Alsace Flashcards
What was the primary reason Alsace has so many soil types?
The western side of graben (Alsace) was not one clean break but rathern multiple fractures or fault bundles that subsequently developed cross faults. This faulting exposed many different soil types from different geological epochs.
What is Selection de Grains Nobles?
Late harvest wines. Noble Rot is a requirement.
Grapes are hand picked, berry by berry through multiple passes in the vineyard.
True or False:
Vendanges Tardives, Selection de Grains Nobles and Grand Crus bottlings in Alsace are only from the four noble grapes.
True
With one single Grand Crus exception of Zotzenberg.
What is the primary reason Alsace wines are mostly (75%) consumed domestically and especially locally?
The success of region’s pioneering efforts at oenotourism.
What are seven main or focal grape varieties in Alsace?
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Gewurztraminer
- Muscat(s)
- Sylvaner
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Noir
True or False:
Many of the largest producers in Alsace are family owned and operated.
True
Are Klevner and Klevener are the same grape variety?
No - Klevner (Pinot Blanc) and Klevener (Savagnin Rose) are two distinct grape varieties.
Savagnin Rose is a pink-skinned mutation of Savagnin Blanc of Jura fame and comes in aromatic (Gewurztraminer) and non-aromatic (Klevener) versions.
True or False;
Vendages Tardives and Selectdion de Grains Nobles are independent AOCs in Alsace.
False
They are wine styles within the Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOCs.
They can be only crafted from the four “noble” grapes.
True or False:
Co-operatives account for approximately 10% of Alsace’s total wine offering.
False
40%
30% of producers account for 80% of produciton.
What is the outlook for the sale of Alsace’s sparkling production?
Increasing. Alsace produced less than a million bottle of Cremant in 1977, but today produces 33 million bottles.
What is Edelzwicker?
“Noble Blend”
A blend of the approved white grapes of Alsace vinified together or separately.
Vintage is optional.
True or False
Lieu-Dit production standards are higher than those of the communal designations.
True
What are grapes used for Pinot d’Alsace?
A blend of Alsace AOC wines based on Pinot Blanc and may include Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Auxerrrois.
Even Chardonnay may be included.
True or False
Grand Cru designation is awarded to vineyards in Alsace rather than to producers as in Bourgogne.
True
What are the majority of Grand Crus soils?
sedimentary soils
What other grape variety may contain if the Alsace label says Pinot Blanc/Klevner?
100% Auxerrois or a blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois along with 100% Pinot Blanc. Ver
As of 2008, the maximum of Residual Sugar level for Riesling has been set in Alsace.
It has been set as the maximum R.S. level of 0.9% (9g/l).
This does not apply to Grand Crus nor Lieu-Dit or dessert wines (VT or SGN),
What grape variety makes up Blanc de Noirs and Rose of Cremant d’Alsace?
100% Pinot Noir
What is traditional wine storage vessels in Alsace?
Large wooden Foundres.
Is Malolactic conversion is encouraged for Vendanges Tardives wine and why?
No MLF since the wine needs acid to balance out its high sugar level.
What is the link between Savagnin Blanc and Klevener de Heiligenstein / Gewurztraminer?
Mutations of Savagnin Blanc.
Klevener de Heiligenstein or Savagnin Rose is non aromatic mutation of Savagnin Blanc while Gewurztraminer is aromatic version of Savagnin Blanc.
Savagnin Blanc is the grape of Jura’s Vin de Jaune.
What are two grapes most often used for VT and SGN and the reason?
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Its ripening occurs coincides with autumn mists (ideal for noble rot)
What four grape varieties are considered to be “ancillary” grapes of Alsace?
- Auxerrois
- Chardonnay
- Chasselas
- Savagnin Rose
Who was the person and where was the location to create the very first vigneron to convert to biodynamics in France.
Eugene Meyer.
Alsace together with Loire, Languedoc-Roussillon and Rhone are the forefront of the green practices in France.
True or False:
50% of Alsace’s total production is exported.
False:
Only 25%
What can Alsace Grand Cru AOC wines can only be?
Dry White or Sweet White.
How are most Cremants made in Alsace?
Made as blends.
What grape variety, plays a primary role in Alsace’s very popular Cremant?
Auxerrois
If Alsace label shows Pinot d’Alsace, what four grape varieties the wines may contain?
- 100% Auxerrois
- 100% Pinot Blanc
- 100% Pinot Gris
- 100% Pinot Noir (vinified as white wine)
- Or blend of any or all
What is “Gentil” wine?
A blend comprising
50%+ of the “noble” grape varieties;
each variety must be vinified separately.
Requires tasting panel approval.
Vintage must appear.
Name four features of Alasace wines that show German influence.
- Varietally labeled
- Slender flute bottles
- Riesling
- Dessert wine
How many AOCs in Alsace?
53 AOCs
Regional AOC (with Lieu-Dit and Communal Designations within it)
Cremant d’Alsace AOC
51 Grand Crus
True or False:
Alsace’s wine production is almost 90% white.
True
Has Alsace been gone to Germany or France after the Franco Prussian War?
Which country France or Germany, Alsace returned to after World War I?
- Germany
- France
True or False
The wines of Alsace have historically been fermented to dryness.
True
What percentage do Blends comprise of Alsace’s total producdtion?
20% (Gentil and Edelzwicker have set requirements)
80% of production is put into varietal bottlings both dry and sweet.
What is the main difference between Alsace white wines and German wines?
Traditionally devoid of residual sugar
Name four “noble” grapes of Alsace.
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Muscat
What are two synonyms of Pinot Blanc in Alsace?
What wine style is it mostly used for?
- Pinot Vrai
- Klevner
- Mostly used in Cremant produciton
True or False
Vendanges Tardives wines should not be affected by Noble Rot.
False
They may be affected by Noble Rot but Noble Rot is not mandatory requirement.
What did producers in Alsace successfully lobby to identify and delimit its terroirs?
For Communal and Lieu-Dit designation within the regional Alsace AOC.
True or False:
Alsace was a part of western principality of Germany when it reached the peak of prosperity and renown in the middle of Renaissance (16th Century).
True:
However the Thirty Years War ravaged the population and was handed over to France after the war.
Which grape variety occupies more than twice as much vineyard land as Pinot Blanc and is counted as Pinot Blanc in official figures?
Auxerrois
What is the soil type common to the majority of Alsace’s Grands Crus?
On Sedimentary soils with a particularly large number planted on combinations of marl and limestone or combinations of marl, limestone and sandstone.
What is the primary geological reason Alsace wines manage to achieve ripeness and flavour development?
Vosges Mountains protect Atlantic influences to block rain laden clouds pushed by the west winds, Alsace is lying effectively in the rain shadow of the Vosges.
What is Vendanges Tardives?
Late harvest wines that contain considerable residual sugar. Grapes are picked by hand late season when the berries are overripe.
Sylvaner is permitted for one Grand Cru only.
Name the Grand Cru.
Zotzenberg
(it can also be crafted from Gewurztraminer, Rielsing or Pinot Gris)
Name the two uplifts of the Rhine Graben
- Vosges Mountain Range
- Black Forest
What is the climate of Alsace?
Continental with significant seasonal and diurnal temperature swings.
Turkeheim, Beblenheim and Ribeauville are well celebrated.
What are they?
Co-operatives.
Ribeauville established in 1895 would have the oldest co-operatives in France if not. for the fact that Alsace was a part of Germany at the time.
Along with Riesling, what three other grape varieties that Alsace is unique among the two wine producing nations?
- Gewurztraminer
- Muscat
- Pinot Gris
What is the main difference of Belemnite and Micraster chalks as they are found in Champagne area?
Belemnite soil types are found upper to mid slopes white Micraster soils are found in flatter plains where the sun exposure is not optimal.
What topography does Alsace area lie?
Rhine Graben - a section of the rift system that zigsags across Europe from the Mediterranea to the North Sea.
Which grape variety is forbidden in Cremant d’Alsace?
Gewurztraminer
The rich deep and fertile soils at the base of the foothills largely grow grapes that are destined for what production?
Cremant Production
What grape variety is the non aromatic pink skinned grape of Gewurztraminer?
Savagnin Rose (Klevener of Heiligenstein)
What grape variety is given a spotlight only in Alsace wine region in France and is often used to craft VT and SGN?
Gewurztraminer
What white grape variety is only authorized for Cremant and no other AOC level wines in Alsace and can only be sold as Vin de France otherwise?
Chardonnay
Which grape variety has regulations stipulating a residual sugar maximum?
As of 2008 Riesling was given a maximum R.S. sugar level of 0.9%( 9g/l), but this ruling does not apply to Grand Cru wines or wines labeled with a lieu-dit (or VT pr SGN).
What have the two types of Muscat grape family cultivated as of the 15th Century and 19th Century respectively in Alsace?
- Musact a Petit Grains Blanc
- Muscat Ottonel
True or False:
Yields in Alsace continue to remain some of the lowest in France.
False
Yields are some of the highest.
True or False:
The principal training method in Alsace is Guyot, single or double.
True
True or False;
Less than one percent of Alsace’s vineyards are farmed according to organic or biodynamic pracrices.
False
16%
There are over 300 orgianic vignerons.
Name sparkling wines produced outside Champagne (4).
- Cremant - all have the same atomosphers of pressure as champgne
- Mousseux: Value category, less demanding production standards than Cremant. No aging requirement.
- Petillant: Fizzy. Less atm of pressure: 1-2.5 atm
- Petillant Natural (Pet-Nat/Methode Ancestral): Sparkling wines produced according to the ancestral method
True or False
Edelzwicker and Gentil are independent AOCs in Alsace,
False
Both are categories within the Alsace AOC
Out of 51 Alsace Grand Crus, all craft single varietal wines except the two.
Name the two.
- Altenberg de Bergheim
- Kaefferkopf
What can Wines labled with Lieu-Dit can be white, red or rose.
It cannot be Rose, only white or red.
Define “Lieu-Dit”
A Lieu-Dit is a parcel of land, contained within a single commune, whose traditional (and often centuries-old) name recalls a topographical or historic peculirarity.
A Lieu-Dit is a techinical cadastral unit used by geographers and is legally registered.
What small wine region west of Alsace and east of Champagne boasts two AOCs and one IGP?
Lorraine
- Moselle AOC
- Cotes de Toul AOC (strong Rose/Gris tradition)
- Cotes de Meuse IGP
How many Communal Designation (Denominations Geographique Complementaires (DGC) in Alsace AOC?
13
DGCs echo the “villlage level” wine cateory in Bourgogne.
How many Grand Crus are in Alsace?
51 Grand Crus
What is the 17th century wooden instrument used to eliminate carbon dioxide from sparkling wine?
Wooden whisks (Mosseers)
What is a serious issue Alsace producers are grappling with today, which goes against the historical nature of its wines?
Accidental or intentional residual sugar in wines
True or False
In Alsace, “Prestige”, “Reserve” or “Reserve Personelle” are registered terms.
False
Many are unique to each producer and unique within the spercific “families” of wines they produce.
What is the only Grand Cru vineyard where Sylvaner is permttted?
Zotzenberg
How many different major soil types are found in Alace?
13
Which grape variety is consider to be the pinnacle of prestige among Alsace’s wine offerings?
Riesling
What is the local language of Alsace?
Elsässisch or Elsässerditsch is a German dialect
In French, it is called Alsacien
One of the consequences of Germanic influences has been the shape of the Alsace wine bottle. What is the name of this tall, slender bottle?
Flûte d’Alsace
What country did Alsace belong in WW1
Germany
What vessels are primarily used for fermentation?
Stainless steel or large Foudres (10 - 120hl)
Are tanks tempurature controlled and why/why not?
Tanks are not chilled since the Alsace cellars are naturally cool.
What wine techniques do most Alsace wines production avoid?
No new oak
No MLF
Where does the word Foudre come from?
German fuder which means cartload or tun
How has climate change impacted Alsace wines?
-Creates higher sugar level due to high temps.
-Sometimes stops fermentation leaving residual sugars
-Pinot Noir deeper pigmentation
-harvest dats 2-3 weeks earlier
What are labeling requirements for Alsace wines?
Must list
1. sec, demi-sec, moelleux or doux
or 2. use a sweetness scale
What is tartaric?
“Wine diamonds” – are formed from tartaric acid which is naturally occurring in all wines and provides structure, balance and flavor.
Tartaric acid is one of three main acids found in wine grapes alongside malic, and citric acids.
What is also taken into account when measuring sweetness in Alsace wines?
Tartatic acid levels. Higher TAs can allow a drier rating
What is the upper limit for Alsace AOC residual sugars that are not VT or SGN?
> 9 g/L
Alsace was the first region in France to have, what?
Biodynamic wine estate
Principal training method?
Guyot
How are vines grown on the plain and why?
Trained high to mitigate frost risk
Grapes targets for Crémant are picked when?
Early for acidity and lower sugars
Why is Riesling a good grape for Alsace?
It is native, winter hardy and
BUDS LATE
Alsace Rieslings are….
Always dry unless designated as a desert wine
What are Communal and Lieu-Dit?
Sub-categories for AOC Alsace
What does Lieu-Dit mean?
“Spoken place” / “named place”
Specific vineyard site, or parcel with single commune
Higher standards than Communal
ONLY WHITE AND RED
NOT Separate Appellation
What are Communal wines
total 13 designations
“Village-Level”
Quality are higher than AOC lower than Lieu-Dit
Each commune authorized for specific wine style and grape
NOT Separate Appellation
What can be in a Pinot Blanc Alsace (Klevner)?
100% Pinot Blanc or
100% Auxerrois or
a blend of both
Do Grand Cru have to show the grape variety?
NO
When did Alsace AOC switch from 1 Grand Cru to 51?
2011
How much production do Grand Crus provide?
6%
How are Grand Crus recognized?
By the vineyard NOT the producer
Grand Cru Zotzenberg
in Mittelberheim
Use Gewurts, Riesling or Pinot Gris
SLYVANER is the only Grand Cru able to use
Grand Cru Altenberg de Berheim
1 out of 2 allowed for BLENDED
DOMAINE MARCEL DEISS
No Grapes stated
50-70% Riesling required
Grand Cru Kaefferkopf
Different conditions in the vineyard
MUST have 60-80% Gewurtz
Grand Cru Hengst
as of 2021 allows PINOT NOIR
along with Kirchberg de Barr Grands Crus
Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr Grands Crus
as of 2021 allows PINOT NOIR
along with Hengst Grands Crus
List numbers: AOC, Grand Cru, Communes
53
51
13
What percentage of Alsace’s wine production is blended wines?
20%
What is unique about Grand Cru Zotzenberg?
The AOC allows Sylvaner
Why are Alsace Rieslings historically fermented to dryness while German Rieslings are traditionally left with a little residual sugar?
Lack of ripeness traditionally caused high acidity in German Rieslings.
Winemakers left sugar in them to balance that acid – just as the Champenois balance high acid in their wines with dosage.
Alsace has a warmer, sunnier climate, so the fruit is riper, ensuring naturally balanced acidity.
This allows Alsace vignerons to ferment their Rieslings to dryness.
In which century was Alsace first incorporated into France?
17th Century
After which war did Alsace become part of the German Empire?
Franco-Prussian War
Which mountain range protects the vineyards of Alsace from bad weather brought across northern France by westerly winds?
Vosges
Can Auxerrrois be used for sweet wines?
NO
Of the grape varieties permitted to be used for Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles production, two are used much more frequently than the others. Which are they?
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
For an Alsace wine to be varietally labeled, what percentage of the grape specified on the label must be used?
100%
What is Cremant d’Alsace categorizes?
Regional AOC
Why does the harvest in Alsace run from September to November?
- Different ripening times
- some sites warmer/sunnier
- Sparkling need more acidity eg less ripe
- Sweet wines need more sugars eg late harvest
- 13 different soil types
Gewurztraminer is the aromatic version of the non-aromatic Savagnin Rose. What is the Alsace name for Savagnin Rose?
Klevener de Heiligensten
Since 2008, Pinot Gris – other than Grands Crus, Lieux-Dits and dessert wines – has to be made in a dry style. True or False?
False
