Alsace Flashcards
What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris
In addition to the noble grapes, which others may be released in varietally labeled bottlings in Alsace AOP?
Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Chasselas (Gutedel), Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir
What is the only red grape allowed in Alsace AOP?
Pinot Noir
Who bottles an Alsace Pinot Noir?
Domaine Albert Mann, Domaine Ostertag, Domaine Valentin Zusslin
What are three grand crus where Pinot Noir plantings may be found?
Vorbourg (in Rouffach), Hengst (in Wintzenheil) and Kirchberg (in Barr)
What grape may also appear in varietally labeled Pinot Blanc?
Auxerrois
If a varietally labeled bottle says “Pinot,” what grapes may it contain?
Pinots Noir, Blanc, or Gris; Auxerrois
Which three types of Muscat may be planted in Alsace?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains or Muscat Ottonel
Which grapes may appear in Cremant d’Alsace blanc?
Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and/or Chardonnay
Which grapes may appear in Cremant d’Alsace rose?
100% Pinot Noir
What is the term for a (often inexpensive) blend?
Edelzwicker
What is the term for a blend with at least 50% noble grapes?
Gentil
Name a prominent producer who is an advocate for field blends? Name a grand cru site that he works with.
Marcel Deiss. Mambourg, Altenberg de Bergheim, or Schoenenbourg.
What was the first Alsace grand cru, and when was it designated?
Schlossberg; 1975
What was the 51st (and last) granc cru of Alsace, and when was it designated?
Kaefferkopf, 2007
Which grand cru sites allow blends?
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf
Which grand cru allows varietal Sylvaner bottlings?
Zotzenberg
Kaefferkopf Grand cru blends must be based on which grape?
60-80% Gewurztraminer (10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat)
Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim AOP blends must be based on which grape?
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)
What is the largest grand cru in Alsace, and what prominent producers bottle it?
Schlossberg - 80 ha; Domaine Weinbach, Bott Geyl, Albert Mann, Paul Blanck, and others
What is the smallest grand cru in Alsace, and who bottles it?
Kanzlerberg - 3 ha; Gustave Lorentz, Sylvie Spielmann
What are two designations for late harvest wine in Alsace?
Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles
Characterize Sélection de Grains Nobles wines
Sélection de Grains Nobles are generally picked in tries, and suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis.
Characterize Vendanges Tardives wines
Vendanges Tardives may show botrytis character but emphasizes varietal purity. Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage
VT minimum must weights -
235 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling, and 257 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.
SGN minimum must weights -
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
What is the only Alsace appellation to allow Chardonnay?
Cremant d’Alsace
What are the two AOPs of neighboring Lorraine?
Côtes de Toul AOP and Moselle AOP
What is the climate of Alsace?
continental
What grand cru contains Clos St. Hune?
Rosacker
In earlier years, what were allowed synonyms for Pinot Gris?
Tokay d’Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris
What is the main soil type in Rosacker grand cru?
Dolomitic Limestone
As of what year must Alsace Riesling be dry in style?
2008
Alsace is divided into which two départements?
Haut-Rhin and Bas- Rhin
When did Alsace first achieve AOC status?
1962—the last major French winemaking region to do so
Name the major cities in Alsace (N-S)
Strasbourg, Ribeauville, Colmar
Which department contains 2/3 of the grand cru vineyards?
Haut-Rhin
What is the prominent mountain range affecting the climate in Alsace?
Vosges mountains
What is Trimbach’s high end Gewurztraminer bottling?
Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre
What is Trimbach’s high end Riesling from the Geisberg and Osterberg grand crus?
Cuvée Frédéric Emile
What are some classic dishes of Alsace cuisine?
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
What fruits are commonly made into eaux de vie?
Mirabelle, Poire, Kirsch, Framboise
Who are generally the top quality eau de vie makers? (three m’s)
Mette, Miclo and Massenez
What are some recent CHALLENGING vintages for Alsace?
2013, 2014
What are some recent GREAT vintages for Alsace?
2000, 2007, 2008, 2009 (also 1988, 1989, 1990 for older vintages)
Who produces “Schlossberg Cuvée Ste. Catherine,” and what vineyard is it from?
Domaine Weinbach
What is the southernmost of Alsace’s Grand Crus?
Rangen (has dark volcanic soils and southern exposure)
Name one important maker of Rangen grand cru.
Zind-Humbrecht (Pinot Gris Clos Saint Urbain Rangen de Thann, dry or SGN )
Name 3 famous grand crus for Alsace Muscat.
Goldert, Spiegel and Kirchberg du Bar
What is the CIVA?
Le Comité Interprofessionel des Vins d’Alsace, or Alsace vintners’ association
What is Klevener de Heiligenstein?
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.
What percentage of a varietally labeled wine in Alsace AOP must be made up of that variety?
100%
What major geologic features define Alsace’s eastern and western borders?
Rhine river (east) and Vosges mountains (west)
Who bottles Zotzenberg grand cru Sylvaner?
Domaines Boeckel, Albert Seltz
Does an Edelzwicker need to label the vintage?
No.
Outside of Alsace, where else is Chasselas (importantly) planted?
Savoie, Switzerland
Does Clos St. Hune see any oak in its vinification?
No. all stainless, and extended bottle aging before release.
From what year onward must Alsace AOP Riesling be dry?
2008
What major development occurred in Alsace regulations in 2011?
2011- the actual number of Alsace Grand Crus increased from 1 to 51 as each received their own AOP
What is one major flaw of the Grand cru system in Alsace?
No intermediary (premier cru) level - efforts have been underway for several years to change this.
What Michelin 3-star restaurant is in Alsace?
Auberge de L’Ill (N of Colmar in Haut-Rhin)
How much of Alsace’s output is from co-ops?
41.5% (significant!), from 15 co-ops
What are the important/quality co-ops?
Caves de Turckheim, Beblenheim, Ribeauvillé
What is the IGP designation for Alsace?
There is none! Everyone must produce under the AOP regulations.
What are the general minimum ABV requirements for ALsace grand cru?
Riesling and Muscat - 11%, Pinot Gris and Gewurz 12.5%
What are the two AOPs of Lorraine?
Côtes de Toul AOP and Moselle AOP
What styles/grapes are allowed in Côtes de Toul AOP?
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)
