Alsace * Flashcards
What are examples of Germanic culture in Alsace
Flute Bottles
Varietal Labels
Emphasis on Reisling
Dessert wine tradition
plus
1 Language (Alsatian)
2 Ceremonies (Christmas)
3 Food (Saurkraute)
4 Architecture (Half timbered)
5 Religion
6 Wine
What is the climate of Alsace
Continental
Lowest rainfall in France (Vosges mountains)
Winters can be very cold, spring is generally mild, and the summer is warm and sometimes very dry, with heavy hail and thunderstorms possible in summer and autumn. In some vintages summer drought can be a problem
What is a rain shadow
A rain shadow is an area of land that lies behind a mountain which gets almost no rainfall. This side of a mountainous area is away from the wind. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a “shadow” of dryness behind them.
What is graben
Alsace lies in what is called the Rhine Graben. This is a rift valley formation caused millions of years ago by an upthrust of earth (think soufflé), caused by pressure, which then collapsed on either side along fault lines. The Vosges mountains were not a clean break, causing multiple fractures and cross faults creating/exposing a diversity of soil types along with erosion from the Rhine River.
What are the two uplifts of the Rhine Graben
Vosges and Black Forest
What are the major soil types of Alsace
Higher, steeper slopes of the Vosges have thin topsoil, with subsoils of weathered gneiss, granite, sandstone, schist, and volcanic sediments.
Gentler lower slopes, derived from the Rhine delta bed, have deeper topsoils, over subsoils of clay, marl, limestone, and sandstone.
The plains at the foot of the Vosges are of alluvial soils, eroded from the Vosges, and are rich and fertile, generally more suited to the production of crops other than vines.
What is the famous subsoil of Alsace
Main subsoil is cooling magma => igneous rock
One of the most important subsoils is the pink grès de Vosges, Vosges sandstone.
How does the soil type affect the wine
Heavier clay and marl soils give a wine with broader flavours, more body and weight.
Lighter limestone or sandy soil gives more elegance and finesse.
Flint, schist, shale, and slate soils tend to give wines with a characteristic oily, minerally aroma reminiscent of petrol and sometimes described as ‘gunflint’, especially those made from the Riesling grape.
Which is the soil type common to the majority of Alsace Grand Cru
Sedimentary soils - Marl and Limestone (and some sandstone)
A few are on ancient rocks - granite, schist, volcanic
How many soil types in Alsace
13
Land of Soils
Where are the vineyards located in Alsace
The narrow vineyard strip runs from north to south, along the lower contours of the Vosges Mountains in the Rhine River Valley.
The majority of large producers are based in the more southerly Haut-Rhin département, which is generally associated with better quality,
What aspect do the vineyards have?
It is important for the vineyards to make the most of the sun’s rays, and so most of the best vineyards are on south, south west, or south east facing slopes, sheltered from the wind by the Vosges.
Which are the 7 focal grapes of Alsace
Riesling, Gewurztraminer (gewürztraminer), pinot gris, pinot noir, pinot blanc, muscat, and sylvaner.
Which are considered the 4 noble grape varities of Alsace
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer
Describe Reisling
late-ripening
smells like citrus fruits, flowers, and minerals.
With age it takes on complex, gunflint, mineral aromas, with crisp steely acidity and very pure fruit flavours
Describe Pinot Gris
Spicy Acidity
Used to be known as Tokay
Peaches and apricot
Hint of smoke
Describe Muscat
Two varieties of Muscat are found in Alsace: Muscat blanc à petits grains (=Muscat d’Alsace), and
Muscat Ottonel.
Alsace Muscat is always dry, and has a fresh grapey aroma and flavour (biting into a fresh grape).
Muscat is low in alcohol, and quite low in acidity.
Sensitive to poor weather at flowering so yields can vary considerably from year to year.
Describe Gewusrztraminer
Usually dry to off-dry.
Low acidity
High alcohol and glycerol give an impression of sweetness.
Distinctive aroma and flavour, with hints of lychees and grapefruit.
Naturally high sugar levels
Pink Traminer
What is the Foehn?
warm and dry wind that blows across the Alsace region and affects the grapes and vineyards in the Alsace wine region. This wind can be both good and bad for the grapes. On the one hand, it can help dry the grapes and prevent diseases, leading to better-quality wines. On the other hand, it can also cause the grapes to lose acidity and result in unbalanced wines.
What are the uses for the noble grapes of the Alscae
Used as varietals in dry and sweet wines - some in blends
Generally only grapes allowed in Alsace Grand Cru, VT and SGN wines
What is the link between Savagnin Blanc and Klevener and Gewurztraminer
Savagnin Blanc — is the white-berried, non-aromatic savagnin best known as the characteristic white Jura grape. AKA Traminer
Klevener=With an ‘e’ It is a locally adapted savagnin rose, occasionally known as Clevner de Heiligenstein. Non-aromatic
Gewurztraminer=aromatic variant of the pink-skinned savagnin, shown by dna profiling to be identical to traminer.
How is global warming impacting vini/viti in Alsace
More off/dry wines are being produced
Earlier harvest (Oct=> Sept)
Full ripening => Higher alcohol/residual sugar
Lower acidity?
Wet summers?
Some plots too warm for Riesling
New grape varities/clones
Sustainable agriculture
How do Pinot d’alsace and Pinot Blanc represent exceptions to Alsace’s 100% varietal rules
Pinot d’Alsace=idiosyncratic name given to a blend of regional Alsatian wines. The blend tends to be based on Pinot Blanc and include any number of members of the Pinot family; Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Pinot Auxerrois- extended relatives like Chardonnay may also be used.
Pinot Blanc= Sometimes called Klevner and blended with white auxerrois
For many years no distinction was made between Pinot Blanc and chardonnay since the two varieties can look very similar
Which Alsatian wines are typically blended products
Edelzwicker
Gentil
Cremant d’Alsace