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