Alsace 3 Flashcards
what are appropriate or fit grapes for Alsace
must be suited to dry climate that is both warm in sunny and cold in winter
what are some reasons different grape varieties are selected
- ripening cycle aligned with local climate
- well suited to the geology (T times)
- capacity to resist disease
- yields
- aromatics
why are aromatic grapes so often selected in Alsace
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
how has global warming effected Alsace
- Impacted traditional weather patterns
- weather unpredictable (heavy rains, drought, violent storms)
EX - 2003 heat and 2006 rainy/rot - don’t need chaptalize much anymore
to what degree of gradiant can slopes in the Haut Rhine reach
60 degree - steep
what are the lower elevations Vosges peaks comprised of?
granite, sandstone, schist and volcanic elements and are steep at 60 degree and 250 to 400 m
what is the altitude of the Vosges foothill
200 to 360 m
what kind of soils are the vosges foothills comprised of
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
what are the plains and lower terraces comprised of
alluvial deposits, gravel and very fertile loess soils
define Granite Gneiss Soils
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
define Schist
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
- green Ville - cold ) oldest in Alsace 500 mil years
- Steige - black, iron rich
what is another name for volcanic sedimentary soils?
greywacke
Name a well known vineyard for volcanic sedimentary soils - greywacke?
Rangen de Thann Grand Cru
what makes volcanic sedimentary - rewake soils unique
heat retention, fast heating
what are the two types of sandstone
- permian - volcanic and feldspar
2. buntsandtain - or vosges sandstone - iron oxide well draining
is sandstone a warm soil
yes
define limestone
a general term used for a wide variety of calcium-carbonate based sedimentary rocks and can be…
- Organic - once living materials
- Inorganic - formed by dripping in caves
what are the two types of limestone
- Muschelkalk - grey limestone in layers called marl
2. Dogger - white and looks like caviar
define Marl
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
what is the rare soil combo for Alsace
Calcareous Sandstone
wine - aroma of floral and exotic fruit
poor nutrients, warms quickly but has a high T time
define Scree
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.
Three soil types on the Rhine Plain
- Loess - wind
- Alluvial - river
- valley floor colluvial - rain washed
Four soil types on steep Vosges slopes
- granite
- schist
- volcanic
- sandstone
six soil type found on Vosges foot hill, where the majority of the vineyards are located
- limestone
- calareous (limestone) sandstone
- marly sandstone
- marly limesome
- marly clay
- marly, Limestone, Sandstone
How many of the terriors (Grand Crus sites) are comprised of ancient rock, name 2.
12
Pralentenberg Gloeckleberg Brand Sommerberg Winerk-Schlossberg Schlossberg Rangan
winzenberg franksteim kastleberg Muenchberg Kitterle
what are the ancient rocks in the 12 terriors
igneous granites
metamorphic schists
volcanic elements
the rest are primarily sedimentary in nature
what are the names of the three fault lines, which are perpendicular to the Rhine river, in Alsace
Saverne
Ribeauville
Rouffach / Guebwiller
does Alsace have a balance climate
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
how much rainfall does Alsace receive, on average
500 - 600 mm (20 to 30”)
why do grape reach ripeness in Alsace
terrior combines climate, topogragraphy, soils, aspect, subsoils, latitude, altitude, sunshine hours
