Alsace

Question 1

When was the DOP of Alsace established?

Answer 1

1962

Question 2

Departments of Alsace

Answer 2

Haut Rin and Bas Rin

Question 3

Location of Best Vineyards and Grand Cru Sites

Answer 3

Lower slopes of Vosges

Question 4

Name of the mountains that circle Alsace

Answer 4

Vosges Mountains

Question 5

Percentage of white wines produced

Answer 5

90 %

Question 6

What does the Vosges Mountains protect Alsace from?

Answer 6

Rainfall

Question 7

Level of rainfall in Alsace

Answer 7

700 mm

Question 8

One characteristic of the Alsace micro climate

Answer 8

One of the driest micro climates in France

Question 9

Soils in Alsace

Answer 9

Alsace Plain - Alluvial Soil
Lower slopes - Chalk
Upper Slopes - Granite, Volcanic deposits, Schist

Question 10

Single varietal in Alsace

Answer 10

must contain 100 % of the grape on the label

Question 11

Edelzwicker

Answer 11

Indicates a blend of any permitted grapes, no regulation on number of varieties. May be vintage dated

Question 12

Gentil

Answer 12

Requires a minimum of 50 % of Noble Varieties in the Blend.

Question 13

4 noble varietals used in AOC Alsace Grand Cru

Answer 13

Riesling
Gewürztraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat

Question 14

Classic Blends in Alsace

Answer 14

Blended wines produced from noble varietals

Question 15

4 Houses that produce classic Alsatian blends

Answer 15

Grand Vin de Schoenenberg
Clos du Zahnacker
Clos du Schlossberg
Côtes du Ribeauville

Question 16

River that shapes Alsace

Answer 16

Rhine

Question 17

Varietals permitted in Alsace

Answer 17

Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Muscat Blanc à petit grains, Muscat Rosé à petit grains, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chasselas, Sylvaner, Klevener of Heiligenstein, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay (Crémant D’Alsace), Pinot Noir (reds and rosés)

Question 18

Varietals that change for the Grand Cru Zotzenberg in Alsace

Answer 18

Sylvaner may be used as a noble grape, and muscat no.

Question 19

Number of Grand Crus in Alsace

Answer 19

51

Question 20

Grand Crus permitted to blend in Alsace

Answer 20

Altenberg de Bergheim; Kaefferkopf

Question 21

Characteristics of an Alsace Grand Cru

Answer 21

Hand Harvested
Minimum Sugar Levels higher than AOP Alsace
Minimum Alcohol Levels:
- Riesling and Muscat = 11%
- Gewüzrtraminer and Pinot Gris = 12,5%

Question 22

When were Vendages Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles introduced?

Answer 22

1984

Question 23

What do Vendages Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles apply to?

Answer 23

Alsace AOP and Alsace Grand Cru AOP, so the grapes and the exceptions are the same (this is not to answer, but info)

Question 24

Number of villages that may append their name to the label under the AOP Alsace Communal

Answer 24

13

Question 25

AOP Alsace Lieu-dit or AOP Alsace Communal

Answer 25

Stricter regulations refer to a location or village or a lieu-dit (specific vineyard)

Question 26

Authorised Grapes for Crémant D’Alsace

Answer 26

Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Auxerrois, Riesling, Chardonnay

Question 27

Dosages of Crémant D’Alsace

Answer 27

Extra Brut - 0-6 g/l
Brut - < 12 g/l
Extra Dry - 12-17 g/l
Sec - 12-32 g/l
Demi-Sec - 32-50 g/l

Question 28

On May 2022 the Grand Cru’s Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr was allowed to produce Grand Cru wine from which grape?

Answer 28

Pinot Noir

Question 29

What must labels from Alsace Lieu-Dit wines include?

Answer 29

Varietal planted, vine density, pruning methods, trellising, grape maturity and yields

Question 30

What is Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles? (Describe the wine)

Answer 30

Sweet wines made from the 4 noble grape varieties

Question 31

What differs VT from SGN?

Answer 31

The sugar level

Question 32

What are the best-known vineyard towns?

Answer 32

Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé

Question 33

Is Chaptalization permitted?

Answer 33

Yes, for all wines but VT and SGN