Alsace Flashcards
What is the climate of Alsace?
Warm, sunny, dry. Rain shadow of Vosges Mountains.
What are the four noble grapes?
Pinot Gris, Muscat, Riesling and Gewürztraminer
What are the two regions?
Bas Rhin and Haut Rhin
Haut Rhin is southern and contains 2/3 of Grand Cru
When was Grand Cru first proposed? When were first vineyards named?
- 1983.
All Grand Cru Alsatian wines are each made from 100% Noble Grapes. True or false. Elaborate.
False.
Zotzenberg for Sylvaner.
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf for blends.
What was the previous name of the noble grape Pinot Gris?
Tokay d’Alsace
What is the minimum alcohol of Grand Cru Riesling? Grand Cru Pinot Gris?
11%. 12.5%.
How does Alsatian Riesling compare to German Riesling?
Must be dry, more powerful, higher alcohol and more minerality.
What does the term “Gentil” mean?
It is a superior designation for blended wines. Must contain 50% noble grapes with each grape being vinified separately.
What does “edelzwicker” mean?
Noble mixture. It is a blend with no specific percentages needed and is not vintage dated.
What are the two designations for late harvest wines, codified in 1984?
Selection de Grains Nobles
Vendanges Tardives
What are the must requirements for the Noble Grapes for SGN? What are the must requirements for VT?
SGN: 276 g/l muscat & Riesling
306 g/l Pinot Gris & Gewürztraminer
VT: 235 g/l muscat & Riesling
257 g/l Pinot Gris & Gewürztraminer
Are Vendanges Tardives wines always sweet.
No
What is the only red varietal permitted in the Alsace AOP?
Pinot Noir
What is the major varietal used in Cremant d’Alsace?
Pinot Blanc. PN, Riesling, PG, Auxerrois & Chardonnay*
*only AOP to allow Chardonnay in Alsace
What is the largest Grand Cru vineyard? Smallest?
Schlossberg. Kanzlerberg.
What is the minimum alcohol for Muscat? Gewurtztraminer?
11%. 12.5%.
What is the business center of Alsace?
Colmar.
When did Alsace receive AOC status?
- The last major French winemaking region to gain status.
All varietally labeled Alsace AOP wines must contain 100% of the printed grape. True or false
False
Pinot Blanc may be blended with Auxerrois and labeled solely Pinot Blanc.
White wines labeled “Pinot”may contain any amount of related varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois.
What is the most planted grape of Alsace?
Riesling
Where is the commune of Heiligenstein?
Bas-Rhin.
Wine: Savagnin Rose, or Klevener de Heiligenstein.
From a related pink-berried clone of Traminer known as Klevener (aka Savagnin in Jura)
Who is a staunch supporter of field blends in the making of blend wines?
Marcel Deiss
Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage. True or false.
True.
SGN wines trade varietal character for botrytis complexity and VT wines may show botrytis but maintain an emphasis on varietal purity. True or false.
True
What is the river diving Alsace from Germany?
Rhine
What is pink sandstone of Alsace called?
grés de Vosges
Château Chalon AOP is a commune—not a producer—specializing in the vin jaune, or yellow wine, of the Jura. What varietals are used? What is the name of the bottle?
Describe the style.
Savagnin grapes. A clavelin, a squat 62 cl bottle.
Kept in barrel until December 15 of the sixth year following the harvest. The wine is not topped off and develops a voile (flor). The resulting wine is aldehydic, with nutty, almost curried flavor carried on a delicate, dry palate. Unlike sherry, vin jaune is not fortified
Gutedel is an Alsatian synonym for the _________ grape.
Chasselas
Gewurztraminer is genetically linked to the _______ grape of the Jura.
Savagnin
Varietal Alsace AOP wines labeled “Pinot Blanc” may be blends of Pinot Blanc and _________.
Auxerrois
Which of the following AOPs is located in Lorraine?
- Bugey
- Seyssel
- Chignin-Bergeron
- Arbois
- Côtes de Toul
Côtes de Toul
Which of the following appellations does not produce any sparkling wines?
- Arbois
- Seyssel
- Vin de Savoie
- Crépy
- Bugey
Crépy
What is the Vin de Liqueur appellation of the Jura?
- Crémant du Jura
- Côtes du Jura
- Macvin du Jura
- L’Etoile
- Floc de Gascogne
Macvin du Jura
Which of the following communes produces vin jaune?
- Crépy
- Château Chalon
- Seyssel
- Heiligenstein
- Bugey Cerdon
Château Chalon
Which of the following wine styles is always dry?
- Vin de Paille
- Vin Jaune
- Vendanges Tardives
- Sélection de Grains Nobles
Vin Jaune
Which of the following appellations produces vin de paille?
- Alsace Grand Cru
- Bugey
- Vin de Savoie
- Côtes de Jura
- Château Chalon
Côtes de Jura
What is the river of Alsace?
Rhine
_________ is the only red grape to be vinified as an Alsace AOP varietal wine.
Pinot Noir
How many Grand Crus are there?
51
Vendange Tardive is described as... Old vines Low alcohol High quality Late harvest
Late harvest
Alsace is unique in France in that wines are labeled by... AOC Varietal name Sugar content Elevation
Varietal name
The minimum alcohol content for Alsace AC is?
8.5%
The minimum alcohol content for Alsace Grand Cru is?
11%
