Alsace

Question 1

What is the climate in Alsace?

Answer 1

Cool to moderate continental climate.

Question 2

What is the name of the mountains that protect Alsace from westerly rain-bearing winds?

Answer 2

Vosges Mountains

Question 3

The Vosges Mountains mean what for the climate in Alsace?

Answer 3

Sunny cloud-free summers and dry autumns.

Question 4

The Vosges Mountains mean sunny conditions and grapes with high sugar levels, but what is the weather risk associated with the Vosges Mountains’ rain shadow?

Answer 4

Drought

Question 5

What style of wine comes primarily from the lower quality vineyards on the plain between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine river?

Answer 5

Sparkling Crémant d’Alsace

Question 6

Where do most of the quality still wines come from in Alsace?

Answer 6

The foothills of the Vosges Mountains.

Question 7

In Alsace, what is the difference between vine training on the flat plain versus the foothills of the Vosges Mountains?

Answer 7

Vosges Mountain foothills
Vines are trained low to the ground to receive radiated heat from the ground.
Low frost risk, frost flows down hill and away.
On the plain
Vines are trained high to avoid frost risk.

Question 8

What vineyard conditions mean organics and biodynamics are common in Alsace?

Answer 8

Dry sunny conditions mean there is low disease pressure.

Question 9

What are two reasons why the harvest is spread over two or more months in Alsace?

Answer 9

Lots of small plots with a number of different grape varieties.
Delayed harvest for Vendanges Tardives (VT) & Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN).

Question 10

Can Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOC both make Vendanges Tardives & Sélection de Grains Nobles?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

Can Alsace wines be made as a single variety?

Answer 11

Yes, most are single variety.

Question 12

Can Alsace AOC single variety wines have the name of the grape variety on the label?

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

If an Alsace AOC wine has the Muscat grape variety on the label, what is the minimum percentage of Muscat that must be used in the wine?

Answer 13

100%

Question 14

Do blends of Alsace AOC wines have the grape varieties on the label?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

Alsace Grand Cru wines are almost always single variety wines made from which noble grape varieties?

Answer 15

Principal & noble grape varieties
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat

Question 16

What three pieces of information must be on the label of an Alsace Grand Cru AOC wine?

Answer 16

Vineyard
Vintage
Grape variety (not required for rare blends)

Note the back label must include the sweetness

Question 17

In Alsace, what is the main difference between Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)?

Answer 17

The grapes sugar level in Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) is higher than in Vendanges Tardives (VT).
To achieve higher sugar levels, more grapes with noble rot are required.

Question 18

The best Vendanges Tardives (VT) wines are often made using which viticulture factors?

Answer 18

Passerillage (dehydration of the grape while attached to the vine).
Some noble rot may be present, but not required for VT sugar levels.

Question 19

Which four noble grape varieties can be used for Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines?

Answer 19

Noble grape varieties
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat

Question 20

The best Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines are often made using which viticulture factor to achieve the high sugar levels?

Answer 20

Noble rot

Question 21

Wines labelled as Edelzwicker and Gentil are what?

Answer 21

Blended wines from Alsace.
Often inexpensive but some very rare Grand Crus as well.

Question 22

Which three winemaking practices are used (or not used) to make aromatic Alsace wines?

Answer 22

Fermentation in inert vessels
Large old oak barrels with thick tartrate deposits, preventing barrel influence.
Temperature-controlled stainless steel.
No MLC.
Bottling after fermentation (no barrel maturation).

Question 23

What are the sweetness levels for Alsace Vendanges Tardives (VT) wines?

Answer 23

Dry to medium sweet.

Question 24

What are the sweetness levels for Alsace Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines?

Answer 24

Sweet

Question 25

What is the most planted noble grape variety in Alsace?

Answer 25

Riesling

Question 26

What is the grape variety of an Alsatian wine with medium to full body, dry, medium alcohol, high acidity with citrus, stone fruit & pronounced stony/steely character?

Answer 26

Riesling

Question 27

What is the grape variety of an Alsatian wine with a golden colour, full body, high alcohol, low to medium acidity with lychees, roses and sweet baking spice?

Answer 27

Gewürztraminer

Question 28

What is the grape variety of an Alsatian wine with a golden colour, full body, high alcohol, medium acidity with fresh & dried fruits and honey character?

Answer 28

Pinot Gris

Question 29

Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer from Alsace have similar characteristics but what are the three main differences?

Answer 29

Pinot Gris
Has higher acidity
Is less aromatic
Different flavours
Pinot Gris: fresh & dried fruits and honey character.
Gewurztraminer: lychees, roses, sweet baking spice.

Question 30

Alsatian Muscat can be made from two possible grape varieties. What are they?

Answer 30

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel

Question 31

In Alsace, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains & Muscat Ottonel are both called Muscat. Which is better quality and why is the other popular with grape growers?

Answer 31

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Better quality
Prone to poor fruit set.
Muscat Ottonel
More reliable cropper.

Question 32

Alsatian Muscat made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has a similar floral nose to Gewurtraminer, but what is the key difference?

Answer 32

Body
Gewurtztraminer is full bodied.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is light to medium bodied.

Question 33

In Alsace, Pinot Blanc is planted on the plains and is often used to produce what type of wine?

Answer 33

Sparkling wine (Crémant d’Alsace)