Alsace Flashcards
What are the 7 focus grapes of Alsace?
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat
Pinot Blanc
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir
In Alsace which 4 grapes are considered Noble?
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat
Where is Riesling indigenous to?
Germany’s Rhine Valley
Where is Sylvaner indigenous to?
Austria
How has climate change impacted Alsace’s wines?
Sugar levels are rising and some historically dry wines are now made as off-dry
What is the traditional synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?
Klevner
What is the climate in Alsace?
Continental
What is an “Edelzwicker”?
A blended white wine made from a blend of any of the approved white grapes
Grapes are vinified together or separately
Vintage dating is optional
What type of bottle is commonly used for Alsatian wines?
Flute d’Alsace
What is a “Gentil”?
A blended white wine containing at least 50% of the four nobles grapes of Alsace
Each grape variety must be vinified separately
Vintage dating is required
What are the two categories of dessert wines produced in Alsace?
Vendanges Tardives
Selection de Grains Nobles
How are Selection de Grains Nobles wines made?
Must be any of the four noble grapes
Grapes must be affected by botrytis
Grapes are handpicked with multiple passes to select the ripest & most affected by noble rot
What is a “lieu-dit”?
A parcel of land within a single commune that is a legally registered cadastral unit
Production standards are higher than those for communal wines
There are restrictions on grapes, vine density, pruning methods, and trellising
These wines can be white or red (no rose)
Are wines in Alsace usually machine or hand harvested?
Hand harvested
What is a “Foudre”?
A traditional, large, oak cask
How much of Alsace’s total production consists of blended wines?
20%
If a grape is listed on the label of a wine in Alsace, what percent of the wine must it make up?
100%
Exception is Pinot Blanc
What is the principal vine training method in Alsace?
Guyot
Which Grand Crus in Alsace allow blends?
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
Which Grand Crus in Alsace allow the use of Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
Which Grand Crus in Alsace allow the production of red wines made from Pinot Noir?
Hengst
Kirchberg de Barr
Gewurztraminer is the aromatic version of what grape?
What is the Alsace name for that grape?
Savagnin Rose
In Alsace - Klevener de Heiligensten
Describe Grand Cru wines in Alsace.
Represent 6% of total production
Can be dry or contain residual sugar
Special cuvee names can appear on the label
Can be labelled Vendanges Tardives or Selection de Grains Nobles
What grapes can be used in Pinot d’Alsace?
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir (vinified as a white wine)
Auxerrois
Wines can be 100% of any of these grapes or a blend
What is unique about wines labelled Pinot Blanc in Alsace?
They can be 100% Pinot Blanc, 100% Auxerrois, or a blend of both
What are DGCs?
Denominations Geographiques Complementaries
Communal designations meant to echo “village-level” categories of Bourgogne
Quality standards are higher than normal Alsace AOC
Producers can add the commune name to the label
Each commune is authorized to produce specific wine styles from specific grapes
What are the 3 ancillary grapes in Alsace?
Klevener de Heiligenstein (aka Savagnin Rose) - Non-aromatic Gewurztraminer
Auxerrois - Low acid, neutral grape
Chasselas - Neutral grape
What labeling rules for sweetness are required in Alsace?
As of 2021, every bottle must clearly show the sweetness level
Sec (dry)
Demi-sec (off-dry)
Mouelleux (medium-sweet)
Doux (sweet)
What are the harvesting and aging requirements for Cremant d’Alsace?
Grapes must be handpicked
White grape varieties must be whole-cluster pressed
Wines must be aged on lees for 9 months
Cannot be released into the market less than 1 year after tirage (bottling)
How are Vendanges Tardives wines made?
Late harvest wine
Must be any of the four noble grapes
Grapes picked late are overripe and develop more sugar
Malolactic conversion not encouraged so wines keep high acidity
Grapes are handpicked to select suitable bunches
Grapes might have noble rot, but not required
Which grapes are most commonly used for Vendanges Tardives and Selection de Grains Nobles?
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
This is because these two mature at the sweet spot in Autumn when cool, moist mornings are followed by warm, dry afternoons
Pinot Vrai is a synonym for what grape?
Pinot Blanc
Describe the Alsace AOC.
Dry white, rose, red, sweet white wine
White grapes: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Muscat
Rose grapes: Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris
Red grapes: Pinot Noir
AOC covers the entire region
Has 13 DCGs
Can also have a lieu-dit designation, which is a plot of land or vineyard (smaller than a DCG/village) with a special terrior
Describe the Alsace Grand Cru AOCs.
Dry white and sweet white wine
White grapes: Riesling, Muscat
Rose grapes: Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris
Each grand cru has its own AOC
Like Bourgogne, vineyards (not producers) are ranked and more than producer can farm one grand cru site
Describe the Cremant d’Alsace AOC.
Sparkling white and sparkling rose wine
White grapes: Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Riesling
Rose grapes: Pinot Gris
Red grapes: Pinot Noir
