Alsace

Question 1

What are the three levels of IGP in France?

Answer 1

Regional (6), Departmental and Zonal (small specific regions within a department)

Question 2

Name two distinct German influences that can be found ion Alsace bottles

Answer 2

Label by varietal not by region, flute bottle shape

Question 3

Describe the Geography of Alsace.

Answer 3

Vosges mountains to the West, Rhine and Black Forest to the East

Question 4

What are the seasonal hazards experience in Alsace?

Answer 4

hail, frost in the spring, noble rot

Question 5

How are the best vineyards placed in Alsace?

Answer 5

On steep slopes, south aspect. Between 200-400m. Most found in Haut Rhin

Question 6

Where is bulk wine produced in Alsace?

Answer 6

Bas Rhin, in the flat lands

Question 7

What do the Vosges mountains contribute to the climate in Alsace?

Answer 7

Rain shadow effect. Only 5inches per year - lowest rain fall in all of France

Question 8

What are the 4 noble grapes?

Answer 8

Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat

Question 9

How many Grand Crus are there in Alsace?

Answer 9

51

Question 10

How many Grand Crus allow grapes other than noble grapes. What are their exceptions?

Answer 10

Zotzenberg - allows Sylvaner Altenberg Bergenheim- allows blending Kaefferkopf - allows blending

Question 11

What are other grapes found in Alsace (other than noble grapes)?

Answer 11

Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Chasselas, Sylvaner, Chardonnay, Klevener (Savagnin Rose)

Question 12

What are the bottling/labelling rules of Alsace?

Answer 12

Varietal labelling, 100% varietal, 100% vintage, bottled in Alsatian flutes, bottled within the region

Question 13

What are the two main classifications in Alsace? Grapes, yield, % production

Answer 13

Alsace AOP (1962) - 100hl/ha , 9 grapes allowed (from anywhere in Alsace), 80% of production Alsace Grand Cru AOP (1975) - noble grape varieties only, 55hl/ha, 4 % of production

Question 14

What are some issues with the Grand Crus of Alsace?

Answer 14

-quick development of GC’s without developing Premier Crus first -inadequate definition of size and exact borders of individual GC -lack of respect respect for terroir when boundaries not defined -not all grapes work properly in specific vineyards -best production is now “Clos” located inside GC’s

Question 15

Vendanges Tardives (VT)

Answer 15

late harvest wines, rich full bodied, not necessarily sweet - have to know producers

Question 16

Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)

Answer 16

Sweet dessert wine from botrytis affect grapes. Made in small quantities only in exceptional vintages.

Question 17

Edelzwicker

Answer 17

term used for blends, commonly pinot blanc

Question 18

Reserve, Reserve Particuliere (Alsace)

Answer 18

best cuvees or lots, no legal status

Question 19

Pinot Auxerrois blend

Answer 19

A blend of Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc

Question 20

Pinot Klevner / Clevner d’Alsace

Answer 20

Synonym for 100% Pinot Blanc or a blend of the Pinot family and chardonnay

Question 21

Lieuy-Dits

Answer 21

A named place. A vineyard with recognized status but not recognized by AOC system

Question 22

Gentil

Answer 22

unofficial term. Blend (“edelzwicker”) of 50% min noble grapes plus whatever else

Question 23

Ageing requirements for Cremant d’Alsace

Answer 23

min 9 mo on lees, 3 mo in bottle (traditional method)

Question 24

What are the grapes allows in Cremant d’Alsace

Answer 24

Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling. Rose = 100% Pinot Noir

Question 25

Who are some Alsacian producers making a dryer style?

Answer 25

Trimbach, Hugel, Sparr, Marcel Deiss (organic & co-picking, co-fermenting)

Question 26

Name an Alsacian producer making an off-dry style?

Answer 26

Josmeyer

Question 27

Name two Alsacian producers making a rich style

Answer 27

Hugel, Zind-Humbrecht

Question 28

Subzones of Alsace

Answer 28

Blienschwiller, Cotes de Barr, Klevener de Heiligenstein, Scherwiller, Vallee Noble, Val Saint Gregoire, Coteaux du Haut Koenigsbourg, Wolxheim, Bergheim, Cote de Rouffach, Ottrott, Rodern, Saint-Hippolyte