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WSET Level 3 Textbook > Alsace > Flashcards

Alsace Flashcards

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1
Q
  • On what sort of land in Alsace is Pinot Blanc grown?

- For what is it widely used?

A
  • Flat, fertile plains

- Sparkling wines

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2
Q

What are 3 less-planted white varieties in Alsace?

A
  • Pinot Blanc
  • Auxerrois
  • Sylvaner
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3
Q

What is the only black variety permitted in Alsace?

A

Pinot Noir in a light and fruity style

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4
Q

Why is the less aromatic variety Muscat Ottonel planted more widely than Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains?

A

It can be relied on to crop more regularly

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5
Q

Which Alsatian variety:

  • Intensely aromatic
  • Orange blossom, rose, grape
  • Light-Medium body
  • Low-Medium acidity
  • Prone to poor fruit set and rot
A

Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains

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6
Q

Which 2 varieties of Muscat are grown in Alsace?

A
  • Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains

- Muscat Ottonel

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7
Q

Which Alsatian variety:

  • Rich, full body
  • High alcohol
  • Medium-high acidity
  • Rich texture
  • Pronounced intensity
  • Fresh and dried fruits
  • Honey
A

Pinot Gris

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8
Q

Which Alsatian variety:

  • Pungent aromatic spice
  • Lychee, rose, sweet baking spices
  • Light pink tinge to skin
  • Golden colour
  • Full body
  • Oily, rich texture
  • Low-medium acidity
  • High alcohol
A

Gewürztraminer

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9
Q

Which Alsatian wine:

  • Medium-full body
  • Dry
  • Medium alcohol
  • High acidity
  • Citrus and stone fruit
  • Stone and steel character
  • Less floral than in Germany
A

Riesling

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10
Q

What is the most widely planted Alsatian variety?

A

Riesling

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11
Q
  • In what style are SGN wines always made?

- What varies from bottle to bottle?

A
  • Sweet

- Extent of the influence of noble rot

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12
Q

In what style can VTs be made?

A

Dry-medium sweet

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13
Q

What has the recent trend towards wines with some sweetness at Grand Cru level presented as a problem?

A

The fact that Alsace has no official labelling scheme to indicate sweetness so consumers do not know what style they are buying

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14
Q

When does bottling usually occur in Alsace?

A

The spring after the harvest, when the wine is still fresh

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15
Q
  • What do traditional Alsace producers ferment their wines in?
  • What effect does this have on the wine?
  • What else might be used?
A
  • 100+ year old large oak barrels
  • Thick tartrate deposit prevents wood or oxygen having any effect
  • Stainless steel temperature controlled tanks
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16
Q

Is MLF permitted to happen in Alsace?

A

Mostly not, but some producers choose to allow it

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17
Q

Can a blended Alsatian wine be high quality?

A

Yes, as they can come from Grand Cru sites, but this is very rare indeed

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18
Q

What 2 terms would indicate a blended, inexpensive Alsatian wine?

A

1) Edelzwicker

2) Gentil

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19
Q

Many Alsace growers have a number of small plots, planted with different varieties.

Why is this a logistical challenge?

(2 points)

A

The grapes ripen at different times, meaning:

1) The harvest is spread from September to November or even beginning of December for VT or SGN wines
2) It is labour intensive as several rounds of picking are required

20
Q
  • What method of viticulture are practised in Alsace?

- Why is it possible there?

A
  • Organic and biodynamic

- Low disease pressure due to dry and sunny conditions

21
Q

How are grapes in Alsace grown on:

1) The slopes (3 points)
2) The plain

A

1) - Vines trained low for radiated heat
- Rows oriented towards the sun
- Hand-harvested

2) Vines trained high to minimise frost risk

22
Q

What is the soil type of Alsace?

A

Extremely varied: it has a dramatic geological history, and a clear influence on wine production.

23
Q
  • Where are the lesser vineyards in Alsace?

- What is grown there?

A
  • On the plain between the Vosges foothills and the Rhine

- Grapes for Crémant d’Alsace

24
Q

Where are the best vineyard sites in Alsace?

A

Middle of steep slopes with south- and south-east aspects

25
Q

What is an issue in Alsace in dry years?

A

Drought

26
Q
  • Alsace lies in the rain shadow of which mountains?

- What other effect do they have on the climate?

A
  • The Vosges Mountains

- The lack of clouds leads to sunny summers and dry autumns

27
Q

What is the climate of Alsace?

A

Cool-moderate continental

28
Q
  • Which 2 regulations are shared by SGN and VT?

- What 3 things are different for SGN?

A

1) - Must have a minimum level of sugar ripeness
- Must be from a single noble variety

2) - Higher minimum sugar levels than for VT
- Almost always affected by noble rot
- Not produced annually, and only ever in small quantities

29
Q

In the best Vendanges Tardives, what will the grapes have undergone?

(2 points)

A

1) Passerillage

2) Noble rot development

30
Q

What must VT wines have a minimum of, and on what does the minimum level depend?

A
  • Sugar ripeness

- The grape variety

31
Q

What does Vendanges Tardives mean?

A

Late harvest

32
Q

From what type of grape must Vendanges Tardives wines be made?

A

A single noble variety

33
Q

What is the major controversial issue surrounding Alsace Grand Cru?

A

Vineyard boundaries and size are often too large, encompassing land not worthy of Grand Cru status

34
Q

What must the label of an Alsace Grand Cru state?

3 points

A
  • Name of vineyard
  • Vintage
  • Variety (where appropriate)
35
Q

What are the 4 noble grapes of Alsace?

A
  • Riesling
  • Muscat
  • Gewürztraminer
  • Pinot Gris
36
Q

From what must Alsace Grand Cru wines be produced?

A

A single noble grape variety

37
Q

How many vineyards have an Alsace Grand Cru appellation?

A

Over 50

38
Q

Do villages have the right to add their name to an Alsace wine?

A

For certain style of wine, but it is rare in practice

39
Q

What does it indicate if a grape variety features on the label in Alsace?

A

100% of the grapes will be from the named variety

40
Q

What do the terms ‘Réserve Personelle’ and ‘Cuvée Spéciale’ denote in Alsace?

A

They indicate a producer’s higher quality wines but have no legal status

41
Q

Why does the simplicity of the Alsace appellation system cause problems?

A

There is no legal way of distinguishing between different levels of quality

42
Q

What are the 2 Alsace classifications which depend upon sugar ripeness of the grapes?

A
  • Vendanges Tardives

- Sélection de Grains Nobles

43
Q

Which 2 types of appellation can apply to use the terms VT and SGN?

A

Alsace and Alsace Grand Cru

44
Q

What are the 2 principal Alsace appellations for still wines?

A

Alsace and Alsace Grand Cru

45
Q

What about Alsace is unusual for a French region?

A

Most of its wines are varietals labelled

46
Q

What would you expect from a wine if you saw ‘Edelzwicker’ or ‘Gentil’ on the label?

A

For it to be an inexpensive blended wine

WSET Level 3 Textbook (19 decks)

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