Alsace Flashcards
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Alsace is a continuation of which region in Germany?
Pfalz
Alsace Wine Styles
90% of grapes planted are white
Noble Grapes
Muscat, Pinot Gris, Riesling,
Gewürztraminer (These with only one
exception are the allowed varieties in Grand
Cru vineyards).
Other grape varieties found in Alsace
Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois (can be
confused with Pinot Blanc), Chasselas,
Sylvaner, Pinot Noir
Savagnin Rose
(a sibling of Gewürztraminer,
also called Klevener de Heiligenstein) is a rare
varietal, but can be found in five communes).
Red and Rose wines
Made from Pinot Noir
Two Departments of Alsace
Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin
Location of Alsace
Located on the border with Germany, 305
miles due east of Paris.
Vosges Mountains
Run north to south, they
create a rainshadow effect that makes Alsace
the driest wine region in France.
Major Bodies of Water
The Rhine River
Vineyard location
Vineyards run north to south to the east of the Vosges mountains on the lower slopes.
Climate of Alsace
Semi-continental, this region receives plenty of sunshine but still has cold,
annual average temperatures and can suffer from early or late frosts and deep freezes
Vineyard Exposure
Vineyards have southern, or southeastern exposure to help mitigate the cold.
Soils
mosaiced soil structure (do not try and memorize where all the soil types are)
including granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and pink sandstone (grís
de Vosges).
When did Alsace receive AOC status
1962
When was Alsace Grand Cru Established
1975: Alsace Grand Cru AOC was established, the first vineyard was Schlossberg.
1983: 24 more Grand Crus approved.
1992: 25 more Grand Crus approved.
2007: Most recent Grand Cru approved: Kaefferkopf.
When did Alsace go from one Grand Cru to 51
2011
Oak influence in Alsace
Winemakers usually do not age the wines in new oak, but can age wines in neutral barrels.
Varietal purity is the standard.
Crémant d’Alsace
Sparkling wines fall under the Crémant d’Alsace category and can be white or rosé.
Winemaking Styles in Alsace
The winemaking standard is dry wines.
Wines tend to be higher in alcohol, and intense in varietal characteristics
Varietally labeled wines
must contain 100% of the stated variety
Edelzwicker
(“noble mixture”): inexpensive blended wine, does not need to carry a vintage.
Gentil
Unofficial term, indicates a wine with a minimum of 50% noble grapes in the blend.
Grand Crus that allow blending
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf allow blending according to certain
percentages.
Zotzenberg
Allows Sylvaner
Hand harvesting
mandatory for all Grand Crus, with higher restrictions, lower yields,
higher minimum must weights, and higher minimum abv.
Venganges Tardives
Translates to “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.
Sélection de Grains Nobles
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.
Major Villages
Colmar, Strasbourg (center of the wine trade), Ribeauville
Major Vineyards/Producers:
Most notable Grand Cru Vineyards: Schlossberg, Schoelhammer, Rangen de Thann,
Geisberg, Pfingstberg, Schoenenberg, Engelberg, Kirchberg, Saering (This list is very
subjective and based on varietals and producers in each vineyard)
