Alsace Flashcards
What are the Bas- & Haut-Rhin?
In the Alsace
Bas-Rhin: lower land to the north
Haut-Rhin: higher land to the south, with the great majority of the best vineyards, classified as Grand Crus.
What are the climate influences in the Alsace?
The Vosges Mountains create a rain shadow
Therefore the Alsace is one of the driest and sunniest wine growing areas
When were Grand Cru appellations introduced in Alsace?
1983
How many vineyards qualified as Grand Cru when they were introduced in the Alsace?
25
How many vineyards qualify as Grand Cru in the Alsace now? (2024)
51
What is the general style of Alsace white wine?
Just like German, essentially about fruit rather than oak: if oak is used it is in the form of old oak.
Varying levels of residual sugar.
What used to be the Alsace Pinot Noir style?
Meagre, tart, dark rosé.
What is the more modern Alsace Pinot Noir style?
Deep-crimson, fleshy, able to take barrel age and reminiscent of red burgundy.
Where is the city of Colmar?
In the middle of the Alsace, in the heart of the Haut-Rhin
Where is the city of Mulhouse?
In the south of the Alsace
Where is the city of Strasbourg?
In the northeast of the Alsace
Where is the city of Sélestat?
Between Colmar and Strasbourg in the Alsace
What do the Vosges Mountains turn into over the German border?
The Haardt mountains: protecting the Pfalz
How much can a nearby dense pine forest lower the average temperature of a vineyard compared to a young oak wood?
A full degree Celsius!
What is Muschelkalk?
Fossil limestone
What soil are the Vosges Mountains famous for?
The famous Vosges Mountains pink sandstone used for many local churches: Grés de Vosges
Name three highly regarded producers form the Alsace
Trimbach
Zind-Humbrecht
Domaine Weinbach
What are the noble grapes used for Grand Cru in the Alsace?
Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat
When did the Alsace achieve AOC status?
1962: the last major wine region to do so
Which grapes are allowed to be bottled varietally in Alsace AOP?
The noble grapes
Pinot Blanc
Chasselas
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir
How much of a grape does a wine need to contain in the Alsace AOP when it is mentioned on the label?
100%
Except for Pinot Blanc, which may be blended with Auxerrois
What may Auxerrois be labeled as in the Alsace AOP?
Auxerrois
But also Pinot Blanc, even if 100% Auxerrois
What grapes may wines in the Alsace AOP contain when it is labeled as “Pinot”?
Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois
What is Edelzwicker?
“Noble mixture” on bottle in Alsace. Usually means the opposite: an inexpensive blended wine
What is “Gentil” on a bottle?
An unofficial term for a superior designation of blends that contain at least 50% noble grapes, from the Alsace. The rest must be Alsace AOP grapes.
What is a special way to express terroir by winemakers in the Alsace?
By using field blends, so not caring about variety but it is all about the terroir.
Who is a big and highly regarded advocate of the field blend/terroir winemaking of the Alsace?
Biodynamic Marcel Deiss
What was the first Grand Cru vineyard of the Alsace?
Schlossberg, named in 1975.
What is the most recent & 51st Grand Cru vineyard of the Alsace? (2024)
Kaefferkopf, added in 2007
What two Grand Cru vineyards may have blended grape varieties in the wine in the Alsace?
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
Which Grand Cru vineyard in the Alsace can use a grape other than the noble grapes in the varietal wine? With which grape?
Zotzenberg
Sylvaner
Which Grand Cru vineyards in the Alsace can now use Pinot Noir and since when?
Hengst
Kirchberg de Barr
Since 2022
Vorbourg
Since 2024
What is the only appellation in the Alsace where Chardonnay is allowed?
Crémant d’Alsace
What grape is mostly used for Crémant d’Alsace?
Pinot Blanc
Where is the region of Lorraine?
Next to the Alsace
What AOPs are in the Lorraine region?
What wine do they produce?
Côtes de Toul AOP
- Red from Pinot Noir
- Rosé (vin gris style) of Gamay and Pinot Noir
- White from Auxerrois and Aubin
Moselle AOP
- Red from Pinot Noir
- White from Auxerrois
What wine and producer is this label from?
Clos Ste. Hune by Trimbach in the Alsace. GC Rosacker, in the village of Hunawihr.
In which Grand Cru is the Clos Ste. Hune by Trimbach located?
Rosacker Grand Cru, Hunawihr.
What is Trimbach’s best cuvée?
Clos Ste. Hune
Rosacker Grand Cru
Village of Hunawihr.
What is Domaine Weinbach’s best cuvée?
Clos des Capucins
Schlossberg Grand Cru
Kientzheim village
What is one of Zind-Humbrecht’s best cuvées?
Clos Hauserer near Hengst Grand Cru
Wintzenheim village
Which producer is this label from?
Zind-Humbrecht in the Alsace
Which producer is this label from?
Trimbach in the Alsace
Who produces Clos St. Landelin?
Mure
Vorbourg GC
Rouffach village
Who produces Clos Hauserer?
Zind-Himbrecht
Wintzheim village
Who produces Clos St. Urbain?
Zind-Humbrecht
Rangen GC
What are the generic appellations of the Alsace?
Cremant d’Alsace
Alsace
Alsace Grand Cru
What are the AOPs of Lorraine?
Côtes de Toul (white, gris, red)
Moselle (white, rosé, red)
Where is Muscat not allowed as varietal wine in the Alsace Grand Crus?
Zotzenberg
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
Which Alsace GC allow blends?
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
What grapes are used in Côtes de Toul Blanc?
Auxerrois
Aubin
What grapes are used in Côtes de Toul Gris?
Gamay
Min. 10% Pinot Noir
Max. 15% of Meunier, Aubin, Auxerrois
What grapes are used in Côtes de Toul rouge?
Pinot Noir
What grapes are used in Moselle Blanc?
Min. 70% combined of:
- Auxerrois (min. 30%)
- Müller-Thurgau
- Pinot Gris
Also Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer
What grapes are used in Moselle Rouge?
100% Pinot Noir
