Alsace

Question 1

Noble Varieties of Alsace (4)

Answer 1

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat

Question 2

Other varieties in Alsace (4)

Answer 2

Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir

Question 3

What grape is used for red and rose in Alsace

Answer 3

Pinot Noir

Question 4

What are the 2 departments of Alsace

Answer 4

Bas-Rhin (north)
Haut-Rhin (south)

Question 5

Where is Alsace located

Answer 5

On the border of Germany
305 miles east of Paris

Question 6

Major body of water in Alsace

Answer 6

The Rhine River

Question 7

Climatic feature of Alsace

Answer 7

Vosges Mountains
Rainshadow - creating sunniest and driest region in France

Question 8

Climate of Alsace

Answer 8

Continental

Question 9

What is the soil in Alsace (8)

Answer 9

Mosaic soil structure (granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and pink sandstone

Question 10

When did Alsace receive AOC

Answer 10

1962

Question 11

When was Alsace Grand Cru established

Answer 11

1975 (Schlossberg)

Question 12

What years were additional Grand Cru established in Alsace

Answer 12

1983 (24 new Grand Cru)
1992 (25 new Grand Cru)
2007 (most recent Kaefferkopf)

Question 13

What happened to Alsace Grand Cru in 2011

Answer 13

They each got their own AOC, changing from 1 Grand Cru to 51

Question 14

Winemaking techniques in Alsace

Answer 14

Neutral, large barrels
Focus on varietal purity

Question 15

Edelzwicker

Answer 15

(“noble mixture”): inexpensive blended wine, does not need to carry a vintage.

Question 16

Gentil

Answer 16

Unofficial term, indicates a wine with a minimum of 50% noble grapes in the blend

Question 17

Is hand harvesting required for Alsace Grand Cru

Answer 17

YES

Question 18

How many Premier Cru in Alsace

Answer 18

ZERO

Question 19

Venganges Tardives:

Answer 19

Late Harvest
These are single varietal wines left to hang on the vine. Will raisinate and show more intensity, but usually no signs of botrytis. These wines can be fermented dry or left sweet

Question 20

Sélection de Grains Nobles

Answer 20

picked in tries (numerous passed through the vineyard) and have been affected by botrytis. Can be semi-dry or sweet, but dessert-like in all levels

Question 21

Major villages of Alsace (3)

Answer 21

Colmar, Strasbourg (center of the wine trade), Ribeauville

Question 22

Notable Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace (3)

Answer 22

Schlossberg, Schoelhammer, Schoenenberg

Question 23

Soils of Alsace
Plain, Lower & Upper Slopes

Answer 23

Several soil types can be found in the region;

Alsace plain consists of alluvial soils.

Lower slopes - chalk.

Upper slopes - Granite, Volcanic deposits, Schist

Question 24

Classic Blends

A small amount of blended wines are
produced made from noble varietals
(not to be confused with Edelzwicker
- various wines blended together)

Answer 24

These wines are sourced from the same vineyard and vinified together.

Grand vin de Schonenberg,
Clos du Zahnacker,
Clos du Schlossberg,
Côtes du Ribeauville

Question 25

2 Grand crus permitted to blend from 2001

Answer 25

Altenberg de Bergheim

Kaefferkopf

Altenberg de Bergheim
50-70% Riesling
10-25% Pinot Gris
10-25% Gewürztraminer
up to 10% Muscat

Kaefferkopf
60-80% Gewürztraminer
10-40% Riesling
0-30% Pinot Gris
up to 10% Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Muscat & Chasselas

Question 26

Which Grand cru historically planted with Sylvaner is now permitted in Grand Cru blending?

Answer 26

Zotzenberg

Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris & Sylvaner (varietal wines)

Question 27

From 2022 which Grand Cru’s are permitted to produce red Grand Cru wines from Pinot Noir?

Answer 27

Hengst

Kirchberg de Barr

The production must adhere to strict yield levels and the wine must age for a minimum of 10 months prior to release

Question 28

Alsace Grand Cru must be…..

Answer 28

Must be Hand harvested

Minimum sugar levels higher than AOP Alsace

Minimum Alcohol levels:
Riesling & Muscat =11%
Gewürztraminer & Pinot Gris = 12.5%(Certain sites require higher minimum levels)

Question 29

Alsace Grand Crus

Answer 29

Question 30

Alsace Structure (4)

Answer 30

Alsace AOP/Vin d’ Alsace
Alsace Communale
Alsace Liu-Dit
Alsace Grand Cru