Alsace Flashcards
What are the two administrative regions of Alsace?
Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin
What are the majority of Grand Cru Vineyards located in Alsace?
Southern alsace aka Haut-Rhin near Colmar.
What is the capital of Alsace?
Strasbourg in the bas-rhin
What 2 major cities are located in the Haut-Rhin department?
Ribeauville and Colmar
Alsace follows which major river?
The Rhein River
Which German Wine region is located across the Rhein from alsace?
Baden
Which German Wine region is located directly north of Alsace?
Pfalz
What mountain creates the unique clamactic characteristics of alsace?
The Vosges Mountains
What is the Driest city in france?
Colmar is Alsace
Despite northern location what allows Alsace such reliable ripening?
Northern Location, Lower Slope vineyards in vosges mountain lead to extreme number of sunlight hours in summer.
What is the term for the Pink Sandstone found in alsace?
Gres de Vosges
What soil types are typically found in Alsace’s mountain slope vinyards?
Schist, Granite and Volcanic Sediment
What soil types are typically found in the lower slopes of alsace?
Typically a limestone base
What soil types are found in the plains at the base of the mountains in Alsace?
Alluvial Clay and Gravel Soils
Around what percentage of Alsace wine is Pinot Noir?
around 10%
What is the only red grape allowed in Alsace AOP?
Pinot Noir
What are the 4 Noble Grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Gewurztraminer
What non-noble grapes are allowed to be bottled varietally in alsace AOP?
Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chasselas, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir
What is the exception made for Pinot Blanc on an Alsatian Label?
It may be either Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois or both
What is the min grape % for a varietally labelled alsatian wine?
100% of stated variety
What is a synonym for Chasselas in Alsace?
Gutedel
What is the more common name for Gutedel?
Chasselas
What term is a synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace??
Klevner
What are the restrictions on a wine labeled as “Pinot” in Alsace?
May be made from any proportion of Pinot Noir, Blanc, Gris or Auxerrois.
What is the most planted grape in Alsace?
Riesling or Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois is considered together
When did Alsatian AOP law mandate that Riesling my be dry in style?
2008
What are two former names used for Pinot Gris until recently in Alsace?
Tokay d’Alsace or Tokay Pinot
What is the only location based wine made in alsace?
Klevener de Heiligenstein
What 5 communes may produce Klevener de Heiligentstein?
Heiligenstein, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller and Obernai
What is Klevener de Heiligenstein made from?
Traminer/Savagnin/Savagnin Rose = All the same grape
What is Edelzwicker?
A typically cheap blended wine made in Alsace.
What are the restrictions on Edelzwicker?
Does not need to be vintage dated, no restrictions on grape blend/%’s
Which Geographic Designations in alsace are only for red wine?
Ottrott, Rodern and Saint-Hippolyte
What is Alsatian Schillerwein?
Rose made from Pinot Noir
Other than Heiligenstein when were the Alsatian subzones created?
2012 going forward
What Alsace subzones are for Sylvaner?
Blienschwiller and Cotes de Barr
Wolxheim is a Subzone in Alsace for which grape?
Riesling
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Pinot Noir in Alsace?
10% for Rose, 11% for Red and 11.5 for Red from a subzone
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Alsace AOP Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris?
11.5% or 12% if labeled with suzone
Which Alsace AOP wines must have 9.5% min pot. Alcohol or 10.5 with a subzone?
Chasselas, Muscat and Sylvaner