements of Alsace?

Answer 2

Bas-Rhin (North)
Haut-Rhin (South)

Question 3

Where are most of the Grand Crus located? Haut-Rhin or Bas-Rhin?

Answer 3

Haut-Rhin

Question 4

Roughly what % of Grand Crus are located in the Haut-Rhin?

Answer 4

66% (2/3s)

Question 5

What effect do the Vosges mountains have on Alsace?

Answer 5

Rain shadow protecting from harsh winds off the Northern Coast of France

Question 6

Describe the climate of Alsace.

Answer 6

Dry
Sunny
Continental Climate

Question 7

Where are vines found in Alsace in relation to the Vosges Mountains?

Answer 7

Foothills and lower slopes

Question 8

What Aspect do the top vineyards have in Alsace?

Answer 8

Southern, southeastern, or a warm eastern exposure

Question 9

Is underripeness an issue facing Alsace?

Answer 9

No - so much sun during the summer

Question 10

What is Grés de Vosges?

Answer 10

Pink sandstone

Question 11

Is there a common soil type that is shared among most vineyards in Alsace?

Answer 11

No - many different soil types varying widely by vineyard

Question 12

Steep mountain slopes are generally comprised of what three soil types?

Answer 12

Schist
Granite
Volcanic sediments

Question 13

Lower slopes are generally comprised of what type of soil?

Answer 13

Limestone base - varying topsoil

Question 14

The plains beyond the foothills generally comprise of what soil types?

Answer 14

Alluvial clay and Gravel

Question 15

What % of Alsace AOP wine is white?

Answer 15

90%

Question 16

What red grape is allowed for rose and rouge production?

Answer 16

Pinot Noir

Question 17

What are the Noble Grapes of Alsace?

Answer 17

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Muscat (a Petits Grains, Rose a Petits Grains, Ottonel)
Gewurztraminer

Question 18

What white grapes (aside from the Noble Grapes) are allowed to be planted for AOC production?

Answer 18

Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois
Chasselas (and Chasselas Rose)
Sylvaner

Question 19

If a wine is varietally labeled in Alsace what is the minimum requirement of that grape?

Answer 19

100%

Question 20

What varietal labeling exceptions are there for Alsace AOC production?

Answer 20

Pinot Blanc may be made from Auxerrois

Question 21

If a wine is labeled ‘Pinot’ - what grapes may be included?

Answer 21

Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois

Question 22

What is another name for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

Answer 22

Kelvner

Question 23

What is another name for Chasselas?

Answer 23

Gutedel

Question 24

What is the most planted grape variety in Alsace?

Answer 24

Riesling

Question 25

What grape variety is Klevener de Heiligenstein?

Answer 25

Savagnin Rose

Question 26

When did the ‘Noble grapes’ of Alsace become dominant plantings?

Answer 26

Mid 19th century

Question 27

What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener de Heiligenstein?

Answer 27

Klevner = Pinot Blanc
Klevener = Savagnin Rose

Question 28

What are the communes that may bottle Klevener de Heiligenstein varietally?

Answer 28

Heiligenstein
Bourgheim
Gerwiller
Goxwiller
Obernai

Question 29

What does Edelzwicker translate to?

Answer 29

Noble mixture

Question 30

What does ‘Gentil’ indicate on a bottle of Alsatian wine?

Answer 30

Blended wine with at least 50% noble varieties

Question 31

For edelzwicker wines, must wines be vinified together or separately?

Answer 31

Separately

Question 32

Who is the biggest proponent of making field blends?

Answer 32

Marcel Deiss

Question 33

What Grand Crus allow blending in the final wines?

Answer 33

Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf

Question 34

What Grand Cru allows for Sylvaner?

Answer 34

Zotzenberg

Question 35

What blend is allowed in Kaefferkopf?

Answer 35

60-80% Gewurztraminer
10-40% Riesling
Max 30% Pinot Gris
Max 10% Muscat

Question 36

What blend is allowed for Altenberg de Bergheim?

Answer 36

50-70% Riesling
10-25% Pinot Gris
10-25% Gewurztraminer
Max 10% Combined: Muscat (petit grains and ottonel), Chasselas, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc

Question 37

Where are the Grand Crus ‘Geisberg’ and ‘Osterberg’ located?

Answer 37

Ribeauville

Question 38

What soil type is found in Schlossberg Grand Cru?

Answer 38

Granite

Question 39

What is the smallest Grand Cru?

Answer 39

Kanzlerberg

Question 40

What is the largest Grand Cru?

Answer 40

Schlossberg

Question 41

When were alsace VT and SGN categories created?

Answer 41

1984

Question 42

May SGN wines be dry?

Answer 42

Yes, they may be dry but seldom in practice

Question 43

What grape varieties are allowed in Cremant d’Alsace AOP?

Answer 43

Blanc: Reisling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Rose: Pinot Noir

Question 44

What is the dominant grape variety used for Cremant d’Alsace production?

Answer 44

Pinot Blanc

Question 45

Marcel Deiss produces what grape variety in the Mambourg Grand Cru?

Answer 45

Pinot (all types - Gris, Noir, Meunier, Blanc)

Question 46

Why is Marcel Deiss allowed to state Grand Cru Mambourg and Schoenenbourg while blending grapes in each of the vineyards?

Answer 46

Grand Crus don’t need to declare grape variety on label so they do what they want - in defiance of INAO.

Question 47

Can two grand Crus be blended together and still be called Alsace Grand Cru AOP?

Answer 47

No. Must be bottled only by individual vineyard.

Question 48

What is the elevation range for Alsace vineyards?

Answer 48

550 and 1800ft (170-550masl)

Question 49

What is Muschelkalk?

Answer 49

Fossilized limestone soils in Alsace

Question 50

Who decides on whether blends are allowed in each Grand Cru?

Answer 50

A management committee