alsace

Question 1

What are the seven focus grapes of Alsace?

Answer 1

Riesling

Pinot Blanc

Pinot Gris

Gewurztraminer

Muscat

Sylvaner

Pinot Noir

Question 2

In Alsace, which four grapes are considered “noble”?

Answer 2

Riesling

Pinot Gris

Gewurztraminer

Muscat

Question 3

Riesling is indigenous

to France.

True or False?

Answer 3

FALSE.

Riesling is indigenous

to Germany’s

Rhine Valley.

Question 4

Sylvaner, although grown in Alsace, is believed to be native to which country?

Answer 4

Austria

Question 5

There are 13 soil

types in Alsace.

True or False?

Answer 5

TRUE.

The soils in Alsace are complex.

Question 6

How has climate change impacted the historically dry wine style of Alsace?

Answer 6

Sugar levels are rising and more off-dry wines are being produced.

Question 7

Front of card
What is the traditional synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

Answer 7

Klevner

Question 8

Which Alsace AOC produces sparkling wine?

Answer 8

Crémant d’Alsace AOC

Question 8

What is the climate of Alsace?

Answer 8

Continental

Question 9

What is an “Edelzwicker”?

Answer 9

A white Alsace wine made from a blend of any of the approved white grapes of Alsace. Vintage dating is optional.

Question 10

What type of bottle is commonly used for the wines of Alsace?

Answer 10

The “flute d’Alsace” – a tall, tapered bottle.

Question 11

What are the two categories of dessert wines produced in Alsace?

Answer 11

Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles

Question 11

What is a “Gentil”

Answer 11

A blended white wine containing at least 50% of the four noble grapes of Alsace.

Question 12

In Alsace, each Grand Cru is a separate AOC. True or False?

Answer 12

TRUE.

This has been the case since 2011

Question 13

“Sélection de Grains Nobles” wines must be made from grapes affected by botrytis.

True or False?

Answer 13

TRUE

Question 14

What is a “lieu-dit”?

Answer 14

A parcel of land within a single commune that is a legally registered cadastral unit.

Question 15

Which topographical feature contributes to the dry, sunny climate of Alsace?

Answer 15

The Vosges Mountains

Question 16

Machine harvesting is common in Alsace.

True or false?

Answer 16

FALSE.

Most vineyards are hand harvested.

Question 17

What is a “Graben”

Answer 17

Geologically-speaking, a graben is a trench that has sunk between two parallel fault lines.

Question 18

What is a “Foudre”

Answer 18

A traditional, large, oak cask.

Question 19

How much of Alsace’s total production consists of blended wines?

Answer 19

20%

Question 20

How many Grands Crus are there in Alsace?

Answer 20

51

Question 21

How many AOCs are there in Alsace?

Answer 21

53

Question 22

Generally, in Alsace, if a grape variety is shown on the label, it must comprise what % of that wine?

Answer 22

100% –

Pinot Blanc is the exception to this rule.

Question 23

How many Grands Crus allow blends?

Answer 23

2 –

Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf

Question 24

How many Grand Cru AOCs allow the use of Sylvaner?

Answer 24

1 –

Zotzenberg

Question 24

What is the principal vine training method in Alsace?

Answer 24

Guyot

Question 25

Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines have their own separate AOCs.

True or False?

Answer 25

FALSE.

These are wine styles within the Alsace AOC

and the Alsace Grand Cru AOCs.

Question 26

How many Grands Crus permit the production of red wines made from

Pinot Noir?

Answer 26

2 –

Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr

Question 27

What is the name of the wine region on the western side of the Vosges Mountains?

Answer 27

Lorraine