Alsace Flashcards
What is the climate in Alsace?
Cool to moderate continental climate.
What is the name of the mountains that protect Alsace from westerly rain-bearing winds?
Vosges Mountains
The Vosges Mountains mean what for the climate in Alsace?
Sunny cloud-free summers and dry autumns.
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?
Drought
What style of wine comes primarily from the lower quality vineyards on the plain between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine river?
Sparkling Crémant d’Alsace
Where do most of the quality still wines come from in Alsace?
The foothills of the Vosges Mountains.
In Alsace, what is the difference between vine training on the flat plain versus the foothills of the Vosges Mountains?
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.
What vineyard conditions mean organics and biodynamics are common in Alsace?
Dry sunny conditions mean there is low disease pressure.
What are two reasons why the harvest is spread over two or more months in Alsace?
Lots of small plots with a number of different grape varieties.
Delayed harvest for Vendanges Tardives (VT) & Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN).
Can Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOC both make Vendanges Tardives & Sélection de Grains Nobles?
Yes
Can Alsace wines be made as a single variety?
Yes, most are single variety.
Can Alsace AOC single variety wines have the name of the grape variety on the label?
Yes
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?
100%
Do blends of Alsace AOC wines have the grape varieties on the label?
No
Alsace Grand Cru wines are almost always single variety wines made from which noble grape varieties?
Principal & noble grape varieties
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat
What three pieces of information must be on the label of an Alsace Grand Cru AOC wine?
Vineyard
Vintage
Grape variety (not required for rare blends)
Note the back label must include the sweetness
In Alsace, what is the main difference between Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)?
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.
The best Vendanges Tardives (VT) wines are often made using which viticulture factors?
Passerillage (dehydration of the grape while attached to the vine).
Some noble rot may be present, but not required for VT sugar levels.
Which four noble grape varieties can be used for Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines?
Noble grape varieties
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat
The best Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines are often made using which viticulture factor to achieve the high sugar levels?
Noble rot
Wines labelled as Edelzwicker and Gentil are what?
Blended wines from Alsace.
Often inexpensive but some very rare Grand Crus as well.
Which three winemaking practices are used (or not used) to make aromatic Alsace wines?
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).
What are the sweetness levels for Alsace Vendanges Tardives (VT) wines?
Dry to medium sweet.
What are the sweetness levels for Alsace Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines?
Sweet
What is the most planted noble grape variety in Alsace?
Riesling
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?
Riesling
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?
Gewürztraminer
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?
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer from Alsace have similar characteristics but what are the three main differences?
Pinot Gris
Has higher acidity
Is less aromatic
Different flavours
Pinot Gris: fresh & dried fruits and honey character.
Gewurztraminer: lychees, roses, sweet baking spice.
Alsatian Muscat can be made from two possible grape varieties. What are they?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel
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?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Better quality
Prone to poor fruit set.
Muscat Ottonel
More reliable cropper.
Alsatian Muscat made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has a similar floral nose to Gewurtraminer, but what is the key difference?
Body
Gewurtztraminer is full bodied.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is light to medium bodied.
In Alsace, Pinot Blanc is planted on the plains and is often used to produce what type of wine?
Sparkling wine (Crémant d’Alsace)
