Alsace Flashcards
After which of the following wars did Alsace belong to Germany?
- Thirty Years War (1618-1648)
- Franco-Prussian War (1871)
- WWI
- WWII
Franco-Prussian War
What Germanic influences are seen in modern Alsatian wine production and style?
- Use of slender flute bottles (flutes d’alsace)
- Varietally labeled bottlings
- Importance of Riesling
- Botrytized dessert wine tradition
Is a Grand Cru labeling on a bottle always indicative of high quality?
Not necessarily. As a result of growers petitioning for Grand Cru borders to be expanded, the sites are large and many producers source from the same vineyard sites to produce wine. Thus, producers are arguably more important to consider than a “Grand Cru” labeling in Alsace.
What percentage of Alsatian wine production is consumed in France?
75% with majority of it within Alsace itself
Are all Alsatian wines vinified dry?
No, there are multiple dessert category offerings and some wines that were historically vinified dry might have accidental or intentional residual sugar because of high ripeness of grapes at harvest (as a result of global warming).
How can you tell if a non-dessert wine from Alsace is vinified dry?
Many will now indicate sweetness level on the bottle via a sliding scale or use of the word “sec” on the label.
What is significant about biodynamic/organic farming practices in Alsace?
It is a leader in France for the implementation of these practices.
The first vigneron to convert to biodynamics was Alsatian (Eugene Meyer).
What are two evolving/growing wine styles found in Alsace?
Cremant and still red (Pinot Noir) bottlings
Co-operatives account for __% of Alsace’s total wine offerings
40%
What are some celebrated co-operatives in Alsace?
Turckheim, Beblenheim, Ribeauville
Why was the implementation of the Alsace AOC delayed?
Economic recovery following WWII delayed official implementation of the AOC
What historic events stinted growth of the Alsatian wine industry?
- Thirty Years war ravaged the population and subsequent wars hindered recovery of the area
- Phylloxera arrived in Alsace shortly after being returned to Germany in 1871.
After becoming a part of Germany in 1871, what varietals were farmers asked to plant and why?
Auxerrois, Chasselas, French-American hybrids were planted to lower competition with German wines
___% of grapes are sold to co-operatives and ___% of grapes are sold to negociants.
50%
31%
Between what parallels does Alsace lie?
47th and 49th parallels north
What is the climate of Alsace?
Continental
What are the principle vine threats and do they affect all vineyards equally?
Frost, hail, drought, thunderstorms
They do not affect all vineyards equally because of the nature of the foothills
What landform is responsible for Alsace’s low rainfall?
Vosges Mountains blocks the Atlantic influences and creates a rain shadow effect. The West side of the mountains receives 90in of rain per year versus the East side which received 15-20in of rain per year.
Describe the effect of Alsace’s significant diurnal temperature swings and hot, dry, sunny days on the wine style
Diurnal temperature swings help preserve the wines natural acidity
The combination of Alsace’s northernly location with dry, hot, sunny days allows the grapes to ripen slowly which ultimately aids in the development of complex aromatics
Alsace lies in the Rhine Graben – what effect has this had on the terroir of Alsace?
The formation of the graben along with subsequent land erosion created a complex network of soils
Why are there so many different grape varieties that grow well in Alsace?
The diversity of soil types (13 major soil types)
Slopes of the Vosges:
1. Soil composition
2. Elevation
3. Aspect
- Granite/gneiss, schist, volcanic elements, sandstone
- 820-1,300ft elevation
- S/SE aspect
Vosges Foothills:
1. Soil composition
2. Elevation
3. Aspect
- Limestone, calcareous sandstone, marly sandstone, marly limestone, marly clay, calcareous-marl-sandstone
- 660-12,00ft elevation
- S/SE aspect
What are the major soil types found in the Rhine Plain/Alsace Plain?
Alluvium, loess, loam, colluvium
What is the main soil type of the Grand Crus?
Sedimentary soils. Mainly marl, limestone, and sandstone.
What soils are found at the well-respected Grand Crus of Schlossberg, Rangen, and Brand?
Ancient rocks: granites, schists, volcanic elements
What are the focal grape varieties of Alsace?
Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, Muscat(s), Pinot Noir
What are the ancillary grapes of Alsace?
Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Savagnin Rose
In Alsace, Riesling is traditionally vinified to _______ unless vinified as ________ or ____________.
dryness; Vendanges Tardives (VT); Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
Pinot Blanc is also known as _____________ or _________________ and is mainly used in _____________ production.
Klevener; Pinot Vrai; cremant
The official area under vine for Pinot Blanc is inflated by the addition of this varietal
Auxerrois
What is the only Grand Cru site permitted to use Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
Auxerrois is primarily used in ________________ production and has a __________ flavor profile and ______ acidity.
Cremant; neutral; low
What are the two Muscat varietals found in Alsace and which one is more aromatic?
Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc & Muscat Ottonel
Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc is more aromatic
Describe the flavor profile of Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc
Overt, musky grapiness with peach, mango, and citrus. When vinified dry hints of blossom become apparent
Chardonnay is permitted for __________ production in Alsace.
Cremant
Why are Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris preferred varietals for VT or SGN wines?
Ripening curve dovetails nicely with autumn mists
Gewurztraminer is the aromatic version of _______________ which is authorized for plantings near Heiligenstein where it is referred to as ______________________.
Savagnin Rose; Klevener de Heiligenstein
What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener?
Klevner = Pinot Planc
Klevener = Savagnin Rose (pink skinned mutation of Savagnin Blanc). Aromatic version is Gewurztraminer
What are the noble grapes of Alsace?
Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat
What varietals are permitted for use in Grand Crus bottlings?
Noble grapes with two main exceptions:
Sylvaner in Zotzenberg
Pinot Noir in Hengst, Kirchberg de Barr, and Vorbourg
What is the only permitted black grape varietal in Alsace?
Pinot Noir
___% of Alsace’s vineyards are organically or biodynamically farmed
16%
What is the principle vine training method in Alsace?
Guyot (single or double)
How are vines trained different on the Plains vs the Vosges slopes?
Trained high on the plains to mitigate risk of frost
Trained low on the slopes to capitalize on reflected warmth/light from the ground
Harvest in Alsace lasts from September to November. What are 4 reasons for the longer harvest season?
- Different grape varieties follow different ripening curves
- Different soils reflect light and heat differently
- Different sites receive differing amounts of sunshine
- The style of wine (e.g. cremant vs VT/SGN) dictates picking times
___% of production is white with ___% of that put into varietal bottlings
89%; 80%
What is the traditional wine storage vessel used in Alsace?
Foudres
If a grape varietal is listed on the label it must contain ___% of that varietal except for two exceptions (__________ and ______________)
100%; Pinot Blanc; Pinot d’Alsace
Blends comprise ___% of Alsace’s total production. What are the two blends?
20%
Gentil; Edelzwicker
What is the primary differentiation between Gentil and Edelzwicker?
Both are a blend of permitted white grape varietals.
Gentil follows stricter requirements which include:
- At least 50% of the blend be noble
- Each variety must be vinified separately
- Tasting panel approval
- Vintage must be stated on label
Name two producers who produce their own “wines of terroir” and describe them.
Domaine Marcel Deiss & Domaine Sebastien Schoech
Varietals are co-planted on prominent sites and fermented together to create their own proprietary field blends that they name after their domains
What is the maximum R.S. level permitted for Riesling (with the exception of Grand Cru or lieu-dit bottlings)?
0.9% (9g/l)
What is the primary difference between Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines?
SGN wines require botrytized grapes
Why is malolactic conversion not encouraged for VT wines?
The wines require acidity to balance out the high sugar levels
How many AOCs exist in Alsace and what are they?
Alsace AOC
Cremant d’Alsace
Grand Cru AOCs (51)
When are sweetness levels of VT and SGN wines measured?
Before fermentation vs after (as is German tradition)
What is the sugar level required for VT wines crafted from Gewurztraminer/Pinot Gris versus Riesling/Muscat?
27% vs 24%
What is the sugar level required for SGN wines crafted from Gewurztraminer/Pinot Gris versus Riesling/Muscat?
30.6% vs 27.6%
What are the two sub-designations of the regional Alsace AOC? And which has stricter production standards?
Communal and Lieu-Dit with the latter having stricter production standards
How many communal designations are recognized in the Alsace AOC?
13
Echos the “village-level” category of Burgundy. Producers can append the commune name to their bottle if the designated style was produced using authorized varietals
What is a lieu-dit?
Parcel of land within a single commune whose traditional name recalls a topographical or historic peculiarity
What are the production standards for Alsace AOC wines produced with a lieu-dit designation?
- Stricter limitations regarding varietals used along with vine density, pruning methods, and trellising practices
- Higher grape maturity levels at harvest
- More restricted yield
- Only white or red wines permitted
What are three non-regulated label terms used in Alsace?
prestige, reserve, reserve personelle
In what year was each Grand Cru vineyard awarded its own AOC?
2011
What 3 Grand Cru sites recently added Pinot Noir to their list of approved grape varieties?
Hengst
Kirchberg de Barr
Vorbourg
Grand Crus production accounts for ___% of Alsace’s total production
6%
What two Grand Cru AOCs are permitted to produce blends?
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf
What grape varietal is prohibited in Cremant d’Alsace production?
Gewurztraminer
What methods are used for rose production in Alsace?
Saignee or maceration
Lorraine is home to which two AOCs and which IGP?
AOCs: Moselle and Cotes de Toul
IGP: Cotes de Meuse
Describe the wines of the Moselle AOC (Lorraine)
Whites: Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau
Rose: Pinot Noir
Reds: Pinot Noir
Describe the wines of the Cotes de Toul AOC (Lorraine)
Whites: Aubin, Auxerrois
Reds: Pinot Noir
Rose/vin gris: Pinot Noir and Gamay
