Alsace 3

Question 1

what are appropriate or fit grapes for Alsace

Answer 1

must be suited to dry climate that is both warm in sunny and cold in winter

Question 2

what are some reasons different grape varieties are selected

Answer 2

1. ripening cycle aligned with local climate
2. well suited to the geology (T times)
3. capacity to resist disease
4. yields
5. aromatics

Question 3

why are aromatic grapes so often selected in Alsace

Answer 3

cool autumn nights keep acid bright, long autumn days allow for ripening (complexity), no Malo required to soften acids and mask aromatic aromas, as well as wine makers don’t use new oak

Question 4

how has global warming effected Alsace

Answer 4

1. Impacted traditional weather patterns
2. weather unpredictable (heavy rains, drought, violent storms)
   EX - 2003 heat and 2006 rainy/rot
3. don’t need chaptalize much anymore

Question 5

to what degree of gradiant can slopes in the Haut Rhine reach

Answer 5

60 degree - steep

Question 6

what are the lower elevations Vosges peaks comprised of?

Answer 6

granite, sandstone, schist and volcanic elements and are steep at 60 degree and 250 to 400 m

Question 7

what is the altitude of the Vosges foothill

Answer 7

200 to 360 m

Question 8

what kind of soils are the vosges foothills comprised of

Answer 8

Calcareous, clay, marl, pocket of gneiss, granite, schist. they are often at 25 degrees and more gentle and rolling. They have more complex soils as they were formed in phase 2 of the cenozoic era.

Gravels at the foot hills are hi-caliber slope wash

Question 9

what are the plains and lower terraces comprised of

Answer 9

alluvial deposits, gravel and very fertile loess soils

Question 10

define Granite Gneiss Soils

Answer 10

Granite - is an igneous rock comprised of fledspar, quartz, mica, and hornblende, meaning Fire Rock
Gneiss - is a sandy form of granite

wine - elegant and floral
High T time and better for balanced water years

Question 11

define Schist

Answer 11

it is a metamorphic rock created from clay, mud and basalt is subjected to high pressure and temperature. schist means to split - shale and slate are examples

2 types

1. green Ville - cold ) oldest in Alsace 500 mil years
2. Steige - black, iron rich

Question 12

what is another name for volcanic sedimentary soils?

Answer 12

greywacke

Question 13

Name a well known vineyard for volcanic sedimentary soils - greywacke?

Answer 13

Rangen de Thann Grand Cru

Question 14

what makes volcanic sedimentary - rewake soils unique

Answer 14

heat retention, fast heating

Question 15

what are the two types of sandstone

Answer 15

1. permian - volcanic and feldspar

2. buntsandtain - or vosges sandstone - iron oxide well draining

Question 16

is sandstone a warm soil

Answer 16

yes

Question 17

define limestone

Answer 17

a general term used for a wide variety of calcium-carbonate based sedimentary rocks and can be…

1. Organic - once living materials
2. Inorganic - formed by dripping in caves

Question 18

what are the two types of limestone

Answer 18

1. Muschelkalk - grey limestone in layers called marl

2. Dogger - white and looks like caviar

Question 19

define Marl

Answer 19

an amalgamation of calcium carbonate (lime) and clay. each type of clay can vary in its lime to clay ratio

it is the most common soil type in Alsace and found in 22 of the 51 Grand Cru sites

Question 20

what is the rare soil combo for Alsace

Answer 20

Calcareous Sandstone

wine - aroma of floral and exotic fruit

poor nutrients, warms quickly but has a high T time

Question 21

define Scree

Answer 21

broken rock fragments collected at the base of cliffs or mountains. the talus slope is a concave land form that is responsible for the screed at the base.

Question 22

Three soil types on the Rhine Plain

Answer 22

1. Loess - wind
2. Alluvial - river
3. valley floor colluvial - rain washed

Question 23

Four soil types on steep Vosges slopes

Answer 23

1. granite
2. schist
3. volcanic
4. sandstone

Question 24

six soil type found on Vosges foot hill, where the majority of the vineyards are located

Answer 24

1. limestone
2. calareous (limestone) sandstone
3. marly sandstone
4. marly limesome
5. marly clay
6. marly, Limestone, Sandstone

Question 25

How many of the terriors (Grand Crus sites) are comprised of ancient rock, name 2.

Answer 25

12

Pralentenberg
Gloeckleberg
Brand
Sommerberg
Winerk-Schlossberg
Schlossberg
Rangan

winzenberg
franksteim
kastleberg
Muenchberg
Kitterle

Question 26

what are the ancient rocks in the 12 terriors

Answer 26

igneous granites
metamorphic schists
volcanic elements
the rest are primarily sedimentary in nature

Question 27

what are the names of the three fault lines, which are perpendicular to the Rhine river, in Alsace

Answer 27

Saverne
Ribeauville
Rouffach / Guebwiller

Question 28

does Alsace have a balance climate

Answer 28

yes
sunny and warm = high sugar
cool at night = good acid
slow growing = complex flavours and aroma
slow growing = mature acidity - malic and tartaric acid transformation
dry = rot and disease not so much of issue

Question 29

how much rainfall does Alsace receive, on average

Answer 29

500 - 600 mm (20 to 30”)

Question 30

why do grape reach ripeness in Alsace

Answer 30

terrior combines climate, topogragraphy, soils, aspect, subsoils, latitude, altitude, sunshine hours