Alsace Flashcards
History:
What countries was Alsace torn between throughout the middle ages?
Germany and France
what is the main difference between German wines and Alsatian wines after Alsace became part of France?
German wines remained classically sweet white Alsace producers opted for drier, more food friendly wines
what year did Alsace achieve AOC status?
1962
what are the two departments of Alsace?
Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin
where are the premier wines and 2/3 of Alsace Grand Crus located?
Haut-Rhin
what is the major body of water in Alsace?
Rhine River
what mountain range separates Alsace from the rest of France and creates a rain shadow effect?
Vosges mountains in the west
what is the capital of Haut-Rhin?
Colmar
what is France’s driest city located in Alsace?
Colmar
where do the vineyards of Alsace lay?
in a thin strand along the lower slopes and foothills of the Vosges mountains
what is the climate of Alsace?
Semi-continental
what soil types can be found in Alsace?
granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and pink sandstone (gres de vosges)
what soil types are found in the steeper mountain slopes where the best vineyards are located?
schist, granite, and volcanic sediment
what soil types are found on the lower slopes at the foot of the mountain?
alluvial clay and gravel
what % of wine is white in Alsace?
90%
what % of French white wine is produced in Alsace?
20% of all white wine
what are the noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer
what is the main appellation of Alsace?
Alsace AOP
what grapes are permitted in Alsace AOP?
noble varieites, pinot blanc (klevner), chasselas (Gutadel), sylvaner, pinot noir
How are wines labeled and bottled in Alsace?
varietally
what grape is often blended and confused with Pinot Blanc?
Auxerrois
what % of stated grape must be in Alsace AOP wines?
100% of stated variety
if a wine is labeled “Pinot”, what can you expect to be in the bottle?
any proportion of related varieties of Pinot–> pinot noir, pinot blanc, pinot gris
what grapes represent the largest volume of appellation production?
Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois
what is the most planted grape in Alsace?
riesling
what is the last noble grape to ripen?
Riesling
how does Alsatian riesling differ from German riesling?
they are more dry, powerful, and higher in alcohol than german riesling
what is another name for Pinot Gris in Alsace?
Tokay d’Alsace
what two noble varieties are known for being extremely aromatic?
Muscat and Gewurztraminer
what is Savinin Rose?
a sibling of Gewurztraminer, rare grape found in 5 communes of Alsace
what is Edelzwicker?
a noble mixture, used on a label to indicate an inexpensive blended wine; doesnt need to be vintage dated or legally obligated to contain more than one grape
what is Gentil?
superior designation of blends that contain a minimum of 50% noble grapes
who is Marcel Deiss?
an advocate of using field blends to emphasize Alsatian terroir
what is a field blend?
when grapes from a single vineyard are vinified together and produced under the vineyard name
how many Alsace grand crus are there?
51
what was the first Alsace Grand cru?
Schlossberg
what are the requirements for Alsace Grand Cru Aop?
only noble varieties used, hand harvesting required, min sugar levels at harvest higher than Alsace AOP, yields more restricted, min alcohol is 11% for riesling and muscat, 12.5% for pinot gris and gewurztraminer
what two kinds of late-harvest wines are found in Alsace?
Vendanges Tardives and Selections de Grains Nobles
what is Vendanges Tardives?
wines that may show botrytis character, emphasize varietal purity, originate from vines in a state of passerillage (air dried), not obligated to be sweet so can be produced sweet or dry
what is Selections de Grains Nobles?
wines that are picked in tries and suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis, not obligated to be sweet but always made in a dessert style
what is the only red variety permitted for Alsace AOP wines?
Pinot Noir
what is Cremant d’Alsace?
Sparkling wine made methode traditionelle from Alsace, made from pinot blanc/noir, can be white or rose
what german region is Alsace a continuation of?
Pfalz
