Alsace Flashcards
Alsace is hemmed between which 2 natural barriers and historic adversaries?
- Vosges Mountains & France to the west
- Rhine River and Germany to the east
How are the wines of Alsace similar to those in Germany?
- varietally labeled
- presented in slender flute bottles
- Riesling commands the spotlight
- a botrytized dessert wine tradition
How are the wines of Alsace dissimilar to those in Germany?
White wines have traditionally been devoid of residual sugar.
Why is the Grand Cru pedigree in Alsace not enough to guarantee quality?
When the first vineyard sites were being considered for Grand Cru status in the 1970s, many producers lying outside the historic boundaries were quick to petition for expanded borders so that their properties were included within them.
The producer is of paramount importance.
How much of wine produced in Alsace is consumed within France?
75%; much is drunk within Alsace itself thanks to the region’s pioneering efforts at oenotourism.
Alsace is a leader in France with regard to which viticultural practice?
Organic/biodynamic
Who was the first vigneron to convert to biodynamics in France?
Eugene Meyer, an Alsatian.
Which wine regions in France are leading the forefront of “green” practices?
- Alsace
- Loire
- Languedoc-Rousillon
- Rhone
What percentage of Alsace’s growers sell their grapes or vinify the grapes themselves?
- 50% sell to co-operatives
- 31% sell to negociants
- 19% vinify their grapes
Note: many of the largest producers are family-owned and operated.
Where is Alsace located?
In northeastern France, on the border with Germany. It lies between the 47th & 49th parallels north.
The region runs north to south as a slender strip of land 75mi/120km long and on average 3mi/4.8km in width.
What topographical feature protects Alsace from Atlantic influences?
Vosges Mountains; they are high enough to block rain-laden clouds pushed by the west winds.
How do the Vosges Mountiains protect the Alsace region?
It blocks rain-laden clouds that are pushed by the west winds. These clouds reach the mountain range and are forced upwards. The cooler temperatures at higher altitude condense the water vapor into rain.
Lying effectively in the rain shadow of the Vosges, this region receives some of the lowest rainfall in France (15.5-19.5in/394-495mm per year).
The west side of the mountain range gets 90in/2,286mm per year.
How much sunshine does Alsace receive each year?
1,800 hours
This is due to the “mountain effect” from the Vosges Mountain range.
What is the climate in Alsace?
Continental
* significant seasonal & diurnal temperature swings
* cool nights during the growing season preserves natural acidity
What 2 variables contribute to grapes in Alsace ripening slowly with more complex aromas?
- northern continental climate: maintains natural acidity
- long hours of sunshine: allows grapes to ripen fully
Why is it that weather incidents in Alsace are so convoluted.
The foothills of the Vosges Mountains leads to a variation in weather and vine threats throughout the region. The principal vine threats do not typically affect all vineyards equally.
* frost
* hail
* drought
* thunderstorms
How do the humid autumns contribute to wine styles in Alsace?
Humidity in autumn encourages noble rot which enables the vignerons to craft bortytized dessert wines.
Why are cold winters in Alsace important for varieties such as Riesling?
Cold winters throw the vines into true dormancy. Some vines will degenerate if dormancy is not achieve.
Which geological structure is Alsace located in?
This region lies in the Rhine Graben, a section of the rift system that zigzags across Europe from the Mediterranean to the North Sea.
What geological incidence occured during the Paleozoic Era (542-251mya) in the general area of Alsace?
300 mya, building pressure within the earth’s crust caused a momentous upthrust of cooling magma which solidified into igneous rock.
What geological incidence occured during the Mesozoic Era (251-65mya) in the general area of Alsace?
150 mya, what was to become Alsace was covered by an inland sea. Over the millenia, the igneous rock was worn down and marine sedimentary deposits covered the rock.
What geological incidence occured during the Cenozoic Era (65mya-present) in the general area of Alsace?
50 mya, there was tremendous upheaval and buckling of landforms as the Africain/Arabian & Eurasian tectonic plates collided. Like a souffle, a great dome of earth rose in Alsace, then fell along parallel fault lines.
The western side of the graben was not one clear break, but rather multiple fractures or fault bundles that subsequently developed cross faults. This faulting exposed many different soil types from many different geological epochs. Eventually, these fault blocks eroded and formed the Vosges foothills.
How is it that Alsace has a complex network of soils?
The combination of earth movement & erosion contribute to the variety of soils found in this region. All geological formations created from the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and the current Cenozoic Eras can be found here. This translates to 300 million years of rock formation & decomposition.
Where in Alsace are vineyards located?
Lower elevation of the Vosges peaks:
* slopes are steep (can reach 60-degree gradient)
* 820-1,300ft/250-400m in elevation
* south or southeast facing aspect for optimal sunlight & warmth
Vosges foothills (majority of vineyards are here):
* significant, but less dramatic slopes
* 660-1,200ft/200-360m elevation
* south or southeast facing aspect
Which area in Alsace largely grows grapes that are destined for cremant production?
The rich, deep & fertile soils at the base of the foothills.
What are the 13 different major soil types in Alsace?
- Slopes of Vosges: granite/gneiss, schist, volcanic elements, sandstone
- Vosges Foothills: limestone, calcareous sandstones, marly sandstone, marly limestone, marly clay, calcareous-marl-sandstone
- Rhine Plain/Alsace Plain: alluvium, loess/loam, colluvium/colluvial
What soils are found in the Grands Cru areas of Alsace?
The majority are on sedimentary soils with a large number planted on combinations of:
* marl & limestone (or)
* limestone & sandstone
Just over a dozen consist of ancient rocks such as:
* granites
* schists
* volcanic elements
Name some of the well-respected Grand Crus planted on ancient soils.
- Schlossberg
- Rangen
- Brand
Name the 7 main/focal grape varieties of Alsace as spoken of by the Alsace inter-professional organization.
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Gewurztraminer
- Muscat(s)
- Sylvaner
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Noir
Name the ancillary grapes of Alsace.
- Auxerrois
- Chardonnay
- Chassela
- Savagnin Rose
Which of Alsace’s grape varieties is plentiful despite being an ancillary variety?
Auxerrois
What is the primary role of the Auxerrois grape variety in Alsace?
Cremant production.
Name the white grapes grown in Alsace.
- Riesling
- Pinot Blanc
- Sylvaner
- Auxerrois
- Muscat a Petits Grans Blanc
- Muscat Ottonel
Minor plantings of:
* Chessalas
* Chardonnay
Which varietal wine stands at the pinnacle of prestige among Alsace’s wine offerings?
Riesling
What styles of wine are produced from the Riesling grape in Alsace?
- traditionally fermented to dryness
- Vendanges Tardives (TD)
- Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
What other names is Pinot Blanc known by?
- Pinot Vrai
- Klevner
Pinot Blanc is mostly used to produce what style of wine in Alsace?
Cremant
Which 2 varieties are commonly factored together into the total plantings in Alsace, despite being vastly dissimilar?
- Pinot Blanc
- Auxerrois
Which variety in Alsace is a modest grape with a modest flavour unless given a superior site?
Sylvaner
Where is the Sylvaner variety permitted to grow in Alsace?
In the Grand Cru vineyard of Zotzenberg.
Where is the Auxerrois grape variety native to?
Alsace-Lorraine
How does the vineyard area planted by Auxerrois compare to Pinot Blanc?
Auxerrois occupies more than twice as much vineyard land as Pinot Blanc.
Note: Auxerrois is counted as Pinot Blanc in official figures.
What style of wine is produced from the Auxerrois variety in Alsace?
Cremant; it’s fairly neutral, low-acid grape that provides a blank canvas for sparkling wine production.
What style of wine is typically produced from the Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc variety in Alsace?
This grape is usually vinified dry here.
Muscat’s overt, musky grapiness & peach, mango and citrus flavor profile are put into a lean, svelte package that hints of spring blossom versus harvest fruit.
How does Muscat Ottonel compare to Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc?
It is less aromatic, but vinified in the same way for the same reasons.
What style of wine is produced from Chardonnay grapes in Alsace?
This variety is only authorized for cremant production at the AOC level.
However, some does make its way into creative blends sold as Vin de France (e.g. Zind)
Rank the grapes grown in Alsace from most to least.
- Riesling (21%)
- Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois (21%)
- Gewurztraminer (20%)
- Pinot Gris (16%)
- Pinot Noir (11%)
-
Sylvaner (6%)
Other (5%)
Name the rose/gris grape varieties grown in Alsace.
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Klevener de Heiligenstein
Which aromatic grape variety is given a spotlight in just one French wine region: Alsace?
Gewurztraminer
Why are Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris often used to craft VT and SGN wines?
The ripening curve of these varieties coincides with autumn mists.
Which variety is the aromatic version of pink-skinned Savagnin Rose?
Gewurztraminer
How does Pinot Gris benefit from the climate of Alsace?
In this region, this variety achieves an extraordinary level of:
* texture
* complexity
* depth
Which variety is the non-aromatic version of pink-skinned Savagnin Rose?
Klevener de Heiligenstein
What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener?
They are 2 distinct grape varieties:
* Klevner = Pinot Blanc
* Klevener = Savagnin Rose :a pink-skinned mutation of Savagnin Blanc of Jura fame
Which varieties, until recently, have been known as the noble grapes of Alsace?
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Muscat
Note: only these varieties can be crafted into Vendanges Tardives, Selection de Grains Nobles and Grands Crus bottlings (with one Grand Cru exception, Zotzenberg).
Name the only red grape variety grown in Alsace.
Pinot Noir
Note: plantings are on the rise.
Describe the wines historically produced in Alsace from the Pinot Noir variety.
- These never developed much concentration or colour due to cooler temperatures.
- High yields also contributed to what ended up as an almost-red red wine.
Describe the Pinot Noir wines being produced in Alsace presently.
Thanks to the current warming trend in the region, producers are crafting wines of:
* saturated colour
* depth
* concentration
* silken tannins that hint of their northern location
How much of Alsace’s vineyards are farmed according to organic or biodynamic practices?
Almost 16%
(There are over 300 organic vignerons)
What vine training method is used in Alsace?
Guyot (single or double), is the principal method.
How are vines in Alsace trained in regards to elevation?
- Because cold air settles, the vines on the Rhine Plain are trained high to avoid frost.
- Vines at higher elevations are trained closer to the ground to capitalize on reflected light and warmth.
When does harvest take place in Alsace?
Begins September and continues through November.
What factors contribute to the long harvest duration in Alsace?
- different varieties have different ripening curves
- different soils reflect or do not reflect light & heat
- each site receives differing amounts of sunshine
- style of wine being crafted
- grapes for cremant production gets picked first
- grapes for late-harvest wine production hang on the vine well into autumn
What harvesting methods are used in Alsace?
- Hand harvest: most vineyards are too steep for machinery
- Machine harvest: some takes place on the Rhine Plain
How has climate change had an impact on Alsace and its growing seasons?
- average annual temperatures have exceeded the 20th century average in every year of the 21st century (so far).
- harvest dates have moved forward by 2-3 weeks
- historically, grapes have achieved high degrees of ripeness 1-3 times a decade, now, vignerons are achieving high degrees of ripeness almost every year.
What percentage of wine production in Alsace is white?
89% (2019)
What percentage of wine production in Alsace is put into varietal bottlings?
80% (both dry & sweet)
This means blends comprise 20% of Alsace’s total production.
What is the traditional method of wine storage vessels used in Alsace?
Large wooden foudres, which impart no oak flavour to the wine because of their size and age. Many are close to 100 years old (or older) and still in use.
If a grape variety is listed on the label of wine from Alsace, what percentage of the wine must be made up of that grape variety?
100%
Note: Pinot Blanc & Pinot d’Alsace are the notable exceptions to this rule.
What grapes are permitted in a bottle labeled Pinot Blanc/Klevner in Alsace?
- 100% Pinot Blanc or
- 100% Auxerrois or
- a blend of both
What grapes are permitted in a bottle labeled Pinot d’Alsace in Alsace?
- 100% Auxerrois or
- 100% Pinot Blanc or
- 100% Pinot Noir (vinified as white wine) or
- 100% Pinot Gris or
- a blend of any or all
Name the 2 traditional wine blends found within Alsace.
- Edelzwicker
- Gentil
Note: these are categories within the Alsace AOC.
What are the blending rules for Edelzwiker wines?
- A blend of any of the approved white grapes of Alsace, vinified together or separately.
1. Vintage is optional.
What are the blending rules for Gentil wines from Alsace?
- A blend comprising a min. 50% of the “noble” grape varieties; each variety must be vinified separately.
- Requires tasting panel approval.
- Vintage must appear.
What are “wines of terroir”?
These are field blends.
Some producers co-plant different grape varieties on prominent sites such as Grands Crus, pick and ferment them together, and then label the wines after the vineyard in which they are grown or give them a proprietary name.
Which producers utilize “wines of terroir” in their winemaking methods?
- Jean-Michel Deiss of Domaine Marcel Deiss
- Sebastien Schoech of Domaine Maurice Schoech
What method of blending may be used by producers in Alsace other than through the “wines of terroir” method?
Some producers blend different varietal wines in the cellar, opting out of the Gentil and Edelzwicker categories, to create blends that are also given proprietary names.
What are some reasons that wines from Alsace are increasing in the numbers of off-dry wines?
- high sugar levels in the harvested grapes have resulted in fermentations that stop before all the grape sugars are converted into alcohol
- some producers are purposefully leaving a little residual sugar (RS) in their wines
- others maintain a non-interventionalist winemaking approach, end up with some residual sugar as a matter of course
What is the maximum R.S. level of Riesling wines in Alsace?
0.9% (9g/l)
- As of the 2008 vintage
- does not apply to Grand Cru or lieu-dit
In Alsace, there is pending legislation from 2020 that would require all dry wines to carry which word or the label?
Sec
Define Sec.
- Meaning dry
- less than 0.4% (4g/l) R.S.
Note: sugar levels in “dry” wines can be higher if acid levels are also high.
What is Vendanges Tardives?
Late-harvest wines containing considerable residual sugar.
How are Vendanges Tardives wines produced in Alsace?
Grapes are picked by hand late into the season when the berries are overripe; sometimes they are affected by noble rot, but this is not a mandatory requirement.
Fermentation terminates naturally when the yeasts die, leaving unfermented or residual sugar in the wine.
Malolactic conversion is not encouraged. The wine needs the acid to balance out its high sugar level.
What is Selection de Grain Nobles?
A late-harvest wine, affected by noble rot.
How are the grapes for Selection de Grain Nobles harvested in Alsace?
Grapes are handpicked, berry by berry, through multiple passes in the vineyard.
How many AOCs are there in Alsace?
53
What are the AOCs in Alsace.
- Alsace AOC (regional)
- Alsace AOC Lieu-Dit (within Alsace AOC)
- Alsace AOC Communal Designation (within Alsace AOC)
- Cremant d’Alsace AOC
- 51 Alsace Grand Cru AOCs
How much wine is produced within each AOC in Alsace?
- 64% Alsace AOC
- 25% Cremant d’Alsace AOC
- 6% Alsace Grand Cru AOCs
- 4% Alsace Lieu-Dit designation AOC
- 1% Alsace Communal Designation AOC
When was Alsace awarded AOC and when was it implemented?
Awarded: 1945
Implemented: 1962
What wine styles are permitted under Alsace AOC.
- dry white
- rose
- red
- sweet white
- blend
- varietal
- VT
- SGN
What are the minimum sweetness requirements for Alsace AOC wines?
No standards
Name the grape varieties permitted for Alsace AOC wines.
White:
* [P] Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Muscat(s)
* [S] Auxerrois, Chasselas
Rose/Gris:
* [P] Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris
* [S] Savagnin Rose (Klevener de Heiligensein)
Red:
* [P] Pinot Noir
Alsace AOC wine can be produced with grapes sourced from where?
Any vineyard in Alsace.
In the German tradition, how are sweetness levels of VT and SGN measured?
Before fermentation rather than after.
The sugar levels and alcoholic potential must reach prescribed levels at harvest to qualify for these sweet styles, and they are carefully monitered through fermentation so that sugar and alcohol are perfectly balanced in the final wine.
What is the Communal Designation in Alsace AOC?
This is a subcategory of Alsace AOC as of 2011. These are meant to echo the “village-level” wine category in Bourgogne and are called denominations geographiques complementaires (DGCs)
Quality standards are higher and producers can add the name of the commune to the label. Each commune is authorized to produce specific wine styles from specific varieties.
How many
Communal Designations are there in Alsace AOC?
13 denominations geographiques complementaires (DGCs)
What is Lieu-Dit?
A parcel of land, contained within a single commune, whose traditional (and often centuries-old) name recalls a topographical or historic peculiarity.
It is a technical cadastral unit used by geographers and is legally registered.
Within Alsace AOC it is a name given to a plot of land or vineyard b/c of its notable and significant expression of terroir. These are special plots of earth.
What requirement are placed on wines produced under the lieu-dit designation in Alsace AOC
Restrictions are placed on:
* grape varieties planted
* vine density
* pruning methods
* trellising
Requires:
* higher grape maturity levels at harvest
* a more restricted yield
* can only be white or red (not rose)
What are some non-regulated terms you may find on a label of wine from Alsace AOC?
- prestige
- reserve
- reserve personelle
Note: there are many terms that may appear on wine labels. and many are unique to each producer and within the specific “families” of wines they produce.
When was Alsace Grand Cru awarded AOC status?
1975
What styles of wine are produced under Alsace Grand Cru AOC?
- Dry white
- Sweet white
- varietal
Which grape varieties are permitted under Alsace Grand Cru AOC?
White:
* [P] Riesling, Muscat(s)
* [S] Sylvaner
Rose/Gris:
* [P] Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris
How has the Alsace Grand Cru AOC changed?
The original appellation was one AOC encompassing many signature terroirs. All these special sites were governed by one set of regulations.
This changed in 2011.
Each Grand Cru vineyard was given its own AOC in order to allow for self-governance (under the auspices of the INAO).
What is a good example of why it is beneficial for each vineyard under Alsace Grand Cru AOC to be self-regulating?
Some Grand Cru sites may opt to add Pinot Noir to their list of approved grape varieties (e.g. Hengst, Kirchberg de Barr & Vorbourg).
This move may not appeal to other Grand Crus, but a change will be easier to implement by those petitioning, now that a new ruling need not apply to all.
How is the ranking system in Alsace similar to that of Bourgogne?
The vineyards are ranked, not the producer.
There can by many producers farming one Grand Cru vineyard - and with varying degrees of talent.
What is the controversy surrounding the Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace?
- Some are arguably too large to deliver a signature flavour profile in the glass
- Some highly regarded terroirs expanded beyond their original boundaries as vignerons on the fringes petitioned to be included when these sites requested Grand Cru status
- Some of the region’s most esteemed producers opt to market their wines without putting the Grand Cru name on the front label
Name a wine produced under Alsace Grand Cru AOC that abstains from labeling their wines “Grand Cru”.
Trimbach’s Clos Sainte Hune, a monopole within the Grand Cru Rosacker
How many Alsace Grand Cru AOCs are there?
51
Note: Production is only 6% of Alsace’s total production.
Is the grape variety a mandadory requirement on any Alsace Grand Cru AOC label?
No, not anymore.
Does Alsace Grand Cru AOC produce only single-varietal wines?
Whereas most of the 51 Grand Crus craft single-varietal wines, there are 2 notable exceptions:
* Altenberg de Bergheim
* Kaefferkopf
Which appellations in Alsace permit the use of Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg Grand Cru
This grape variety is only permitted under this single Grand Cru.
This Grand Cru also produces wines from Gewurztraminer, Riesling or Pinot Gris.
When was Cremant d’Alsace awarded AOC status?
1976
Which wine styles are produced under Cremant d’Alsace AOC?
- Sparkling White
- Sparkling Rose
Name the grape varieties permitted under Cremant d’Alsace AOC.
White:
* [P] Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Riesling
Rose/Gris:
* [P] Pinot Gris
Red:
* [P] Pinot Noir
Which grape variety is forbidden in the the production of Cremant d’Alsace AOC?
Gewurztraminer
How many producers are making sparkling wine in Cremant d’Alsace AOC?
500
In a tradition that dates back to the 19th century.
Which grape varieties can make up 100% of a wine in Cremant d’Alsace AOC?
- 100% Chardonnay
- 100% Pinot Gris
- 100% Riesling
Blanc de Noirs and Rose:
* 100% Pinot Noir
How are rose wines made under Cremant d’Alsace AOC?
- saignee
- maceration
What is Lorraine?
This is a very small wine region west of Alsace & east of Champagne. It is bordered on its northern side by Germany, Belgium & Luxembourg; Metz and Nancy are its two principal cities.
It has two AOCs:
* Moselle
* Cotes de Toul
And one IGP:
* Cotes de Meuse
Production is small.
- Which grapes are used to produce wines in Moselle AOC?
White:
* [P] Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau
Rose:
* [P] Pinot Noir (backbone)
Red:
* [P] Pinot Noir (100%)
Note: The Cotes de Meuse IGP makes red, white & rose/vin gris from a very similar pool of grape varieties.
Which grape varieties are used to produce wines in Cotes de Toul AOC?
White:
* Aubin, Auxerrois
Rose/Gris:
* Pinot Noir, Gamay
Red:
* Pinot Noir
Note: The Cotes de Meuse IGP makes red, white & rose/vin gris from a very similar pool of grape varieties.
