Alsace

Question 1

What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?

Answer 1

Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris

Question 2

In addition to the noble grapes, which others may be released in varietally labeled bottlings in Alsace AOP?

Answer 2

Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Chasselas (Gutedel), Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir

Question 3

What is the only red grape allowed in Alsace AOP?

Answer 3

Pinot Noir

Question 4

Who bottles an Alsace Pinot Noir?

Answer 4

Domaine Albert Mann, Domaine Ostertag, Domaine Valentin Zusslin

Question 5

What are three grand crus where Pinot Noir plantings may be found?

Answer 5

Vorbourg (in Rouffach), Hengst (in Wintzenheil) and Kirchberg (in Barr)

Question 6

What grape may also appear in varietally labeled Pinot Blanc?

Answer 6

Auxerrois

Question 7

If a varietally labeled bottle says “Pinot,” what grapes may it contain?

Answer 7

Pinots Noir, Blanc, or Gris; Auxerrois

Question 8

Which three types of Muscat may be planted in Alsace?

Answer 8

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains or Muscat Ottonel

Question 9

Which grapes may appear in Cremant d’Alsace blanc?

Answer 9

Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and/or Chardonnay

Question 10

Which grapes may appear in Cremant d’Alsace rose?

Answer 10

100% Pinot Noir

Question 11

What is the term for a (often inexpensive) blend?

Answer 11

Edelzwicker

Question 12

What is the term for a blend with at least 50% noble grapes?

Answer 12

Gentil

Question 13

Name a prominent producer who is an advocate for field blends? Name a grand cru site that he works with.

Answer 13

Marcel Deiss. Mambourg, Altenberg de Bergheim, or Schoenenbourg.

Question 14

What was the first Alsace grand cru, and when was it designated?

Answer 14

Schlossberg; 1975

Question 15

What was the 51st (and last) granc cru of Alsace, and when was it designated?

Answer 15

Kaefferkopf, 2007

Question 16

Which grand cru sites allow blends?

Answer 16

Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf

Question 17

Which grand cru allows varietal Sylvaner bottlings?

Answer 17

Zotzenberg

Question 18

Kaefferkopf Grand cru blends must be based on which grape?

Answer 18

60-80% Gewurztraminer (10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat)

Question 19

Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim AOP blends must be based on which grape?

Answer 19

50-70% Riesling (10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, max. 10% combined Chasselas, Muscat à Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc)

Question 20

What is the largest grand cru in Alsace, and what prominent producers bottle it?

Answer 20

Schlossberg - 80 ha; Domaine Weinbach, Bott Geyl, Albert Mann, Paul Blanck, and others

Question 21

What is the smallest grand cru in Alsace, and who bottles it?

Answer 21

Kanzlerberg - 3 ha; Gustave Lorentz, Sylvie Spielmann

Question 22

What are two designations for late harvest wine in Alsace?

Answer 22

Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles

Question 23

Characterize Sélection de Grains Nobles wines

Answer 23

Sélection de Grains Nobles are generally picked in tries, and suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis.

Question 24

Characterize Vendanges Tardives wines

Answer 24

Vendanges Tardives may show botrytis character but emphasizes varietal purity. Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage

Question 25

VT minimum must weights -

Answer 25

235 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling, and 257 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.

Question 26

SGN minimum must weights -

Answer 26

276 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling and 306 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. At 306 grams per liter, these wines are amongst the highest minimum must weights in France

Question 27

What is the only Alsace appellation to allow Chardonnay?

Answer 27

Cremant d'Alsace

Question 28

What are the two AOPs of neighboring Lorraine?

Answer 28

Côtes de Toul AOP and Moselle AOP

Question 29

What is the climate of Alsace?

Answer 29

continental

Question 30

What grand cru contains Clos St. Hune?

Answer 30

Rosacker

Question 31

In earlier years, what were allowed synonyms for Pinot Gris?

Answer 31

Tokay d’Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris

Question 32

What is the main soil type in Rosacker grand cru?

Answer 32

Dolomitic Limestone

Question 33

As of what year must Alsace Riesling be dry in style?

Answer 33

2008

Question 34

Alsace is divided into which two départements?

Answer 34

Haut-Rhin and Bas- Rhin

Question 35

When did Alsace first achieve AOC status?

Answer 35

1962—the last major French winemaking region to do so

Question 36

Name the major cities in Alsace (N-S)

Answer 36

Strasbourg, Ribeauville, Colmar

Question 37

Which department contains 2/3 of the grand cru vineyards?

Answer 37

Haut-Rhin

Question 38

What is the prominent mountain range affecting the climate in Alsace?

Answer 38

Vosges mountains

Question 39

What is Trimbach's high end Gewurztraminer bottling?

Answer 39

Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre

Question 40

What is Trimbach's high end Riesling from the Geisberg and Osterberg grand crus?

Answer 40

Cuvée Frédéric Emile

Question 41

What are some classic dishes of Alsace cuisine?

Answer 41

Choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with pork and sausages), Baeckeoffe, Flammekuechle (bacon-onion tart), foie gras, coq au Riesling, Munster-Géromé and Tomme d'Alsace cheeses, spaetzle

Question 42

What fruits are commonly made into eaux de vie?

Answer 42

Mirabelle, Poire, Kirsch, Framboise

Question 43

Who are generally the top quality eau de vie makers? (three m's)

Answer 43

Mette, Miclo and Massenez

Question 44

What are some recent CHALLENGING vintages for Alsace?

Answer 44

2013, 2014

Question 45

What are some recent GREAT vintages for Alsace?

Answer 45

2000, 2007, 2008, 2009 (also 1988, 1989, 1990 for older vintages)

Question 46

Who produces "Schlossberg Cuvée Ste. Catherine," and what vineyard is it from?

Answer 46

Domaine Weinbach

Question 47

What is the southernmost of Alsace's Grand Crus?

Answer 47

Rangen (has dark volcanic soils and southern exposure)

Question 48

Name one important maker of Rangen grand cru.

Answer 48

Zind-Humbrecht (Pinot Gris Clos Saint Urbain Rangen de Thann, dry or SGN )

Question 49

Name 3 famous grand crus for Alsace Muscat.

Answer 49

Goldert, Spiegel and Kirchberg du Bar

Question 50

What is the CIVA?

Answer 50

Le Comité Interprofessionel des Vins d’Alsace, or Alsace vintners’ association

Question 51

What is Klevener de Heiligenstein?

Answer 51

Made from Savignin Rose (not to be confused with Klevner/Pinot Blanc), from the area north of Barr (100 ha among Heiligenstein and the neighboring villages of Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, and Obernai). Produced by Charles Boch and others.

Question 52

What percentage of a varietally labeled wine in Alsace AOP must be made up of that variety?

Answer 52

100%

Question 53

What major geologic features define Alsace's eastern and western borders?

Answer 53

Rhine river (east) and Vosges mountains (west)

Question 54

Who bottles Zotzenberg grand cru Sylvaner?

Answer 54

Domaines Boeckel, Albert Seltz

Question 55

Does an Edelzwicker need to label the vintage?

Answer 55

No.

Question 56

Outside of Alsace, where else is Chasselas (importantly) planted?

Answer 56

Savoie, Switzerland

Question 57

Does Clos St. Hune see any oak in its vinification?

Answer 57

No. all stainless, and extended bottle aging before release.

Question 58

From what year onward must Alsace AOP Riesling be dry?

Answer 58

2008

Question 59

What major development occurred in Alsace regulations in 2011?

Answer 59

2011- the actual number of Alsace Grand Crus increased from 1 to 51 as each received their own AOP

Question 60

What is one major flaw of the Grand cru system in Alsace?

Answer 60

No intermediary (premier cru) level - efforts have been underway for several years to change this.

Question 61

What Michelin 3-star restaurant is in Alsace?

Answer 61

Auberge de L'Ill (N of Colmar in Haut-Rhin)

Question 62

How much of Alsace's output is from co-ops?

Answer 62

41.5% (significant!), from 15 co-ops

Question 63

What are the important/quality co-ops?

Answer 63

Caves de Turckheim, Beblenheim, Ribeauvillé

Question 64

What is the IGP designation for Alsace?

Answer 64

There is none! Everyone must produce under the AOP regulations.

Question 65

What are the general minimum ABV requirements for ALsace grand cru?

Answer 65

Riesling and Muscat - 11%, Pinot Gris and Gewurz 12.5%

Question 66

What are the two AOPs of Lorraine?

Answer 66

Côtes de Toul AOP and Moselle AOP

Question 67

What styles/grapes are allowed in Côtes de Toul AOP?

Answer 67

Blanc(Auxerrois and Aubin); Vin Gris (Max. 85% Gamay, min. 10% Pinot Noir - both must be present; Accessory Varieties: Max. 15% combined Pinot Meunier, Aubin, and Auxerrois); Rouge (100% Pinot Noir)