Alsace Flashcards
How many Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace? What years were they authorized?
51
First 25 authorized in 1983; 25 more in 1985; the 51st GC, Kaefferkopf, was added in 2006.
“Gentil” requires how much of noble grapes in Alsace?
50%
Alsace Grand Cru AOP are single varietal wines from noble Alsatian grapes, with several notable exceptions. Which GC’s are the exceptions?
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf may blend GV’s according to prescribed proportions.
Zotzenberg allows Sylvaner to be produced as a GC varietal wine.
What are the proscribed blends of Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf?
AdB–50-70% Riesling; 10-25 Pinot Gris; 10-25 Gewürztraminer; max 10 Chasselas, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir
KAEFFERKOPF
60-80 Gewurtztraminer; 10-40 Riesling, max 30 Pinot Gris and Riesling.
Both GCs can produce varietal Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris
What are the minimum potential alcohol levels of the noble grape varietals of Alsace?
What are the exceptions?
Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner 11%
Gewürztraminer/Pinot Gris 12.5%
Altenberg de Bergheim–Riesling 12%
Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris 14%
Final Blend 14%
Kaefferkopf–Riesling 11%, Pinot Gris/Gewürztraminer 12.5%
Final 12%
What year was Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles instituted?
1983 VT and SGN instituted under Alsace AOP and Alsace Grand Cru AOP provided the wines contain a single noble varietal and pass a blind tasting panel.
Describe VT and SGN styles of wine.
VT-may show botrytis character but emphasizes varietal purity and usually originate from vines in a state of passilerage-can be sweet or dry
SGN-picked in tries, suppresses varietal character for botrytis character
Both hand-harvested at specific, unenriched sugar levels–
What are the minimum must weight levels at harvest for VT and SGN?
VT—
Muscat/ Riesling 235g/l
PG/ Gewurz 257g/l
SGN—
Muscat/Riesling 276 g/l
PG/Gewurz 306g/l
Authorized grape varietals for Cremant d’Alsace?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois–
No Gewurz/Muscat
