Alsace Flashcards
When did Alsace gain AOC status?
1962
Between the Haut-Rhin and the Bas-Rhin, which subregion contains the most premier quality vineyards?
The Haut-Rhin
What is the capital of the Haut-Rhin?
Colmar
What is the single most important aspect of Alsace’s climate with regards to viticulture?
Sunshine hours. The Vosges create a rain shadow effect, making Alsace incredibly sunny and dry.
What is grés de Vosges?
Pink Sandstone
What soils are generally found on the higher mountain slopes?
schist, granite, volcanic sediment
What soils are generally found on the lower mountain slopes?
limestone
What soils are generally found on the plain?
alluvial clay and gravel
What % of Alsace’s production is white?
90.00%
What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer
What are the three allowed clones of Muscat?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel
What is Klevner?
Pinot Blanc
What is Gutedel?
Chasselas
What is Klevener?
Savagnin
What other variety may be blended into varietal bottlings of Pinot Blanc?
Auxerrois
If the wine is labeled simply “Pinot,” what varieties are permitted?
Noir, Blanc, Gris, Auxerrois
As of 2008, what style is mandatory for Alsatian riesling?
Dry
Klevener de Heiligenstein is permitted in what villages?
Heiligenstein Bourgheim Gertwiller Goxwiller Obernai
What is edelzwicker?
“Noble blend” - usually inexpensive, may be single varietal, may or may not be vintage dated
What is gentil?
A superior designation for blends, requiring >50% noble grapes; base wines must be vinified separately.
Who is the standard-bearer for traditional Alsatian field blends?
Marcel Deiss
In a traditional Alsatian field blend, are the grapes vinified together or separately?
Together
When was the Alsace Grand Cru AOP proposed?
1975
When did the first 25 Grand Crus appear?
1983
When did the next 25 Grand Crus appear?
1985
What is the most recent Grand Cru elevation, and when?
Kaefferkopf in 2006
Must Alsatian Grand Crus be varietal wines?
Yes, with exceptions
Which Grand Crus are permitted to blend?
Kaefferkopf
Altenberg de Bergheim
What is the encepagement for Altenberg de Bergheim?
50-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, plus
What is the encepagement for Kaefferkopf?
60-80% Gewurztraminer, 10-40% Riesling,
Which Grand Cru is authorized for Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
Which Grand Crus are not authorized for varietal Muscat?
Altenberg de Bergheim Kaefferkopf
What is the basic minimum alcohol for Riesling and Muscat?
11.00%
What is the basic minimum alcohol for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris?
12.50%
What is the smallest Grand Cru in Alsace?
Kanzlerberg (3ha)
What is the largest Grand Cru in Alsace
Schlossberg (80ha)
What is the northernmost Grand Cru in Alsace?
Steinklotz
What is the southernmost Grand Cru in Alsace?
Rangen
What is the minimum must weight for Riesling and Muscat VT? For SGN?
VT: 235g/L SGN: 276g/L
What is the minimum must weight for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris VT? For SGN?
VT: 257g/L SGN: 306g/L
Post 2008, what is the max residual sugar for Riesling?
9g/L (if TA is 6) 6g/L (if chaptalization is used)
What are the exceptions to the Dry Riesling rule?
if labeled by a lieu-dit. (also VT and SGN)
What are the subzones of Alsace (as of 2012)?
Klevener de Heiligenstein Blienschwiller Côtes de Barr Côte de Rouffach Ottrott Rodern Saint Hippolyte Valée Noble Val Saint Grégoire Scherwiller Wolxheim Bergheim Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg
What varieties are authorized for Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Klevener (Savagnin)
What varieties are authorized for Blienschwiller and Côtes de Barr?
Sylvaner
What varieties are authorized for Côte de Rouffach?
Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
What varieties are authorized for Ottrott, Rodern, and Saint Hippolyte?
Pinot Noir
What varieties are authorized for Vallée Noble?
Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Girs
What varieties are authorized for Val Saint Grégoire?
Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
What varieties are authorized for Scherwiller and Wolxheim?
Riesling
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Riesling?
Côte de Rouffach Vallée Noble Scherwiller Wolxheim Coteaux de Haut-Koenigsbourg
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Gewurztraminer?
Côte de Rouffach
Vallée Noble
Bergheim
Coteaux de Haut-Koenigsbourg
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Pinot Gris?
Côte de Rouffach
Vallée Noble
Val Saint Grégoire
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Pinot Blanc?
Val Saint Grégoire
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Sylvaner?
Blienschwiller
Côtes de Barr
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Pinot Noir?
Côte de Rouffach
Ottrott
Rodern
Saint Hippolyte
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Muscat?
None
What is the difference between Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles?
VT is late harvest, may be botrytized
SGN is always botrytized, harvested in tries
Who produces Clos St. Hune, from which Grand Cru?
Trimbach
Rosacker
Who produces Cuvée Frédéric Emile, from which Grand Crus?
Trimbach, from Osterberg and Geisberg (single plot that overlaps the border between the two)
Who produces Clos Jebsal?
Zind-Humbrecht
Who produces Clos St-Urbain, from which Grand Cru?
Zind-Humbrecht, from Rangen
Who produces Clos Hauserer, from which Grand Cru?
Zind-Humbrecht, from Hengst
Who produces Cuvée Theo?
Weinbach
Who produces Clos de Capuchins, from which Grand Cru?
Weinbach, from Schlossberg
Who produces Clos St-Landelin, from which Grand Cru?
Thomas Muré, from Vorbourg
When were VT and SGN introduced?
1984
What are the authorized grapes for Crémant d’Alsace?
Riesling Pinot Blanc Auxerrois Pinot Gris Pinot Noir Chardonnay
What is the minimum time en tirage for Crémant d’Alsace?
9 months
What are the two AOPs of Lorraine?
Côtes de Toul
Moselle
What are the styles and varietals of the Côtes de Toul?
White: Auxerrois and Aubin
Rosé: 10% Pinot Noir, plus Pinot Meunier, Aubin, Auxerrois
Red: Pinot Noir
What are the styles and varietals of the Moselle?
White: Auxerrois, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris, plus Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer
Rosé: >70% Pinot Noir plus Gamay
Red: Pinot Noir
Excellent vintages in Alsace
1985, 1988-1990
1993, 1997, 1998
2000, 2005, 2007, 2009
2012
Poor vintages in Alsace
1991, 1999 2003, 2004
What varieties are authorized for Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg
Gewurztraminer
Riesling
What varieties are authorized for Bergheim?
Gewurztraminer