Alsace Flashcards
p. 59 How many major soil types are there in Alsace
13 different major soil types in Alsace
p. 59 What is the most widely planted grape in Alsace
Riesling
p. 59 What are Other names for Pinot Blanc
Pinot Vrai or Klevner
p. 59 What are the two clones of Muscat grown in Alsace
Muscat a Petits Grains; Muscat Ottonel
p. 59 Klevener is also known as
Savagnin rose
p. 60 Name the two regional blend names in Alsace
Edelzwicker and Gentil
p. 63 How many AOCs are in Alsace
53 - 51 Grand Crus, Alsace, and Cremant d’ Alsace
p. 64 What is the 100% varietal exception in regards to Grand Cru Vineyards in Alsace
there are 2 Alsace Grand Cru- Altenberg de Bergheim and Alsace Grand Cru- Kaefferkopf
p. 60 What % of Alsace wine production is white?
0.9
p. 66 True or False Alsace has the highest(AOC grape) crop yeilds in France
True
p. 24 Pinot Gris was formerly known as ______
Tokay
p. 64 What varietals are legally permitted for Alsace Grand Cru AOC?
Reisling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat
p. 20 Auxerrois Blanc is a cross between
Gouais Blanc and Pinot Blanc
p. 58 Alsace lies in the Rhine_________
graben - a grave-like trench framed by two vertical uplifts
p. 59 How many major soil types are there in Alsace
13 different major soil types in Alsace
p. 59 What is the most widely planted grape in Alsace
Riesling
p. 59 What are Other names for Pinot Blanc
Pinot Vrai or Klevner
p. 59 What are the two clones of Muscat grown in Alsace
Muscat a Petits Grains; Muscat Ottonel
p. 59 Klevener is also known as
Savagnin rose
p. 60 Name the two regional blend names in Alsace
Edelzwicker and Gentil
p. 63 How many AOCs are in Alsace
53 - 51 Grand Crus, Alsace, and Cremant d’ Alsace
p. 63 Define Alsace Communal AOC
designed to recognize wines of higher character. The quality standards are higher here than for Alsace AOC and producers can add the name of the commune to the bottle. It is a subcategory AOC, not a separate AOC
p. 64 What is the 100% varietal exception in regards to Grand Cru Vineyards in Alsace
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
p. 60 What % of Alsace wine production is white?
0.9
p. 20 Auxerrois Blanc is a cross between
Gouais Blanc and Pinot Blanc
p. 20 What variety is native to the area surronding Lake Geneva in Switzerland?
Chasselas
p. 64 What is the 100% varietal exception in regards to Grand Cru Vineyards in Alsace
there are 2 Alsace Grand Cru- Altenberg de Bergheim and Alsace Grand Cru- Kaefferkopf
For how long Alsace belonged to Germany
Between 1871 and 1919.
Similarity in Alsatian bottles and German bottles
They are both tall bottles with tapering necks
One big difference between Alsatian styles and German styles
German wines can be sweet, but almost all of the the wines from Alsace are dry.
Another big difference between Alsatian styles and German styles
German wine mostly ranges from 8 to 9 percent abv, while wines from Alsace can range from 11 to12 percent
The 4 major white grape varieties grown in Alsace
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc
How much of French wines come from Alsace
Around 20%
The 3 AOCs of Alsace
Alsace AOC, Cremant d’Alsace, and Alsace Grand Cru
How much of Alsatian wine is white
Around 90%
How wine labeling in Alsace is different from the other French regions
Its wine is exclusively labelled by varietal. All Alsace wines that include the name of the grape on the label must be made entirely from that grape.
The two great sweet wines from Alsace
Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles
Vendange Tardive wine
Late harvest wine
Selection de Grains Nobles
Botrytis-affected wine
The major grape variety of Alsace
Riesling
Why most grape growers sell their grapes to a shipper who produces the bottles and markets it under their own name.
The grape growers don’t make enough to produce and market their own wine.
Where the art of making high-quality Alsace wine
In the selection of grapes that each shipper makes.
How many acres of grapes are planted in Alsace
38,500 acres
The acerage plot of land for each grower in Alsace
Around 5 acres
Interesting fact about Alsace’s climate
They have very little rainfall.
What determines the reputation of Alsace wines, more than the label
The shipper’s reputation.
Terms to describe Alsatian wine that aren’t legally defined
Reserce, or reserve personelle
When most Alsatian wine should be consumed
Young, from 1 to 5 years after they’re bottled.
When fine wine from Alsace should be consumed
For 10 years or more.
The best part about Alsatian wines
The are still very affordable, of good quality, and available in the US.
The best recent vintages of Alsace
2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Extraordinary vintages of Alsace
2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2013
A place to visit in Alsace
The beautiful wine village of Riquewihr, which has buildings that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Also visit the 26 Michelin-star rated restaurants.
Further reading on Alsace
Alsace and All its Wine Gardens by S. F. Hallgarten. and Alsace Wines and Spirits by Pamela Vandyke Price
What year did Alsace achieve AOC status?<br></br><img></img>
1962
Alsace is divided into what two departments?<br></br><img></img>
Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin
Generally the premier wines of Alsace originate from what department?<br></br><img></img>
Haut-Rhin
What separates Alsace from the rest of France?<br></br><img></img>
Vosges Mountains
What is the capital of the Haut-Rhin department?<br></br><img></img>
Colmar
What is the local pink sandstone located throughout Alsace?
gres de Vosges
How much of Alsace’s production is white?
0.9
How much of France’s AOP still white wine production is accounted for by Alsace?
0.18
What are the noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer is a pink berried clone of what traditional grape of Alsace?
Traminer
What pink variant of Traminer retains a few plantings around the commune of Heiligenstein in the Bas-Rhin; the grape is known locally as Klevener?
Savagnin
What year was the Alsace AOP established?
1945
What year was Alsace grand cru AOP established?
1975
What is the term for inexpensive blended wine in Alsace?
Edelzwicker
What does Edelzwicker mean?<br></br><img></img>
Noble mixture
What is the superior designation for blends?
Gentil
Gentil wines must contain what minimum amount of noble grapes?<br></br><img></img>
0.5
What producer is a staunch defender of field blends in Alsace?<br></br><img></img>
Marcel Deiss
What was the first Grand Cru vineyard of Alsace?
Schlossberg
How many additional Grand cru were added in 1983?
24
How many additional Grand Cru were added in 1992?
25
What was the 51st Grand cru of Alsace added in 2007?<br></br><img></img>
Kaefferkopf
What Alsace Grand Crus permit blending?
Altenberg de Bergheim, Kaefferkopf
What Grand Cru is a historical site for Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
What is the smallest Grand Cru?
Kanzlerberg
What is the largest Grand Cru?
Schlossberg
What Grand cru is Clos-Ste-Hune located in?
Rosacker
What are the two designations for late-harvest wines in Alsace?
Vendanges Tardives, Selections de Grains Nobles
What late harvest wine is generally picked in tries and suppresses varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis?
Selection de Grains Nobles
What late harvest wine may show botrytis character but emphasizes varietal purity?
Vendanges Tardives
What is the minimum must weight for Vendanges Tardives Riesling/Muscat wines?
244 g/l
What is the minimum must weight for Vendanges Tardives Pinot Gris/Gewurztraminer wines?
270 g/l
What is the minimum must weight for Selections de Grains Nobles Riesling/Muscat wines?
276 g/l
What is the minimum must weight for Selections de Grains Nobles Pinot Gris/Gewurztraminer wines?
306 g/l
What is the workhorse grape for Cremant d’Alsace?
Pinot Blanc
What grape is similar to but not synonymous with Pinot Blanc?
Auxerrois
What is a synonym for Pinot Blanc?
Klevner
What is a synonym for Chasselas?
Gutedel
How much of Alsace’s production is sparkling wine?
0.25
What Alsace AOP allows for Chardonnay?
Cremant d’Alsace
Quality VT wines usually originate from vines that are in what state?
Passerillage
What are the AOPs of Lorraine?<br></br><img></img>
Cotes de Touls, Moselle
What grape is authorized for Cotes de Touls AOP rouge wines?<br></br><img></img>
Pinot Noir
What are the principal grapes for Cotes de Touls AOP vin gris wines?<br></br><img></img>
Gamay, Pinot Noir
How long must Cremant d’Alsace AOP wines age on their lees?
9 mo
What is the maximum yield for Cremant d’Alsace AOP?
80 hl/ha
Moselle AOP produces red, white, and rose wines principally from what grapes?<br></br><img></img>
Auxerrois, Pinot Noir
What river separates Alsace from Germany?
Rhine
All Alsace wines are by law bottled in what?
flutes
Alsace lies between what latitudes?
47.5-49
How many AOCs are there in Alsace?
53
How many geographic designations are there for Alsace?
13
What communes may produce Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Heiligenstein, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, Obernai
Blanc wines from the Moselle AOP require a minimum 70% of what grape varieties?
Auxerrois, Muller Thurgau, Pinot Gris
Moselle AOP rouge wines are made from 100% of what grape variety?<br></br><img></img>
Pinot Noir
Moselle AOP Rose wines are made from a minimum 70% Pinot Noir and allows for what other grape variety?
Gamay
When may VT and SGN wines be released?
June 1 of the second year following harvest
Alsace Grand Cru wines account for what percentage of Alsace’s production?
0.04
Alsace lies in what two departments?
Haut-Rhin & Bas-Rhine
What mountain range to the WEST and what river lies to the EAST of Alsace
WEST - Vosges Mtns
EAST - Rhine river
Whn did Alsace become part of France
1945 at the end of WW2
How many AOC subregions does Alsace have?
None!
but 51 Grand Cru vineyards
(Less than 5% of Alsace wines receive this distinction)
Alsace is the ONLY region in France to grow this varietal
Riesling
What percentage of Alsatian wine is WHITE?
> 90%
Define “Edelzwicker” on a bottle label of Alsace wine
“Noble wine” made from approved noble grpae varietals
Name a couple Alsace producers
Trimbach (Gentil, Riesling, Clos St Hune)
Zind Humbrecht
(More than 5,000 independent growers)
What grape was formerly known as Tokay d’Alsace
Pinot Gris
(more rich, full and almost honeyed than in Italy)
What happens to PInot Noir in Alsace during cooler vintages
Vinified into Rose wines
How long is Alsace
60 miles North to South
Edelzwicker vs Gentil
Both blends of several varieties: Consensus seems to be that a Gentil should have a minimum of 50% of the four noble grapes, and can therefore be thought of as a high-end Edelzwicker.
Two Alsace grand cru vineyards used in Cuvee Frederic Emile by Trimbach
Handpicked from OSTERBERG & GEISBERG
Maison Trimbach’s vineyards are all situated around Ribeauville (Ribeauville, Hunawihr, Bergheim, Rorschwihr, Riquewihr and Mittlewihr).
Synonym for Pinot Blanc
Weissburgunder of KLEVNER
Name of Alsatian pizza with creme fraische, onions and lardons
Tarte flambee
Valley in the Haut Rhin that makes a well known cheese
Munster
“Capital of Alsatian Wine” in the Bas Rhin & the DRIEST city in France
Colmar
Capital of Haut Rhin
Strausbourg
Permitted Vine Training Methods in Alsace
GUYOT (aka Cane Pruning)
“Simple or Dubbel”
Better in cooler climates
Name of Cheese and Soil Type
“Gres des Vosges”
A cheese with rose colored rind and a fern imprint, and the local pink sandstone
What varietal is NOT allowed in the Grand Cru ZOTZENBERG
Muscat is not allowed
So the 4 Nobles there: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurtstraminer, and Sylvaner*
Allowed because of historical significance
Which 2 of the 51 Grand Cru vineyards of Alsace permit “blending”
(1) Altenberg de Bergheim and (2) Kaefferkopf may blend according to certain proscribed proportions
River separating Alsace from Germany
Rhine river
Name of Zin Humbrecht’s wine from its northernmost vineyard in Humawihr
Clos Windsbuhl (Pinot Gris / Rielsing / Gewurts)
Domaine Weinbach famous “clos” wine
(Important to Know)
“Le Clos des Capucins”
[Their most sought after wines come from the monopole vineyard, Clos des Capucins. This 12.5 acre vineyard produces both Tokay and Riesling of profound proportions (the Grains Nobles wines are incredible and impossible to find). They grow all of the traditional Alsacian varietals here, from Pinot Blanc, to their cuvees of Riesling (there are usually four, Reserve Personelle, Schlossberg, CUVEE THEO and Clos Ste. Catherine)]
Sylvaner is allowed in which Alsatian Grand Cru vineyard
Zotzenberg
Name for Chasselas in Alsace
Gutedel
Elevage of Grand Cru wines in Alsace
Intent to produce Grand Cru wine must be declared before March 1 of the harvest year.
All Grand Cru wine must be vintage-dated.
Wines may not be released until June 1 of the year following the harvest (an additional year is required for VT and SGN wines)
Grape of Wolxheim subzone
Riesling
What is unique about (1) Altenberg de Bergheim, (2) Zotzenberg and (3) Kaefferkopf
Altenberg de Bergheim, Zotzenberg and Kaefferkopf can produce either varietal wines from Gewürztraminer, Riesling or Pinot Gris, or wines BLENDED from these three grape varieties {plus up to 10 percent of Pinot Blanc, Muscat or Pinot Noir}
What do these wines have in common:
Grand vin de Schonenberg,
Clos du Zahnacker,
Clos du Schlossberg,
Côtes du Ribeauvillé
Classic Alsace Blends:
A small amount of blended wines are produced made from noble varietals (not to be confused with Edelzwicker - various wines blended together).
These wines are sourced from the same
vineyard and vinified together.
Alsatian producer from Bergheim who pushed for blends to be permitted in Grand Cru wines
Marcel Deiss
Name for multiple passes to pick ripe fruit
“Tries successives” - particularly botrytis
Name the 3 unique Domaine Ostertag bottlings
Which one has botrytis?
Vins de Fruit / Vins de Pierre / Vins de Temps
Vins de Fruit:
Ostertag’s vins de fruit or “fruit wines” are made to express varietal character and feature the flavor of the grapes themselves. The first to be harvested, these wines are aged 6-9 months before release and are meant to be drunk young (within five years of release). The vins de fruit can be identified by their green bottles and the “Dancing Vines” label.
Vins de Pierre:
The next category is for wines that are designed to express their terroir and are aptly name vins de pierre or “stone wines.” Harvested later than the vins de fruit, they are aged 11-18 months and can be drunk young or aged for up to 20 years. Their labels emphasize the vineyard names and feature a painting of a single vine.
Vins de Temps:
The estate’s vendanges tardives and sélections de grains nobles are named for both meanings of the French word temps: the weather, which can make or break a vintage, and time, which is necessary to over-ripening for the late harvest wines and for the development of noble rot. The minimalist labels used here allow the wines’ brilliant colors to stand in the spotlight. The vins de temps reach their peak after 20-50 years of cellaring.
Pinot Noir:
The Pinot Noir grapes are 100% de-stemmed for both cuvées. Fermentation lasts about ten days with a daily pumpovers. The Pinot Noir “E” ages in stainless steel tanks for 9 months and the Pinot Noir “Fronholz” ages in old barrels for a year.
Who makes Riesling GC Muenchberg?
Domaine Ostertag