Alsace Flashcards
How many AOCs in Alsace?
53
Name 3 major AOC categories in Alsace?
- Alsace AOC
- Cremant d Alsace AOC
- Grand Cru AOCs (51 total)
What % of production is Grand Cru?
6%
2 points re listing grape variety on the label?
- Must be 100% varietal listed
- UNLESS it is Pinot Blanc or Pinot d’ Alsace
What % of Alsace production is blends?
20%
Name and describe the 2 traditional Alsatian white blends.
- Edelzwicker: (i) blend of any approved white grapes (ii) vinified together or separately (iii) vintage optional
- Gentil: (i) min. 50% noble grapes; (ii) each variety vinified separately; (iii) vintage must appear; (iv) approved by tasting panel
NOT INDEPENDENT AOCS - PART OF ALSACE AOC
Name and describe the two traditional categories of sweet Alsatian wine. What common trait do they share?
- Vendanges Tardives - late harvest wines with considerable RS; not always with noble rot
- Selection de Grains Nobles - late-harvest wines using hand-selected grapes affected by noble rot
Both wines can only be crafted from the four noble grapes.
Name 2 GCs that don’t make single-varietal wines
Bergheim and Kaefferkopf
Which GC can use Sylvaner?
Zotzenburg
Which 2 GCs can use Pinot Noir?
Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr (as of 2021)
Which 2 white grapes are notably prohibited from cremant? Which white grape is notably permitted?
Gewurztraminer and Muscat are prohibited.
Chardonnay is permitted
Describe the guyot training method. Why is it common in Alsace?
Lifts vines higher off the ground, which makes hand harvesting easier - useful in Alsace where the slopes are too steep for machines
Different training method for vines on flat plains vs slopes?
- Vines on plains trained HIGH to avoid FROST
- Vines on elevation trained LOW to capitalize on REFLECTED LIGHT AND WARMTH
Describe Alsace’s climate (3 points)
- Continental
- Significant seasonal and diurnal temperature swings
- Rain shadow of the Vosges mountains
What % of Alsatian wine production is white?
89%
3 most planted grapes in Alsace?
- Riesling (21%)
- Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois (21%)
- Gewurztraminer (20%)
What are 3 key topographical features in Alsace?
- Vosges Mountains
- Vosges Foothills
- Rhine / Alsace Plain
Alsace represents the Western sector of the Rhine Graben
What 2 soils do you find in the Rhine / Alsace plain?
Mostly loam and alluvium (rich, fertile soils)
What3 soils do you find in the Vosges foothills?
Limestone, marl, sandstone
2 high level points about measuring sweetness levels for Alsatian sweet wines?
- Measure sweetness BEFORE fermentation
- Sugar levels and alcoholic potential must reach prescribed levels AT HARVEST to qualify
VT thresholds for the four noble grapes?
Sugar: 27% for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 24% for Riesling and Muscat
Potential alcohol: 16% for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 14.5% for Riesling and Muscat
SGN thresholds for the four noble grapes?
Sugar: 30.6% for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 27.6 for Riesling and Muscat
Potential alcohol: 18.2 for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 16.4% for Riesling and Muscat
Where is Lorraine?
West of Alsace and east of Champagne
What are the two AOCs of Lorraine?
- Moselle
- Cotes des Toul
What is the IGP of Lorraine?
Cotes de Meuse
3 principal grapes of Moselle AOC whites? What about reds?
- Auxerrois
- Pinot Gris
- Miller Thurgau
Reds are only Pinot Noir
2 principal grapes of Moselle AOC whites? What about reds?
- Aubin
- Auxerrois
Reds are from Pinot Noir. Roses are from Pinot Noir and/or Gamay.
If the wine is labelled Klevner or Pinot Blanc, what grapes can it contain?
Pinot Blanc or Auxerrois (either singly or blended)
If the wine is labelled Pinot d’ Alsace, what grapes can it contain?
- Auxerrois
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Gris
Singly or blended, but MUST be vinified white
What major regulation was introduced from the 2021 harvest?
As of the 2021 harvest, every Alsatian wine must clearly show if it is sec, demi-sec, moelleux or doux
What proportion of Alsatian wines are made by co-ops? GIve 3 examples?
40%. Turckheim, Beblenheim and Ribeauville
How many hours of sunshine per year in Alsace? Main effect on the wines?
1800 hours. High sunlight, combined with the northerly climate, allows wines to ripen slowly with complex aromatics
What is the elevation range of the Alsatian vineyards in the Vosges slopes
250-400 metres
What is the elevation range of the Alsatian vineyards in the Vosges foothills?
200-360 metres
What is Klevener de Heiligenstein? Which grape is it related to?
Non-aromatic version of pink-skinned Savagnin Rose.
It is related to Gewurztraminer, the aromatic version of Savaginin Rose.
Why are Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris often used to make VT and SGN wines?
Their ripening curve coincides with autumn mists.
Which varietal has an RS limit in Alsace?
Riesling that is not Grand Cru or labelled with a lieux dit has a 0.9% RS (9g/l) limit
When were the Grand Cru vineyards given individual AOCs?
2011
