Alsace Flashcards
What is the climate of Alsace?
Cool-continental
What are the main wine styles of Alsace?
- Dry, white wines
- 90% white wine production
How does Alsace label their wines?
By grape variety (not region) - similar to Germany
What does it mean if there is one grape varietal listed on an Alsatian wine?
- 100% of the listed varietal
Edelzwicker
- Noble wine
- A blend of the allowed white grapes in the region
What are the characteristics of Riesling from Alsace?
- Most important grape varietal
- Top region for Riesling
- Dry
- Fully ripened grapes
- Fruity
- Citrusy
- High Alcohol
What are the characteristics of Gewurtztraminer from Alsace?
- Exotic fruit
- Spicy
Describe Pinot Gris from Alsace
- Formerly known as Tokay or Tokay d’Alsace
- Rich & Full
- Almost honeyed
What are some other notable grapes grown in Alsace?
- Muscat
- Sylvaner
- Pinot Noir
What two major factors affect the climate of Alsace?
- Vodges Mountains (west)
- Rhine River (east)
How do the Vosges mountains affect Alsace?
- Protect from severe weather
- Protect from winter storms
- Lies in the “rain shadow” - driest region in France
- Sunny, dry conditions in summer
Cremant d’Alsace
- Sparkling wine
- Methode Champenoise
Vendange Tardive
- Wines made form ultraripe, late harvest grpaes
- Fermented completely dry
- High alcohol + Full flavors
- Varietal over Botrytis
Selection de Grains Nobles
- Sweet dessert wines
- Made from fully ripened grapes + botrytis
- Honeylike flavors
- Botrytis over Varietal
How is Alsace divided?
Two departements:
- Haut Rhin
- Premier Wines
- Bas Rhin
What are the four “noble” grapes of Alsace?
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Muscat
- Gewurtztraminer
What is Alsace’s main appellation?
Alsace AOP
What is the most planted grape in Alsace?
Riesling
What grapes are Grand Cru AOP Alsatian wines produced from?
Only the noble grapes
What is the only red grape permitted for Alsatian wines?
Pinot Noir
Which grapes are permitted in Cremant d’Alsace?
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Auxerrois
JURA: What grapes are used to make vin jaune and vin paille?
vin jaune: Savagnin
vin paille: Pinot Noir
What are the regions of Jura?
- Cotes du Jura
- Arbois AOP
- L’Etoile AOP
- Chateau Chalon AOP
What are the regions of Savoie?
- Vin de Savoie AOP
- Roussette de Savoie AOP
- Seyssel AOP
- Bugey
Which commune produces vin jaune and what grapes are in it?
Château Chalon
100% Savagnin grapes
Which appellations produces vin de paille?
Côtes de Jura, Arbois, or L’Etoile
Pinot Noir
How many grand crus are in Alsace?
Which term denotes a blended wine including a minimum 50% of noble Alsatian grapes?
Gentil
What are some producers in Alsace?
Trimbach and Hugel
What is the only red wine permitted for Alsace AOP wines?
Pinot Noir
What is the significance of the name “Jura”?
Jurassic era, vineyards rest upon Jurassic limestone and marl
What is Jura’s climate?
Continental
What are the three main red grapes of Jura?
Poulsard, Trousseau, and Pinot Noir
What are the main white grapes of Jura?
Dry = 100% Chardonnay
(Gamay Blanc)
What are the local specialties of Jura? What are the grapes they are made with?
Vin Jaune (Savagnin) and Vin de Paille (Pinot Noir)
Chateau Chalon AOP
A commune (not producer) in Jura, specializes in vin jaune, or yellow wine, oxidized, not fortified, grown on local limestone/marl, (nutty almost curried flavor - because of voile - like flor from Jerez) - labeled Arbois, L’Etoile, or Cotes du Jura
What determines the climate of Savoie?
Lake Bourget and Lake Geneva, continental climate
A blended wine with at least 50% Alsatian noble grapes
Gentil
Noble grapes of Alsace
Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurtz, Muscat
Vin Jaune
Dry, wine style
Which commune in Jura produces vin jaune?
Chateau Chalon
Which wine was once called Tokay d’Alsace?
Pinot Gris, no longer allowed to be printed on labels
