Alsace Flashcards
How many ha under vine in Alsace?
15;500 hectares of AOC vineyards in production
How many hl is produced in Alsace annually?
Average annual production of AOC wines is 1.15 million hectolitres (more than 150 million bottles).
Vineyards altitude?
Most vineyards are at an altitude of between 175 m and 420 m
Local pink sandstone is called?
Grés de Vosges
Plain at the base of the mountains consists of which type of soil?
Richer alluvial clay and gravel soils.
Steeper mountain slopes are generally composed of which type of soil?
Schist; granite and volcanic sediment
Lower mountain slopes are generally composed of which type of soil?
Limestone
What are viticultural hazards?
Hail; frost; drought; over-production
What is the principal method of pruning?
Guyot; either single or double. The vines are trained high on wires to avoid spring ground frost.
When was AOC Alsace created?
AOC Alsace was created in 1962. It represents 74% of the region’s wine production; of which 92% are white wines.
List 13 Communal geographical names?
Bergheim; Rodern; Blienschwiller; Saint Hippolyte; Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg; Scherwiller; Côtes de Barr; Vallée Noble; Côte de Rouffach; Val Saint Grégoire; Klevener de Heiligenstein; Wolxheim; Ottrott.
When was AOC Grand Cru created?
The AOC Grand Cru was created in 1975 and features 51 classified areas; defined according to strict geological and climactic criteria. In 2011; each of these lieux-dits was recognized as an Appellation in its own right.
Name permitted grape varieties for AOC Grand Cru?
With a few minor exceptions; permitted grape varieties grown in Alsace include: Riesling; Gewurztraminer; Pinot Gris and Muscat.
Name exceptions for AOC Grand Cru?
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf may blend according to certain proscribed proportions. Zotzenberg is a historical site for Sylvaner; and as such the grape is permitted in Grand Cru.
What is minimum alcohol level for AOC Grand Cru wines?
11% for Riesling and Muscat and 12.5% for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer; although certain vineyards require higher levels.
What is average annual production of AOC Grand Cru wines?
Nearly 45;000 hL (or 500;000 cases); just 4% of the total Alsace wine production.
When was Cremant d`Alsace created?
1976; represents 22% of the region’s wine production;
Name grape varieties for Cremant d`Alsace?
Majority is Pinot Blanc; although P. Gris; P. Noir; Riesling; and Chardonnay are also permitted.
Minimum sugar concentration at harvest for Vendanges Tardive wines?
235 g/l for Riesling and Muscat and 257 g/l for Gewurztraminer (most common) or Pinot Gris.
Minimum sugar concentration at harvest for Selection de Grains Nobles wines?
276 g/l for Riesling and Muscat; and 306 g/l for Gewurztraminer (most common) and Pinot Gris.
Which varieties are used for production of Gentil?
Minimum of 50% “Noble” varieties; with the rest made up of Sylvaner; Chasselas and/or Pinot Blanc. Each varietal must be vinified separately and must officially qualify as AOC Alsace wine.
What are the most common varieties for production of Edelzwicker?
Chasselas; Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc; but may be composed of any of the white Alsace varietals; without rules or restrictions regarding the composition of the blend; varieties may be vinified together or separately.
Which grape variety is known as Tokay d`Alsace?
Pinot Gris
Which grape variety is known as Muscat d`Alsace?
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
Which grape variety is known as Clevner or Klevner?
Pinot Blanc
Which grape variety is known as Klevener of Heiligenstein?
Savagnin Rose; member of the Traminer family of grapes; grown in a small area in the region of Barr
Which grape variety can be used in wines labeled Pinot Blanc; Clevner or Klevner?
Auxerrois
Variety composition for Altenberg de Bergheim?
First option is varietals from Gewurztraminer; Pinot Gris or Riesling; Second option is blend 50-70% Riesling; 10-25% Pinot Gris; 10-25% Gewurztraminer. Up to 10% Pinot Blanc; Pinot Noir; Muscat; Chasselas.
Variety composition for Kaefferkopf?
First option is varietals from Gewurztraminer; Pinot Gris or Riesling; Second option is blend 60-80% Gewurztraminer; 10-40% Riesling; 0-30% Pinot Gris. Up to 10% total Muscat; Chasselas.
Variety composition for Zotzenberg?
Sylvaner varietal or blended with Gewurztraminer; Pinot Gris or Riesling;
Which is the biggest Grand Cru site?
Schlossberg (Kientzheim and Kaysersberg) 80.28 ha - Haut-Rhin
Which is the smallest Grand Cru site?
Kanzlerberg (Bergheim) 3.23 ha - Haut-Rhin
Name prominent domaines that are opposed to the Grand Cru system?
Trimbach; Hugel; Leon Beyer.
Who is producing Riesling; Jubilée cuvée; vineyard?
Hugel of Riquewihr; Grand Cru Schoenenbourg.
Who is producing Gewurztraminer; Jubilée cuvée; vineyard?
Hugel of Riquewihr; Grand Cru Sporen.
Who is producing Pinot Gris; Jubilée cuvée; vineyard?
Hugel of Riquewihr; Grand Cru Sporen.
Who is producing Gewurztraminer Cuvée des Comtes d´Eguisheim ; vineyard?
Leon Beyer of Eguisheim; Grand Crus Eichberg.
Who is producing Riesling Cuvée Particulière; vineyard?
Leon Beyer of Eguisheim; Grand Cru Pfersigberg.
Who is producing Riesling; Clos Ste-Hune ; vineyard?
Trimbach of Ribeauvillé; Grand Cru Rosacker.
Who is producing Riesling Cuvée Frédéric-Emile; vineyard?
Trimbach of Ribeauvillé; blend from Grand Cru Geisberg and Grand Cru Osterberg.
Who is producing Pinot Gris “Réserve Personnelle”?
Trimbach of Ribeauvillé.
Who is producing Gewurztraminer “Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre”?
Trimbach of Ribeauvillé.
Name two best Rieslings from Weinbach; Faller & Filles?
Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvée Sainte Catherine and Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvée Sainte Catherine “ L’Inédit” (means “the original one”)
Name some biodynamic Alsace producers?
Josmeyer; Domaine Weinbach - Faller; Domaine Zind-Humbrecht; Schlumberger (partly biodynamic).
Name Alsace Noble Blend wines?
Grand vin de Schonenberg; Clos du Zahnacker; Clos du Schlossberg; Côtes du Ribeauvillé.
Name two most important co-operative producers in Alsace?
Cave de Ribeauvillé (the oldest; the best) and Cave de Turckheim.
Where is Cotes de Toul AOC situated?
In the region of Lorraine in north-east France; centered on the village of Toul on the western banks of the Moselle river.
What is the most important wine style of Cotes de Toul AOC; what grape varieties?
Lightly-pink vin gris is predominantly Gamay; at least 10% Pinot Noir. Auxerrois; Aubin Blanc and Pinot Meunier are also permitted to comprise up to 15% of the wine.
What varieties are used for Cotes de Toul rouge and blanc?
Rouge is Pinot Noir. Blanc are Auxerrois and Aubin Blanc.
What varieties are used for Moselle AOC white wines?
Auxerrois Blanc; Muller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris are principal. Gewurztraminer; Riesling and Pinot Blanc are permitted in limited amounts.
What varieties are used for Moselle AOC red and rose wines?
The reds must be made entirely of Pinot Noir; but rosés may have a proportion of Gamay.
