Alsace 6

Question 1

Translation of butte raisonee

Answer 1

sustainable viticulture

Question 2

what is biodynamic agriculture

Answer 2

Rudolf Steiner in 1924
spiritual and ecological approach to growing things
wholistic approach to earth
organic farming
Demeter
BiodyVin
preparations - 3 spray and 6 compost (horn, camomile, yarrow, silcia)
sun and moon cycles
no GMO
documentation

Question 3

why are stems kept on or removed from grape bunched for pressing

Answer 3

in a press they act as channels for must to flow quickly (important wine you do not wish for pigment)

stems absorb sugar and acid

Green stems can impart bitterness and astringency, while brown stems can impact spice

Question 4

what often causes a fermentation to get “stuck”

Answer 4

grey rot
chemical residue
hi temperature - kills yeast
cool temperature - stops and then yeast racked off

Question 5

what is sterile filtration

Answer 5

removing small bacteria (centrifuging, filtering or fining) but can remove desirable aroma and flavours

Question 6

three methods to extract colour and tannins

Answer 6

Punch down - Pigeage
Remontage - Pump over
Delestage - rack and return - the more alcohol the more extract (acts as a solvent)

Question 7

how is heat stabilization achieved

Answer 7

through fining

Question 8

name two factors used when assessing the quality of a certain grape in a particular vintage

Answer 8

1. ripening cycle - late or early
2. skin thickness - resistance to rot

Vintage chart not accurate indicator of quality
Vintage chart are guides only for exceptional years
Average year best ranked by by grape and terrior

Question 9

name 4 grapes with thin skin

Answer 9

PG, A, Chasselas, PN, PB

Question 10

name 4 grapes with thick skin

Answer 10

R, M G, S

Question 11

Where are Clos Gaensbroennel (Willm) Clos Zisser (Dom. Klipfel) located?

Answer 11

Kirschberg de Barr Grand Cru

Calcarious Marl

Question 12

Which Grand Cru are dominated by Granite as the principal soil type?

Answer 12

Brand (black and white mica)
Sommerberg (black and white mica)
Wineck-Schlossberg (black and white mica)
Winzenberg
Frankstein 

heat retaining, fast draining

Question 13

Exceptions to the Dry Riesling rule

Answer 13

If labeled by a lieu-dit or Grand Cru

Also VT and SGN

Question 14

what percentage of Alsace white wine represents total production of French still white wine

Answer 14

18% - big percentage given Alsace is one smallest wine regions (Jura, Savoie)

Question 15

what is the Alsace production by volume

Answer 15

4% Grand Cru
22% Cremant
73% AOC Alsace

Question 16

what percentage of Alsace wine exported

Answer 16

25%

Question 17

what percentage of Alsace wine is consumed in France

Answer 17

75%

Question 18

what percentage of Alsace wine is blended

Answer 18

20%

Question 19

what does Marcel Deiss call field blends

Answer 19

“wines of terrior” - coplants, picks and ferments and labels them after the vineyard.

Question 20

the name of France’s first biodynamic estate

Answer 20

Eugene Meyer

Question 21

why is there no uniform harvest date in Alsace

Answer 21

every site receives a different amount of sunlight, the soils are diverse and some retain heat, reflect sunlight - heat and light impact ripening

Question 22

what are the Vosges Mountains comprised of

Answer 22

granite - south

sandstone - north

Question 23

what producer is known for making a dry reisling

Answer 23

Trimbach

Zind - Humbrech

Question 24

what is the smallest Cremant producer

Answer 24

Cave de Pfaffenheim

Question 25

name of the large coop in Alsace

Answer 25

Wolfberger

Question 26

largest independent grower in Alsace

Answer 26

Domain Schlumberger

Question 27

who are the holy trinity of Alsace wine makers

Answer 27

Domain Marel Deiss - Bergheim
Domain Weinbach - Kayserberg
Domain Zind Humbrech - Turckheim

Question 28

does Marcel Deiss make good VD and SGN wines

Answer 28

nope