Alsace Flashcards
T or F? Riesling is indigenous to France.
False. Riesling is indigenous to Germany (the Rhine Valley)
Klevner or Pinot Vrai is more commonly known as . . .
. . . Pinot Blanc.
T or F? Chaptalization is common in Alsace
False. The technique is disappearing as a result of global warming.
T or F? Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim may be blended.
True. But if blended it must be 50 percent Riesling.
T or F? Alsace is the most northerly wine region in France.
False. Champagne is slightly farther to the north than Alsace
A former name for Pinot Gris is . . .
. . . Tokay d’Alsace
In which direction do the best slopes in Alsace face?
South/southeast
T or F? Grapes for the Alsace AOC can be sourced from any part of Alsace
True.
T or F? A wine labeled “Alsace AOC” can be still or sparkling.
False. Sparkling wines are labeled “Crémant d’Alsace”. They are a separate appellation.
What are the aging requirements of Crémant d’Alsace?
Nine months sur lie, plus 3 months in the cellar (12 months total)
Auxerrois Blanc is a cross between . . .
. . . Gouais Blanc and Pinot
T or F? Alsace is one of only two regions in France where Riesling is permitted.
True. Riesling has only recently been permitted in Languedoc.
T or F? The AOC-approved yields for Alsace are the highest in France.
True. They are generally 80 hl/ha for whites.
T or F? As a result of global climate change, Pinot Noir is becoming harder to grow in Alsace.
False. Pinot Noir is becoming easier to grow and darker in color.
T or F? Sylvaner is permitted in Alsace Grand Cru wines.
True. But only in one vineyard, Zotzenberg.
Grand Cru Kaefferkopf, when bottled as a blend, must contain a majority of which grape?
Gewurztraminer.
“Tokay d’Alsace” is a former name for . . .
. . . Pinot Gris. “Tokay d’Alsace” is no longer permitted under EU law.
What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener?
Klevner is Pinot Blanc, a genetic mutation of Pinot Gris. Klevener is Savagnin Rose, a secondary grape in Alsace.
What are the two Muscats grown in Alsace?
Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc and Muscat Ottonel. (Muscat à Petits Grains is considered higher quality.)
T or F? Crémant d’Alsace is primarily made from Chardonnay.
False. Crémant d’Alsace is mostly Pinot Blanc, but Chardonnay can be used as well.
T or F? A wine labeled “Sélections de Grains Nobles” must be made from grapes affected by botrytis.
True. This is a requirement.
On which bottles of Alsace wine is vintage labeling optional?
Edelzwicker
What are the seven primary grape varieties in Alsace?
Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Muscat
What type of bottle is commonly used for wines in both Germany and Alsace?
The “flute”, a long-tapered bottle.
What is the AOC for sparkling wine in Alsace?
Crémant d’Alsace AOC
What are the four secondary white grapes of Alsace?
Chardonnay, Chasselas, Klevener (Savagnin Rose), Auxerrois Blanc
T or F? In Alsace, Grand Cru wines may be red or white.
False. Grand Crus are white only.
What red grape is permitted in Alsace?
Pinot Noir
What are the four noble white varieties in Alsace?
Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
What is a “graben”?
A grave-like trench caused by geologic uplift, then collapse on parallel fault lines. In Alsace, the faulting was followed by erosion, creating a complex network of soil.
What percentage of Alsace wine is white?
90 percent
Savagnin Rose is also known as . . .
. . . Klevener (not to be confused with Klevner).
What are the four permitted grapes in Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer
What are four German influences on Alsace wines?
Varietal labeling, flute bottle, Riesling and German phonics
What is the most widely-planted grape in Alsace?
Riesling
T or F? Grass may be planted between rows of vines to increase grape yields.
False. Grass is planted to decrease yields (because grass competes with the vines for nutrients).
T or F? Wines in Alsace may be designated AOC, IGP or Vin sans IG.
False. All wines in Alsace are AOC. in 2011, the number of AOCs expanded from 3 to 53!
In an effort to combat phylloxera in Alsace, in the late nineteenth century vignerons were encouraged to . . .
. . . plant high-yield, low-quality hybrids that could resist the pest.
Klevener (not to be confused with Klevner) is also known as . . .
. . . Savagnin Rose
What is the effect of the Vosges Mountains on vineyards in Alsace?
The Vosges provide a rain shadow that ensures mainly sunny and dry growing conditions.
The Sylvaner grape, although grown in Alsace, is believed to be native to . . .
. . . Austria
What is the climate in Alsace?
Continental, with large seasonal and diurnal temperature swings
In which century did Alsace reach its peak of prosperity?
The sixteenth (Late Renaissance).
Zotzenberg is an exceptional Grand Cru vineyard because . .
. . Sylvaner is permitted here.
What is the impact of global climate change on the dryness of Alsace wines?
Sugar levels are rising and more off-dry wines are being produced.
T or F? It is common for Alsace wine to be aged in new oak and undergo malolactic fermentation.
False. Neither practice is common in Alsace.
T or F? In Alsace, Chardonnay is used mainly as a component of a blend.
True. Chardonnay is used in Crémant d’Alsace
T or F? Machine harvesting is common in Alsace.
False. Most vineyards are hand-harvested.
T or F? A wine labeled “Vendages Tardives” must be affected by noble rot.
False. Noble rot is not a requirement for late harvest wines.
T or F? Alsace became a part of Germany in 1871.
True. It was annexed after the Franco-Prussian War.
What is Gentil?
A blend in Alsace that must contain 50 percent “noble” white varieties.
T or F? There are 13 soil types in Alsace.
True. The soil in Alsace is quite complex, owing to millions of years of geologic faulting and erosion.
T or F? Edelwicker may be a blend of any white grapes approved for Alsace AOC wine
True.
Alsace- History
- Ancient vines, grow wild (Rhine River Valley), remains cultivated them, first wines shipped as early as 2AD
- Romans used area as quite fertile, invasion by German tribes (5th Century)= pause in viti practices
By 9th Century- Alsace
160 wine producing villages in Alsace
16th Century- Alsace
Peak of fame, West German Principality
1618- 1648- Alsace
Thirty year war (Catholics and Prodestants, Germans). A plague took place after this.
17th Century- Alsace
France prospered, annexed France. Louis the XIV, and grants, to these that settled in Alsace. Alsace thrives again.
1789- Alsace
French Revolution. Churches no longer own v/yards. Napolonic Wars cause a tug of war (Germany/ France) for control of Alsace.
1781- Alsace
Alsace back to Germany (End of Franco- Prussian War). Planted with high yielding, low-quality hybrid vines.
End of WW1- Alsace
Back to Alsace. French government ordered vignerons to pull out hybrids. Great depression at the time, many growers couldn’t comply.
WW2- Alsace
German occupation, all ties to France banned. Businesses renamed Hugel et Fils (became Huge und Sohne)
1941- Alsace
30% of all v’yards still hybrids, Germans ban these as they don’t produce quality wines.
1945- Alsace
Back to France
1949- France
Decree to remove all hybrids. If any found in a commune whole area lost AOC. For vignerons upsetting for short term, but beneficial in the end. Had no choice to plant better.
German Legacy- Alsace
- Both French and German words on labels
- Long tapered flute bottle traditional to both Alsace and Germany
Germanic Tradition:
- Varietal labelled bottles (also in Alsace)
- Was the only region that could use variety and grow riesling. Now languedoc Roussillon also does both.
Location and Climate- Alsace
- NthEst corner of France (along German border)
- Only Champagne is more north
- Nth to Sth slender strip of land (75 miles/ 120 km), 3m lies/ 5.8 kms wide (avg)
Area under vine: 53,000 acres/ 21,200 ha
47th and 49th Parallel Nth- near limit, can achieve ripeness due to increasing climate.
Continental Climate- Alsace
Summers= hot, Winters= cold, considerable seasonal and duirnal temp change. Cool night help with acid and fruit flavours.
- Protected from Pacific by Vouges Mountains (blocks some rain laden clouds) this creates a rain shadow. Alsace receives lowest rainfall in France
- This also makes Alsace so hot and sunny (1800 hrs of sunshine a year)
- Most v/yards in slopes (alt 660- 1320 ft/ 198- 396 m), face sth/ sthest to capture optimal sunlight and maximum warmth
Through the Seasons- Alsace
Spring:
Mild, accompanied by frosts, reduce potential crop. Vines on plains trained high because of frost.
Summer:
Warm/ Dry/ Sunny/ Sporadic T/Storms. Drought can affect in some yrs. v/ yards on the slope trained slightly closer to the ground to maximise heat and reflected sunlight. Weather patterns can vary from different parts of the region.
Autumns:
Humidity. Noble rot may develop. Mold desiccates the grape/ concentrates the sugars. T/ Storms and hail a chance.
Winter:
Cold. True dormancy. Riesling can degenerate if it does not undergo this period.
Rhine Graben- Geology/ Typography of Alsace
Zigzags across Europe, the Mediterranean to Nth Sea.
Grave like trench, vertical uplifts (this example has Alsace on one side/ Baden, Germany, other side). This trough is caused by plains falling along parallel fault lines. Very much like the rising and falling of a soufflé, but instead of heat, pressure creates the formation.
A. Paleozoic Era (542- 251 million years ago)
300 million yes ago, pressure caused an up thrust of cooling magma. This solidifies into igneous rock.
B. Mesozoic Era (251- 65 million years ago):
159 mya, last two phases of Mesozoic as the Jurassic transitioned into Cretaceous time, Alsace covered by inland sea. Igneous rock eroded, covered by sedimentary deposits.
C. Cenozoic Era (65 mya- Present):
Phase 1: 50 mya, Cenozoic Era; mammals came to dominate, upheaval and buckling of land forms as the Afro- Arabian and Euro- Asian coastal plates. A great dome of earth rose in Alsace, then fell along parallel fault lines.
Phase 2: WST of the graben, not a clean break, multiple fractures, fault bundles, that developed cross faults. Exposed many different soils from epochs (these made the Vouges Mountains). This means 300 million years of different rock types. Best soils found on the slopes, rich, fertile, deep soils can be found at the base of the slopes.
Soils of Alsace
- Diversity of soils, reason for diversity of grape varieties
- 13 major soil types including: volcanic elements, granite, gneiss, schist, sandstone, limestone, marl, sand, loess, loam or a combo of one or more
Seven Grapes of Alsace
- Most regions it is about producer and region on Alsatian labels producer, region, variety
- 6 White, 1 Red
Primary:
Riesling, Pinot Blanc (Pinot Vrai or Klevener)- Cremant, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc (15th Century), Muscat Ottenel (19th Century)
Secondary;
Chardonnay (Cremant Production), Chasselas, Auxerois Blanc, Klevener De Heiligenstein
**Klevener (P/ Blanc) and Klevener (Savigin Blanc) are two distinct varieties
Varietal Wines- Alsace
- 80% of Production
- If a Varietal is listed 100% must be contained
- Some wines such as Edelzwicker and Gentil are blends. Pinot Blanc and Pinot d’Alsace can be blends but aren’t always
- Wines labelled Pinot Blanc/ Klevener can be 100% Pinot Blanc or 100% Auxerrois Blanc or blend of both.
- Pinot d’Alsace can contain; Auxerois Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir (vinified as a white wine) and Pinot Gris. No maximums or minimums. By law “Pinot d’Alsace” can be made up of 100% of any of these grape, but usually a blend
Blended Wines- Alsace
- Gentil must contain 50% of ‘noble’ grapes namely Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and/ or Gewurztraminer. Balance of the blend can be comprised of lesser grapes such as Sylvaner, Chasselas, and/ or Pinot Blanc.
- Each Variety must be vinified separately
- Finished product must be approved by a tasting panel approval and the vintage must appear on the label.
Edelzwicker- Alsace
- Blend of any of the white grapes approved for Alsace AOC. Grapes vinified together or separately and vintage is optional. Neither a Gentil or Edelzwicker are independent AOCs, categories within the Alsace AOC.
- Jean- Michel Deiss, co plants varieities, picks and ferments them together, then labels the Wines after the vineyard in which they are grown. Wines of terroir (field blends)
- Cremant is blended
- 20% of production
Wine Industry Overview- Alsace
- 4,400 growers, 1,200 producers in Alsace (900 estates, 19 Co- ops, 73 négociants). 80% of production is carried out by 175 producers.
- Most of the large companies are still family owned and operated, Trimbach represents 33% of Alsace in America.
- Most growers produce 6- 8 Wines a year. Large producers double that.
- 90% of production is white, balance is Red/ rose. 75% of Alsace’s total production is consumed in France, balance is exported
Dry Wine- Alsace
- Fermented to dryness. From fruity to mineral. Used to lack r/s.
- Global Warming has lead to high sugar (no need to chaptalise now). Resulted in complete ferments. Producers now leave a little r/s.
- Now non- desert Wines with some r/s
- As of 2008 vintage, Riesling given a maximum R.S level of 0.9% (9 g/L) doesn’t work for Grand Cru/ Sweet/ Desert/ Vendages Tardives/ Sélection de Grains Nobles
- Stainless/ Large Oak formats
- Due to natural coolness, casks, ferment at temp control
- No new oak or MLF
- Long ferments and sur lié (âge worthy Wines)
- Red wine (Alsaces northerly Location/ made it traditionally difficult to achieve good pigment development in Pinot Noir. Most P/ Noir from Alsace been almost Red
- With warm temps deeper pigment. This means producers reduce yield to maximise phenolic maturity and achieve more saturated colour.
Sparkling, Crèment D’Alsace- Alsace
- Crèment d’Alsace, crafted according to methode trad, one of the most popular sparkling, AOC Wines consumed within France, on the rise. So are v/yards planted to Pinot Blanc
- 500 producers, back to the 19th Century
- Grapes had picked, white Varietals, whole cluster pressed. Roses from P/ Noir made either through saignée or Maceration. 9mths on sur lie (on the Lees, in bottle after the 2nd ferment), not released less than 1 yr after the triage/ bottling
- 100% Chard, 100% Pinot Gris and 100% Riesling bottlings as well as Blanc De Noir bottlings (100% P/ Noir). But most a blend of P/ Blanc, Chard, Auxerois, Riesling, Pinot Gris/ Pinot Noir. Gewurz not allowed.
Alsace Crèment Sweetness Designations
Extra Brut; no dosage Brut; <1.2% RS Extra Sec (Extra Dry); 1.2- 1.7% RS Sec (Dry); 1.7- 3.2% RS Demi- Sec; 3.2- 5% RS
Vendanges Tardives (Sweet Wines/ Desert)- Alsace
Late harvest Wines made from Riesling, P/ Gris, Muscat or Gewurztraminer. Contains r/s. Picked late into the season when berries are over ripe. Sometimes noble rot, not mandatory. Ferment terminates naturally when yeast die, leaving r/s. Needs acid to balance out its high sugar level.
Selection De Grains Nobles (Sweet Wines/ Desert)- Alsace
Late harvest Wines made from Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer affected by noble rot (requirement for this. Hand picked, berry by berry, multiple passes, in the v/ yard).
Appellations of Alsace
- Written in 1945, offical implémentations of this AOC was 1962.
- Grand Cru first received AOC status in 1975
- Crèment d’Alsace given its AOC status in 1976 (AOC status made available in 1936)
- 2011 Alsace AOC given two sub categories: communal and lieux- dit. Plus 51 G/C given an AOC. Total number of AOCs 53. No IGP or Vin Sans IG in Alsace
Alsace AOC
- Grapes can hail from any v/yard, many producers Estate bottle
- Co- operatives (lots of) can source from any v/yard
- Can be white, red or rose, dry/ Sweet, blend or Varietal and may boast a village/ single v/yard designation/ special cuvée on the label
Alsace Comunal AOC (sub category not independent AOC)
- Wines of heightened character
- Quality standards are higher and communes can be added to the label
13 Communes recognised:
- Bergheim
- Blienschwiler
- Coteaux Du Haut Koenigsbourg
- Cotes De Rouffach
- Cotes De Barr
- Klevener De Heiligenstein
- Wolxheim
- Ottrott
- Rodern
- Scherwiller
- St Hippolyte
- Vallee Noble
- Val St- Grégoire
Alsace Lieu- Dit AOC (sub category and not an independent AOC)
- Lieu Dit status is achieved when special plots of land are featured and special production methods are adhered to (grape varieties, vine spacing, density, pruning methods, treilising, grape maturity levels, restricted yields)
- Vendanges Tardives and Selection De Grains Nobles can be Alsace AOC (and communal/ Lieu dit). VT and SGN not AOCs in own right)
Alsace Grand Cru AOC
- Special sites with soil type, grape variety, sun exposure
- vineyard ranked not the producer, many producers from one Grand Cru vineyard
- 4% of Production
- White wine only (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat or Gewurztraminer)
- Sylvaner is only permitted for Zotzenberg (but can include Gewurz, Riesling or Pinot Gris)
- Wines can be sweet/ dry. A special cuvée can appear on the label
- Most are single variety v/ yards but there are two exceptions: Altenberg De Bergheim and Kaefferkopf
Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg De Bergheim
- Can be single Varietal (R/G/PG) or a blend
- If a blend must be a mixture of at least 50% Riesling (max 70%) plus a min of 10% and a max of 25% Gewurz and/ or Pinot Gris (No more than 10% Chasselas, Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc, Muscat Ottenel, P/ Blanc, P/ Noir If vines planted before 2005)
Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf
- Can be single Varietal, Pinot Gris, Riesling) or a blend
- If a blend, must contain 60- 80% Gewurztraminer, 10- 40% Riesling no more than 30% Pinot Gris, Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc, Muscat a Petit Grains Rose and Muscat Ottenel (together) may contribute no more than 10% of the blend
Crèment d’Alsace AOC
Méthode Traditionnelle
- Pinot Blanc (mainly) but Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Auxerois, P/ Noir,
- Most are a blended cuvée, but single Varietal. Plus Rose are made exclusively from Pinot Noir
Viticulture- Alsace
- Lots of organic/ biodynamic practitioners (Provence and L- R, leader in organics)
- Region supports natural fertiliser. The collective fertiliser is 50% cow manure, 33% horse manure, 7% sheep manure, 7% pommace, the rest is vine clippings
- Plowing is common, meaning roots grow deeper into minerals. Plus less susceptible to taking on too much water
- Grass is grown between rows, prevents loss of topsoils thru erosions also results in lower yields due to competition for water/ minerals. Grass also absorbs humidity and fungal disease
- vignerons d’Alsace sets picking dates, but this can be made different under written exceptions
- Due to different soils and Vosges Mountains, it is hard to pick a uniform harvest date
Harvest- Alsace
- Starts on September=> to November. The length of harvest varies by grape variety, soil type and wines being made.
- Most v/ yards and GC v/ yards are hand harvested, but on the planes are machine harvested
- The allowable yields are much above the rest of Alsace
Drinking Wines from Alsace
- Most wine designed for consumption 6 mths- 5 yrs
- Riesling is the longest lived. As it Ages Riesling loses fruit and gains more pine nut tones
- The higher the quality of the wine the more closer to room temperature the wine should be.
Cremant d’Alsace may legally be made from all approved AOC grapes except Riesling?
False
When did the wines of Alsace hit their apogee?
Renaissance
What are the late harvest desert wines of Alsace?
Selection de Grains Nobles, Vendages Tardives
The Alsace Communal AOC is a sub- category of Alsace AOC and not an independent AOC
True
What wine label terms could denotes a blended product? Alsace
Edelzwicker
Gentil
Pinot Blanc
Crement d’ Alsace
There are no specific and stringent rules regarding residual sugar in Alsace for all grape varieties and all categories of wine?
False
Which of the traditional grapes of Alsace is not indigenous to France?
Riesling
On an Alsatian bottle what can mean a blended product?
Pinot Blanc
Edelzwicker
Gentil
Crement d’Alsace
Vendanges Tardives may or may not be affected by noble rot?
True
Which two Alsace Grand Crus can be blends?
Kaefferkopf
Altenberg de Bergheim
