Alsace Flashcards
What is the name of the mountain range in Alsace and what does it provide?
Vosges Mountains shelters vineyards from the westerly, rain bearing winds and the lack of clouds results in sunny summers and dry autumns.
What are the three secondary white varietals in Alsace?
Pinot Blanc (widely used for sparkling wine)
Auxerrois
Sylvaner
Describe the best wines made from Muscat in Alsace.
Made from Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains, these wines are intenslly aromatic with flavors of orange blossom, rose and grape. They tend to have a light to medium body and low to medium acidity.
Describe Gewurztraminer from Alsace.
- Pungent spicy nose, reminiscent of lychees, roses and sweet baking spices.
- Light pink tinge on grape skin, giving golden colour to some of the wines.
- Full bodied w/ oily texture
- low to medium acidity
- high alcohol. 14%+ not uncommon
Name two label statements that producers use to distinguish the quality of their wine, but have no legal status.
Reserve personnelle
Cuvee speciale
Describe Pinot Gris from Alsace.
- Full bodied
- High alcohol
- Higher acid than Gewurz, but less aromatic
- Dried fruit and honeyed characteristic
What are the four noble varieties in Alsace?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat
If a grape variety is featured on the label in Alsace, what percentage of the grapes used must be from the named variety?
100%
What are the two varieties of Muscat in Alsace? Which is planted more heavily and why?
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel
Muscat Ottonel, because it can be relied on to crop more regularly.
Muscat BaPG is prone to poor fruit set and rot.
Describe Riesling from Alsace.
- Medium to Full bodied
- dry with medium alcohol
- high acidity
- citrus, stone fruit, stony/steely
- Many wines now being made with RS
- Typically less floral than their German counterparts
Describe Vendanges Tardive (VT).
Means Late Harvest. Can only be made from one of the four Noble varieties and must have a specific minimum sugar ripeness depending on varietal. The best wines will have undergone passerillage, and there may be some influence of noble rot.
What is the climate of Alsace?
cool to moderate continental
Describe Selection de Grain (SGN)
Can only be made from one of the four Noble varieties and must have a specific minimum sugar ripeness depending on varietal.
Ripeness levels are set higher than VT and are usually acheived with noble rot. These wines are not produced every year and only ever in small quantities.
Describe the red wine of Alsace.
Made from Pinot Noir, these typically lack the weight and concentration of Burgundian styles and are best as a light fruity red or rose.
What are the rules in Alsace Grand Cru?
- must be produced from a single noble grape variety
- name of vineyard, vintage and where appropriate, the varietal must be labelled.
