Alsace Flashcards

1
Q

How long is Alsace roughly from north to south?

A

60 km

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2
Q

Alsace runs through the eastern flank of a chain of mountains, which mountains?

A

Along side the Vosges mountains.

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3
Q

What kind of “stone” can you find in Alsace?

A

limestone, granite and volcanic sandstone

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4
Q

Where are most of the grand cru vineyards found? And why?

A

Most grand cru’s are found in the south part of the region or Haut-Rhin, as the mountains are more pronounced and thus more protective against the climate.

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5
Q

The region Alsace is broken up into two parts, which?

A
  • The Bas-Rhin (to the North, by Strasbourg)
  • Haut-Rhin (to the South on the low slopes of the Vosges Mountains)
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6
Q

Alsace is noted for producing two different grape variaties a bit “better” than the rest of the world, which?

A

the most noted dry rieslings as well as highly aromatic Gewürztraminer wines.

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7
Q

Which are the three different labels used when producing wine in Alsace?

A
  • AOPs: Alsace AOP for white, red and rosé (Alsace AOP+name of the Lieu-dit?
  • Alsace Grand Cru AOP: for white wines from certain classified vineyards
  • Crémant d’Alsace AOP for sparkling wines.
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8
Q

Which two main factor geographically determines the wine growing in Alsace?

A

The vosges mountains in the west and the Rhine river in the east

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9
Q

At which altitude are most of the vineyards on?

A

175-550 m över havet

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10
Q

The vosges mountains give protection from what?

A

from rain and maritime influence, therefore the region is rather dry and sunny. warm days, cool nights

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11
Q

How do they label an AOP from Alsace?

A

Alsace AOP + Lieu-dit, a name of a vineyard.

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12
Q

What’s a blend called in a Alsace AOP?

A

Edelzwicker or Gentil

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13
Q

Which are the 4 Noble grapes used in Alsace?

A

Rieling, Guwurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat(Muscat Blanc or Ottonel)

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14
Q

Which grape are you allowed to use in a Pinot d’Alsace?
And what’s it’s colour?

A

A blend of the Pinot varieties; P. Noir, P. Gris, P. Blanc and sometimes Auxerrois.
A succulent, dry, golden-colored white wine

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15
Q

What’s the label for dessert wines in Alsace, AOP?

A

Vendanges Tardives
S’election de Grains Nobles

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16
Q

Are you allowed to use chaptalization in an Alsace AOP?

A

yes, but a lot of producers are moving away from this winemaking technique.

17
Q

What’s the alsatian “Gentil” Blend?

A

It’s a blend of at least 50% of the “noble” varieties.

18
Q

Which grape variety are both rosé and red wine within the Alsace AOP made of?

A

Pinot Noir

19
Q

Which other grape varieties except for the “noble” varieties, are you allowed to use when producing a Alsace AOP wine?

A

Sylvaner, Chasselas, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois

20
Q

Which grape varietiers are you allowed to use in a Cremant d’Alsace brut?

A

Riesling, Pinot blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois and Chardonnay

21
Q

How’s a Cremant d’Alsace Brut produced?

A

Traditional method.
9 months on the lees, 3 months in the celler before it’s allowed to be sold

22
Q

What character does an Cremant d’Alsace brut have?

A

rich, apple and sweet lemon aromas with small spritzy bubbles.

23
Q

How many vineyard sited are allowed to bottle under Grand Cru in Alsace?

A

51 different ones

24
Q

Which grape varieties are they allowed to use to be able to bottle under Grand Cru in Alsace?

A

the noble varieties, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat

25
Q

What will a sandstone soil “give” a grape?

A

lighter-bodied and leaner white wine.

26
Q

what will a volcanic soil give a grape?

A

can make a smoky Pinot Gris, aromatic Pinot Noir and Riesling wines

27
Q

What’s the difference between a Vendange tardive and a Selection de Grains Noble?

A

The selection de Grains Noble is a dessert wine made from grapes affected by noble rot.
Vendange tardive means late harvest and refers to grapes that have been left on the vine until they start to dehydrate.