Alsace Flashcards
What region borders Alsace in NE France?
Lorraine
Name the 2 AOPs of Lorraine
Côtes de Toul AOP
Moselle AOP
Styles/Grapes of Côtes de Toul AOP
Blanc: Auxerrois and Aubin
Vin Gris:
Mostly Gamay, Pinot Noir
Remainder - Pinot Meunier, Aubin, and Auxerrois
Rouge: 100% Pinot Noir
Styles/Grapes of Moselle AOP
Red, white, and rose
-mainly Auxerrois and Pinot Noir
Other grapes: Müller-Thurgau, and Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer
Varietally-Labeled Pinot Gris
Varietally-Labeled Müller-Thurgau
Name a few conflicts that added to the tumultuous history of Alsace
-French-Habsburg rivalry led to Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)
-Treaty of Westphalia concluded 30 yrs war, cemented Alsace as French
-Franco Prussian War in 1871 - Germany claimed Alsace and Lorraine
-Independence at the end of WWI
-French troops moved in
-Occupation by Nazi Germany in 1940s,
still remains FRENCH!
When did winegrowing begin in Alsace?
1st millenniem - 160 villages growing vines in year 1000
Many vineyards date to 1945, also marking divergence between German and French style
When did Alsace become AOP?
1962 - last major French region to do so
What is France’s smallest region?
Alsace
What are the two départments of Alsace? Which is known for better quality?
Haut-Rhine, Bas-Rhine
Haut Rhine is superior - 2/3 of Grand Cru here
What geological feature separates Alsace from the rest of France? What does this do for the climate?
The Vosges Mountains
-provide rainshadow effect
=> one of France’s driest and sunniest climates
What is the driest city in France?
Colmar - Capital of Haut-Rhine départment
What are the best exposures in Alsace?
Southern, southeaster, or warm eastern
to maximize sunlight
What is the climate of Alsace
semi-continental
one of driest and sunniest in France
What is distinct about soils of Alsace?
Myriad of Soil types
“geologic mosaic”
Clay, chalk
Granite, gravel
limestone, loess
schist, sandstone*
*Grés de Vosges - pink sandstone
What is Grés de Vosges
local pink sandstone found in Alsace
What is the soil like on steep mountain slopes of Alsace
schist, granite, volcanic clay and gravel
What is soil like on lower slopes of Alsace
limestone base
What is the soil like at pain of the base of mountains in Alsace?
richer alluvial clay and gravel
What % of Alsace wine is white?
90%
18% of Frances still white wine production from here!
4 Noble Grapes of Alsace
Riesling
Muscat*
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
*can be Blanc à Petits Grains, Rosé à Petits Grains, or Ottonel
What is the main AOP of Alsace?
Alsace AOP or Vin d’Alsace
What grapes are allowed to be bottled varietally in Alsace AOP?
4 noble grapes +
Pinot Blanc (Klevner)
Chasselas (Gutadel)
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir
What is Auxerrois?
Similar to Pinot Blanc, ofter blended and can be labelled varietally as Pinot Blanc even if 100% Auxerrois
What percentage grape required for varietal wines?
100% except for Pinot blanc which can be blended with Auxerrois
If white wine from Alsace is labeled “Pinot” what varieties may it contain?
Pinot Blanc, Gris, Noir and Auxerrois in any proportion
What is the most planted grape in Alsace?
Riesling,
but Pinot Blanc + Auxerrois collectively represent largest production
What is the last noble grape to ripen in Alsace?
Riesling
Is Alsation Riesling mandated to be dry?
Yes
Max RS:
Riesling: 6 g/l (if the wines have been chaptalized), 9 g/l (if tartaric acid is less than 6 g/l), 12 g/l (if tartaric acid is greater than 6 g/l) –this does not apply to SGN or VT Riesling, or Riesling labeled with a lieu-dit
Rosé: 4 g/l
Rouge: 2 g/l
When is hand harvesting required in Alsace?
All Alsace Grand Cru
Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir wines labeled by a lieu-dit
all Alsace VT and SGN wines, must be hand-harvested
What was the former name for Pinot Gris in Alsace?
Tokay d’Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris
What is Gewurztraminer a clone of?
It is a pink berried clone of the traditional grape Traminer
What is Savagnin known as in the Bas-Rhine - where is it found?
Savagnin Rose?
Klevener - found in Heiligenstein
Savagnin Rose is known as Kevener de Heiligenstein - less aromatic than gewurtz, higher acid
What 5 communes may bottle Klevener de Heiligenstein varietally?
Heiligenstein, Bougheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, Obernai
Define Edelzwicker and Gentil
Both typically blends from Alsace
Edelzwicker
- means “noble mixture” but is usually inexpensive,
- doesn’t need vintage date,
- doesn’t actually have to be a blend
Gentil
- superior designation for blends
- requires min 50% noble grapes, another other grape can make up remainder
- base wines vinified separately
Name a producer who is a staunch advocate for field blends in Alsace?
Marcel Deiss
When was the Alsace Grand Cru first decreed? With what name?
1975 with single named vineyard Schlossberg
When were the 1st and 2nd addition of grand crus after the initial decree of Schlossberg in 1975?
1983 - 24 more
1992 - 25 more
What was the 51st Grand Cru (most recent) and when was it added?
2007 - Kaefferkopf
Are grand cru wines from Alsace required to be single varietal?
Not anymore, but typically are
Which two Grand Crus allow bending?
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
What grand cru is a historic site for Sylvaner and may bottle varietally?
Zotzenberg
What shape must all Alsace AOC be bottled in?
Alsace Grand Cru AOP wines must be bottled in the traditional “Vin du Rhin”/”Flûte d’Alsace” bottle
What is min potential alcohol for Noble grapes of Alsace?
11% for Riesling and Muscat
- 5% for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
* some vineyards mandate higher*
When did the number of Alsace AOPs increase from 1 to 51 with each vineyard receiving its own appellation?
2011
What is the smallest and largest Grand Cru of Alsace
Kanzlerberg - 3ha
Schlossberg - 80ha
What controversy is there against Alsace GC model?
rapid development
lack of intermediary Premier Cru
Where does Trimbach source Clos-Ste-Hune?
How does he label the bottle?
Rosacker Grand Cru
labels as Alsace AOP
What is the first bottle Trimbach released with a Grand Cru site on the label? When?
Gaisberg Grand Cru 2009
Does Hugel label specific Grand Crus on his bottles?
No,
When did VT and SGN become decreed?
1984 - right after first new addition of Grand Crus
What is required of VT - SGN?
Single noble varietal
pass blind tasting panel
hand harvested - SGN generally in tries
no chapitalization
Do VT or SGN wines generally show more varietal character vs Botrytis?
SGN generally suppresses varietal character for botrytis, VT may show botrytis but emphasizes varietal purity
What is passerillage? Is VT or SGN likely to have it?
Grapes begin to dry up on the vine but without botrytis
Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage
Are VT and SGN wines required to be sweet?
No - SGN always is though
VT can vary and sometimes quite dry
Min Must Weights for VT
Riesling, Muscat: 244 g/l
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 270 g/l
Min Must Weights for SGN
Riesling, Muscat: 276 g/l (formerly 256 g/l)
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 306 g/l (formerly 279 g/l)
What is the only red varietal allowed in Alsace AOP?
Pinot Noir
What is the workhorse for Crémant d’Alsace AOP?
Pinot Blanc,
but also Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and/or Chardonnay, (Pinot Noir?)
Where is Chardonnay allowed in Alsace?
Crémant d’Alsace AOP only
What is the grape of Crémant d’Alsace Rose?
100% Pinot Noir
