Alsace Flashcards
When was the DOP of Alsace established?
1962
Departments of Alsace
Haut Rin and Bas Rin
Location of Best Vineyards and Grand Cru Sites
Lower slopes of Vosges
Name of the mountains that circle Alsace
Vosges Mountains
Percentage of white wines produced
90 %
What does the Vosges Mountains protect Alsace from?
Rainfall
Level of rainfall in Alsace
700 mm
One characteristic of the Alsace micro climate
One of the driest micro climates in France
Soils in Alsace
Alsace Plain - Alluvial Soil
Lower slopes - Chalk
Upper Slopes - Granite, Volcanic deposits, Schist
Single varietal in Alsace
must contain 100 % of the grape on the label
Edelzwicker
Indicates a blend of any permitted grapes, no regulation on number of varieties. May be vintage dated
Gentil
Requires a minimum of 50 % of Noble Varieties in the Blend.
4 noble varietals used in AOC Alsace Grand Cru
Riesling
Gewürztraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat
Classic Blends in Alsace
Blended wines produced from noble varietals
4 Houses that produce classic Alsatian blends
Grand Vin de Schoenenberg
Clos du Zahnacker
Clos du Schlossberg
Côtes du Ribeauville
River that shapes Alsace
Rhine
Varietals permitted in Alsace
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)
Varietals that change for the Grand Cru Zotzenberg in Alsace
Sylvaner may be used as a noble grape, and muscat no.
Number of Grand Crus in Alsace
51
Grand Crus permitted to blend in Alsace
Altenberg de Bergheim; Kaefferkopf
Characteristics of an Alsace Grand Cru
Hand Harvested
Minimum Sugar Levels higher than AOP Alsace
Minimum Alcohol Levels:
- Riesling and Muscat = 11%
- Gewüzrtraminer and Pinot Gris = 12,5%
When were Vendages Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles introduced?
1984
What do Vendages Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles apply to?
Alsace AOP and Alsace Grand Cru AOP, so the grapes and the exceptions are the same (this is not to answer, but info)
Number of villages that may append their name to the label under the AOP Alsace Communal
13
AOP Alsace Lieu-dit or AOP Alsace Communal
Stricter regulations refer to a location or village or a lieu-dit (specific vineyard)
Authorised Grapes for Crémant D’Alsace
Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Auxerrois, Riesling, Chardonnay
Dosages of Crémant D’Alsace
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
On May 2022 the Grand Cru’s Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr was allowed to produce Grand Cru wine from which grape?
Pinot Noir
What must labels from Alsace Lieu-Dit wines include?
Varietal planted, vine density, pruning methods, trellising, grape maturity and yields
What is Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles? (Describe the wine)
Sweet wines made from the 4 noble grape varieties
What differs VT from SGN?
The sugar level
What are the best-known vineyard towns?
Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé
Is Chaptalization permitted?
Yes, for all wines but VT and SGN
