Alsace Flashcards
List examples of Germanic culture in Alsace
Varietal labeling, flute bottle, Riesling prominent
Describe Alsace’s climate and the topographical features that impact it
Continental - significant seasonal and diurnal temperature swings, protected by Vosges mountains - creates rain shadow, making it hot sunny and dry
Define rain shadow effect
Rain shadow: An area of land receives little precipitation due to a tall landmass, such as a mountain range or escarpment that blocks the moisture laden clouds
Define Graben
bedrock that has dropped down between parallel faults (rift valley)
Name the two uplifts of the Rhine Graben
Vosges Mtns & Black Forest
Where are these soil types found in Alsace? granite/gneiss, schist, volcanic elements, sandstone
Slopes of the vosge
Where are these soil types found in Alsace? limestone, calcareous sandstone, marly sandstone, marly limestone, marly clay, calcareous-marl-sandstone
foothills of the vosge mountains
Where are these soil types found in Alsace? alluvium, loess/loam, colluvium
Rhine Plain/Alsace Plain
What is the soil like in the Grands Crus of Alsace
sedimentary soils with many on marl and limestone or combination of marl, limestone, and sandstone
Identify where the grapes are grown and their preferred aspects in Alsace
Majority grown on slopes of vosges (200-360m) and face south/southeast
Some located on lower elevation of the peaks on decomposed granite, schist, sandstone, and volcanic elements 250-400m, face south/southeast for sunlight and warmth
Soils at base of the foothills are fertile and grow grapes for cremant
Identify the 7 focal grapes of Alsace and the four that are considered “noble”
Focal grapes: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat(s), Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir
Noble: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat(s)
List the distinctive uses for the noble grapes vs. the focal grapes
Only noble grapes can be used for Vendages Tardives and Selection de Grains Nobles and Grands Crus bottlings (one exception: Zoztenberg: syvlaner grand cru)
Identify the link between Savagnin Blanc and its aromatic and non-aromatic rose clones, Klevener de Heiligenstein and Gewurztraminer
Savignin Rose: pink-skinned mutation of Savagnin Blanc from Jura
Aromatic Savagnin Rose: Gewurztraminer
Non-aromatic Savagnin Rose: Klevener de Heiligenstein
List the reasons why Alsace’s harvest runs from September to November
Different grapes ripen at different times, variation in ripening ability of different soil types: some reflect light and heat and others do not, different sites receive sun at different times, affecting ripening, style of wine may affect picking times: late harvest last, cremant first
List the ways in which global warming is impacting the viti/vini practices of Alsace
Harvest dates have moved forward 2-3 weeks over the last century. Grapes used to receive high degree of ripeness only 1-3 times a decade, now happening every year. Wrestling with accidental residual sugar in wine that was historically bone dry.
Outline how Pinot d’Alsace and Pinot Blanc represent exceptions to Alsace’s 100% varietal rule
Pinot Blanc: 100% pinot blanc, 100% auxerrois or blend of both
Pinot d’Alsace: 100% auxerrois, pinot blanc, pinot noir, pinot gris, or a blend of any or all
Recognize which Alsatian wines are typically blended product
Edelzwicker & Gentil
What is the difference between Edelzwicker & Gentil
Edelzwicker: blend of any approved grape varieties of Alsace, vinified together or separately, vintage is optional
Gentil: blend of minimum 50% noble grapes, each variety must be vinified separately, requires tasting panel approval, and vintage must appear
Explain the difference between Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
VT: late harvest wines with considerable RS, grapes picked by hand late into season when overripe, may or may not have noble rot
SGN: late harvest wines, must be affected by noble rot, grapes are handpicked berry by berry through multiple passes
Name the two grapes most often used for VT and SGN and be able to explain why
Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer: ripening curve dovetails nicely with autumn mists
Identify the primary reasons why some of the wines of Alsace, traditionally fermented to dryness, are now carrying residual sugar
Global warming: high sugar levels in harvested grapes result in fermentation that stops before all the grape sugar is converted to alcohol
Identify the sole grape with regulations stipulating a residual sugar maximum
Riesling: max RS level 9g/L - does not apply to Grands Crus, lieu-dits, or VT or SGN
Alsace AOC wine style & grapes
Wine styles: dry white, rose, red, sweet white
Can come from anywhere in Alsace
Alsace Grand Cru AOCs wine style & grapes
Wine styles: dry white, sweet white
Single-varietal wines made from 4 noble grapes, exception: zoztenberg includes Sylvaner and Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf - make blends
Cremant d’Alsace AOC wine style & grapes
Wine styles: sparkling white and rose
Most is a blend, Gewurztraminer forbidden, Bland de Noir and Rose are 100% Pinot Noir, Rose can be made via maceration or Saignee method
How do production standards and production zones differ between the regional Alsace AOC and the communal and lieu-dit sub-categories
13 Denominations Geographiques Complementaires (DGCs) - communal designations, higher quality standards than Alsace AOC, can add commune name to label, each commune is authorized to make a specific wine style from specific varieties
Define lieu-dit
Lieu-Dit designation (Lieu Dit is a cadastral unit used by geographers and is legally registered - it is a plot of land that is notable for its significant expression of terroir - special plts of earth - standards are higher than communal designations, limits on grape varieties, vine density, pruning methods, trellising, maturity level at harvest, and yield, wines can only be red or white, no rose
Understand the significance of changing one single Alsace Grand Cru into 51 Grands Crus
Split into different AOCs to allow for self-governance. Example, Hengst may soon add Pinot Noir to their list of approved grapes, the other AOCs don’t have to do this since the ruling won’t apply to all
Explain why a Grand Cru label does not guarantee quality
Some appellations too large to deliver a signature flavor profile and some boundaries were expanded beyond original designation to include vignerons on the fringes that petitioned to be included. Also, some great producers opted to not include Grand Cru on the label due to equity in their brand already.
