Alsace Flashcards
AOC status achieved in
1962 ( last French region to do so)
2 departments of Alsace
Bas-Rhin / Haut-Rhin
Vosge Mountain climatic effect
Rain shadow / dries, sunniest region in France
Alsace Noble Grape varieties
Riesling
Pinot grid
Gewürztraminer
Muscat (blanc a petit grain, rose’ a petit grains, ottonel)
Alias for Pinot Blanc in Alsace
Klevner
Alias for Chasselas in Alsace
Gutedel
% of Grape stated on the label
Must contain 100% of the stated grape
In Alsace Auxerrois , might be labelled as
Pinot blanc, even if bottled as a single variety
Variety that collectively represent the most of volume of appellation production in Alsace
Pinot blanc + Auxerrois
Most planted of the Noble grape varieties
Riesling
Alsace’s Riesling profile
Dry (must by law since 2008)
More powerful, higher alcohol than German cousin
Pronounced acidity and minerality
Latest to ripen
Former name for Pinot Gris in Alsace
Tokay d’Alsace , Tokay Pinot Gris
Alsace’s Pinot Gris profile
Alsatian quintessential wine
Fullest, richer expression
Spicy, smoky
Hardly high acidity
Alsace’s Gewürztraminer profile
Clone of Traminer
Aromatic variety
Low in acidity
Perfumed
Sweet spices
Tropical fruit , lychee
Higher in alcohol than Muscat
More likely to be off-dry than Muscat
New oak generally not used ( some producers use big neutral casks for fermentation and aging)
Alsace’s Muscat profile
Fragrant floral and grapey notes
Low in acidity
Aromatic variety
Another pink variant of Traminer
Klevener (known as Savagnin in Jura)
Less aromatic / higher acidity than Gewürztraminer
Where is Klevener bottled varietally ?
Heiligenstein
Bergheim
Gertwiller
Goxwiller
Obernai
Edelzwicker
“Noble mixture”
Inexpensive blend wine
No need to be vintage-dated
Not legally obliged to contain more than 1 variety / state the % of the blend
Gentil
Superior designation for blend wine / must contain at least 50% of NGV /
First Alsatian Grand Cru
Schlossberg / 1975
Another 24 in 1983
Another 25 in 1992
Last one in 2007 ( Kaefferkopf)
Alsatian appellation that allows blending :
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
Historic appellation for Sylvaner
Zotzenberg
When VT and SGN were created?
1984
Vendange Tardive
May show botrytis but emphasise varietal purity
Must be 1 of NGV
Usually from vines in state of Passerillage
Can be dry to off-dry
Selection of Grain Noble
Must be 1 of NGV
Generally picked in Tries
Always sweet
Sacrifice varietal purity for Botrytis character
Lieu-dits
Individual plot of vineyard within an appellation with a specific terroir identity
Appellations that allows Pinot Noir in Alsace
Hengst / Kirchberg de Barr
Cremant d’Alsace
Pinot Blanc (most of it) + Chardonnay , Auxerrois, Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir (rose’ / either saignee’ or short maceration)
Alsatian famous producers
Trimbach
Albert Mann
Weinbach
Valentin Zusslin
Pierre Frich
