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WSET dip Old World > Alsace > Flashcards

Alsace Flashcards

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1
Q

When were hybrid vines banned in Alsace?

A

1925

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2
Q

When was AC legislation adopted in Alsace?

A

1962

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3
Q

When was bottling in area of production using the Alsace flute bottle made law?

A

1972

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4
Q

How many high volume producers are there in Alsace and what percentage of production are they responsible for?

A

200; 90%.

The 20 biggest négociants and co-operatives produce 60% of total production.

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5
Q

What is the size of vineyard area in Alsace?

A

15,500 ha

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6
Q

What percentage of sales in Alsace are by cooperatives?

A

40%

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7
Q

What percentage of wine produced in Alsace is exported beyond France?

A

30%

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8
Q

What are the two ACs for still wine in Alsace?

A

Alsace AC

Alsace Grand Cru AC

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9
Q

What do you often find on an Alsace label which does not have any legal status?

A

Cuvée Spéciale, or

Reserve Personelle

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10
Q

What percentage of total production is Vin d’Alsace AC?

A

80%

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11
Q

If a grape variety is stated on an Alsace bottle what percentage must it contain?

A

100%

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12
Q

What is the maximum yield for white Alsace AC?

A

80hl/ha

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13
Q

What is the maximum yield for Pinot Noir Alsace AC?

A

75hl/ha

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14
Q

How many vineyards in Alsace qualify for Grand Cru status?

A

51

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15
Q

Give details of Alsace Grand Cru.

A
  • individual vineyards
  • 51 in total
  • 100 % single varietals from Riesling, Muscat, Gewurtztraminer, or Pinot Gris
  • 2 vineyards are allowed blends and 1 allowed 100% Sylvaner
  • grapes must be hand-picked
  • maximum yields lower than Alsace AC (55hl or less)
  • new plantings in Grand Cru areas must exceed 4,500 vines per hectare and be pruned to 8 - 19 buds per square metre
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16
Q

Which are the Alsace Grand Cru vineyards where a blend is allowed?

A

Altenberg de Bergheim

Kaefferkopf

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17
Q

Explain vendange tardive in Alsace.

A

Late harvest from the 4 noble varieties

  • must be 100% single variety
  • grapes must have 14% potential alcohol for Riesling and Muscat, 15.3% for Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer
  • chaptalisation
  • finished wine ranges from dry to substantial amounts of residual sugar
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18
Q

What are the 4 noble varieties of Alsace?

A

Riesling
Muscat
Gewürtztraminer
Pinot Gris

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19
Q

Explain Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN).

A
  • selection of nobly rotted grapes
  • 100% single varietals
  • one of the 4 noble varieties
  • must have some botrytis
  • potential alcohol level of 16.4% for Riesling and Muscat
  • potential alcohol level of 18.2% for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
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20
Q

Location of Alsace

A
  • next to Rhine
  • in rain shadow of the Vosges mountains
  • 140 km long
  • Haut-Rhin in south, Bas-Rhin in north
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21
Q

Climate in Alsace.

A
  • dry
  • sheltered by Vosges mountains
  • 1800 plus hours of sunshine
  • hot summers and long dry autumns
  • summer hail occasionally
  • warm mesoclimate near Colmar gives daily temperature1 degree C higher than Alsace average
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22
Q

Soil in Alsace.

A
  • best vineyards on east facing slopes; lesser ones on the plains
  • great variety of soil types
  • upper slopes have thin soils
  • lower slopes have deeper top soils
  • 3 main types of soil affect wine style:
    1. heavier clay and marl/ wine with broad flavour and weight.
    2. lighter limestone or sand / wine of elegance and finesse.
    3. flint and schist/ wines with flinty aromas.
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23
Q

What are the three main soil types in Alsace and what type of wine do they result in?

A
  1. heavier clay and marl/ wine with broad flavour and weight.
  2. lighter limestone or sand / wine of elegance and finesse.
  3. flint and schist/ wines with flinty aromas.
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24
Q

What percentage of plantings in Alsace are Riesling?

A

25%.

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25
Q

Describe typical Riesling in Alsace.

A
  • strong fruit character
  • full nose
  • high acidity
  • typical alcohol of 11.5 to 12.5 %
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26
Q

What are the merits of the Riesling grape in Alsace?

A
  • hardy
  • suitable for late harvest
  • granite and schist most suitable soils
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27
Q

Where are the best vineyards for Riesling in Alsace?

A

Around towns of Wolxheim, Dambach-la-ville and Scherwiller.

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28
Q

What does Gewürz mean?

A

It is German for spice.

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29
Q

Describe Gewürztraminer as it is in Alsace.

A
  • aromatic
  • spicy nose of lychees and rose water
  • low acidity and high alcohol common
  • planted on deep marl soils in Vosges foothills
  • light pink skin colour gives rise to golden colour of some wines
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30
Q

What percentage of Alsace planting is Gewürtztraminer?

A

20%

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31
Q

Where is the best Gewürtztraminer found in Alsace?

A

Around Barr; also:

  • Bergheim
  • Eguisheim
  • Kayserberg
  • Kientzheim
  • Turckheim
  • Pfaffenheim
32
Q

What did Pinot Gris in Alsace used to be known as?

A

Tokay d’Alsace.

33
Q

Describe style of Pinot Gris produced in Alsace.

A
  • rich and alcoholic
  • less aromatic nose but luscious and full of flavour on the palate
  • fresh and dried fruits and a honeyed character
  • balancing acidity
34
Q

What are the difficulties with Pinot Gris in Alsace?

A
  • variable yield

- prone to difficulties with fruit set

35
Q

On what sort of soil does Pinot Gris grow best in Alsace?

A

Deep soils rich in clay and fine particles of volcanic rock.

36
Q

Where does best Pinot Gris come from in Alsace?

A

Near Obernai and in extreme north at Cleebourg.

37
Q

What percentage of planting in Alsace is Muscat?

A

3%.

38
Q

Why is there lots of biodynamic and organic wine production in Alsace?

A

Because it is very dry.

39
Q

What percentage of vineyards in Alsace are organic?

A

About 15%.

40
Q

Which is the most widely planted Muscat in Alsace?

A

Muscat Ottonel.

41
Q

Compare the two Muscat grapes planted in Alsace.

A

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains produces beter quality, but Muscat Ottonel more reliable and more widely planted.

42
Q

What is the character of an Alsace Muscat?

A
  • dry
  • distinctive grape nose
  • musky palate
43
Q

What soil in Alsace does Muscat like?

A

calcareous or sandy

44
Q

What percentage of plantings in Alsace is Pinot Blanc?

A

20 % and increasing.

45
Q

Describe Pinot Blanc in Alsace.

A
  • early ripening
  • likes light, fertile soils
  • used for sparkling and still wines
46
Q

Talk about Sylvaner in Alsace.

A
  • once widely planted
  • now found mainly in Bas-Rhin
  • producing high-yielding, low alcohol (10.5-11.5), neutral wine on deep sandy, or chalk soils
  • grows best in Barr, Mittel Bergheim, Epfig, and Dambach-la-ville
47
Q

What are the two styles of Pinot Noir made in Alsace?

A

fruity rosé
barrel-aged with body and colour

also used for Crémant Rosé and Blanc de Noirs

48
Q

What soil is Pinot Noir planted on in Alsace?

A

Sandy and calcareous - similar to Burgundy. Produces high (75hl/ha) yields.

49
Q

Describe viticulture in Alsace.

A
  • lots of small holdings, most under 3 ha
  • growers mostly sell to co-ops or merchants
  • long vintage period due to number of varieties planted
  • dense planting on trellises to maximise sun
  • double guyot the most common pruning system
  • mechanical harvesting possible in the plains
50
Q

Describe vinification in Alsace.

A
  • aim to keep primary fruit character
  • pneumatic pressing with whole bunches increasingly common
  • pressing done in 3 hours to minimise skin contact
  • chaptalisation occurs frequently
  • fermentation often stopped leaving some residual sugar
  • quality wine spends tim eon lees before bottling
51
Q

Talk about Hugel.

A

Hugel et Fils
- established 1639
- in 12th and 13th generation
- based in Riquewhir (since 1902)
- have own vineyard of 30 ha, planted with Gewürztraminer and Riesling
- Tradition range
- Jubilee range
- pioneered resurrection of Alsace late-harvest wines
- instrumental in drawing up requirements for vendage tardive and sélection de grains noble wines
- vociferous opponents of Alsace Grand Cru
appellation
- buy in grapes for their generic ranges from 300 growers on 110 ha
- average 110,000 cases per year
- S Caterine cask, 1715 - the world’s oldest working cask

52
Q

List Hugel products

A
  • Gentil, a blend of all 4 noble wines plus Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner
  • Classic, 4 noble varieties, plus PB and Pn and Sylvaner - 7 single varietals
  • Estate. Riesling and Gewurtz from parcels of land in Riquewihr. Going organic.
  • Tradition. 4 noble varieties. Strictest selection of grapes by origin and level of maturity; designed to age in bottle.
  • Jubilee. Only made in best vintages. Sourced only from family estate in Riquewihr. Riesling, Gewurtz, PNoir, PGris.
53
Q

What does Grossi Laüe mean?

A

Great growth (Alsatian dialect).

54
Q

What is Hugel’s law?

A

The 1984 regulations laying down rules for Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles, drafted by Jean Hugel.

55
Q

What is the drying of grapes on the vine called in French?

A

Passerillage.

56
Q

Talk about Jean Hugel.

A

Jean (‘Johnny’) Hugel, 1924-2009

  • studied winemaking at Universities of Bordeaux and Montpellier
  • active in drafting Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOCs
  • developed guidelines for Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles
57
Q

What are the three levels of Hugel dry wines?

A

Hugel Classic
Hugel Tradition
Hugel Jubilée

58
Q

Who is (2013) in charge of Hugel winemaking?

A

Marc Hugel.

59
Q

What percentage of Alsatian wine is white?

A

About 90%.

60
Q

What is unique about Alsace wine producers?

A

Even the smallest will produce at least 6 to 8 different wines each year. Big producers may have 20 to 30 different bottlings.

61
Q

Where are the majority of larger Alsace producers?

A

In the Haut-Rhin.

62
Q

What can be a problem in late summer in Alsace?

A

Drought.

63
Q

What are the three broad groups of soil and their affects?

A
  1. heavier clay, marl: wine with broader flavours, more body and weight.
  2. lighter limestone or sandy soil: more elegance and finesse.

3, Flint, schist, shale, slate: oily, mineral aroma, reminiscent of petrol, especially those made with Riesling grape.

64
Q

How are vines trained in Alsace?

A

Mainly guyot (up to 15 buds), with some double guyot (up to 8 buds each side).

  • some cordon-trained with spur pruning
  • trained high on plains to avoid frost
65
Q

Is there terracing in Alsace?

A

Yes, some. Grand Cru sites of Rangen and Kastelberg for example.

66
Q

When does harvesting happen in Alsace?

A

Protracted because of the number of varieties.

Mid-September to November.

67
Q

What are the 8 major varietal wines of Alsace?

A 
Riesling
Gewurtztraminer
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir
Pinot Blanc
Muscat
Chasselas
Sylvaner
68
Q

Talk about Chasselas in Alsace.

A

Seldom used as varietal; more commonly blended in Edelzwicker.

As varietal is: light bodied; dry; soft grapey fruit; low acidity; light alcohol.

69
Q

What is Edelzwicker ?

A

Alsace blended white. Chasselas, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois are common ingredients. Can be all varieties, and in any proportion.

70
Q

What is Gentil?

A

A superior quality blend with minimum of 50% of noble varieties.

71
Q

What are the common varieties blended in Edelzwicker?

A

Chasselas, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois.

72
Q

What are the figures for Alsace planting ?

A 
Riesling 21.8%
Gewurtztraminer 19.8%
Pinot Gris 15.4%
Muscat 2.3%
Pinot Blanc 21.3%
Pinot Noir 10.2%
Sylvaner 6.8% - declining
Chasselas 0.5% - declining
73
Q

What are the 5 Alsace appellations and what percentage of production do the first three represent?

A 
AC Alsace; 71.5% (92% of which is white).
AC Alsace Grand Cru (3.9%).
AC Crémant d'Alsace (24.6%).
Vendange Tardive.
Sélection de Grains Nobles.
74
Q

Where does best Gewurztraminer come from?

A

Heavy clay soils where it has ripened slowly.

75
Q

What are the characteristics of wine made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains in Alsace?

A

Intensely aromatic

  • flavours of orange blossom, rose and grape
  • tend to have light to medium body and low to medium acidity
76
Q

Talk about Auxerrois in Alsace.

A

Similar characteristics to Pinot Blanc but slightly spicier and more full-bodied.
- more widely planted in Alsace than Pinot Blanc, but rarely seen on a label
- much blended into Edelzwicker
or more often just with Pinot Blanc.

77
Q

What is the only red grape allowed in Alsace?

A

Pinot Noir.

WSET dip Old World (11 decks)

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