Alsace

Question 1

What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?

Answer 1

Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat (either Muscat à Petit Grains, Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains or Muscat Ottonel)

Question 2

How many Alsace Grand Crus are there?

Answer 2

51

Question 3

When was the first Alsace Grand Cru created? What site was it?

Answer 3

1975 - Schlossberg

Question 4

What grape is grown in Zotzenberg Grand Cru?

Answer 4

Sylvaner

Question 5

What two Alsace Grand Cru AOP can release non-varietal wines (blends)?

Answer 5

Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf

Question 6

What is the largest Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace?

Answer 6

Schlossberg

Question 7

Name the non-noble grapes of Alsace AOP that may be varietally labelled

Answer 7

Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Chasselas (Gutedel), Sylvaner and Pinot Noir

Question 8

What grapes may an Alsace AOP bottle labelled ‘Pinot’ contain?

Answer 8

Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois

Question 9

Which communes may bottle Savagnin Rose (Klevener de Heiligenstein)?

Answer 9

Heiligenstein, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller and Obernai

Question 10

What is the minimum sugar level for Vendanges Tardive wines?

Answer 10

Muscat + Riesling: 244 g/l Pinot Gris + Gewürztraminer: 270 g/l

Question 11

What are the minimum sugar requirements for Sélections de Grains Nobles wines?

Answer 11

Muscat + Riesling: 276 g/l Pinot Gris + Gewürztraminer: 306 g/l

Question 12

What Alsatian AOP allows Chardonnay to be included in the blend?

Answer 12

Cremant d’Alsace AOP

Question 13

What grapes may be labelled by variety under the Moselle AOP?

Answer 13

Pinot Gris and Muller-Thurgau

Question 14

What is the maximum percentage of Pinot Gris allowed in a blended Kaefferkopf Grand Cru?

Answer 14

Max 30%

Question 15

When in a harvest year must a producer declare that they are going to produce a grand cru wine?

Answer 15

Before March 1st

Question 16

Under the Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim AOP, which varieties may be bottled as a varietal wine?

Answer 16

Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris

Question 17

For a blended Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim AOP, what percentage of Riesling is allowed?

Answer 17

Minimum 50% to a maximum of 70%

Question 18

For a blended Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim AOP, what percentage of Pinot Gris is allowed?

Answer 18

Minimum 10% to a maximum of 25%

Question 19

For a blended Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim AOP, what percentage of Gewurztraminer is allowed?

Answer 19

Minimum 10% to a maximum of 25%

Question 20

Can Chassalas be included in a blended Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim AOP? If so, what percentage is allowed?

Answer 20

Yes, though only a combined maximum 10% with the following varieties: Muscat (Petit Grains and Ottonel), Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir) Chassalas and the above varieties may only be included if the vines were planted prior to 2005.

Question 21

Is it legal to chaptalise VT and SGN wines in Alsace?

Answer 21

No it is illegal.

Question 22

Is Chaptalisation is allowed for Alsace Grand Cru wines?

Answer 22

Yes, for the majority of the Alsace Grand Cru AOPs. The exception is Altenberg de Bergheim. Note that the governing boards for each Grand Cru may disallow chaptalisation. The following Grand Cru boards have done so (as of 2105): Altenberg de Bergbieten, Bruderthal, Froehn, Hengst, Kanzlerberg, Kessler, Kitterlé, Muenchberg, Pfingstberg, and Vorbourg.

Question 23

For a blended Alsace Grand Cru AOP Kaefferkopf, what is the allowed percentage of Gewurztraminer?

Answer 23

Minimum 60% to a maximum of 80%

Question 24

For a blended Alsace Grand Cru AOP Kaefferkopf, what is the allowed percentage of Riesling?

Answer 24

Minimum 10% to a maximum of 40%

Question 25

For a blended Alsace Grand Cru AOP Kaefferkopf, what is the allowed percentage of Muscat?

Answer 25

Maximum 10%

Question 26

If a bottle is labelled with either Blienschwiller or Côtes de Barr, what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 26

Sylvaner

Question 27

If a bottle is labelled with Côtes de Rouffach, what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 27

Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir

Question 28

If a bottle is labelled with Ottrott, Rodern, Saint Hippolyte what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 28

Pinot Noir

Question 29

If a bottle is labelled with Vallee Noble what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 29

Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris

Question 30

If a bottle is labelled with Val Saint Gregoire what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 30

Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris

Question 31

If a bottle is labelled with Sherwiller or Wolxheim what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 31

Riesling

Question 32

If a bottle is labelled with Bergheim, what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 32

Gewurztraminer

Question 33

If a bottle is labelled with Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg what variety(s) may it be made from?

Answer 33

Gewurztraminer or Riesling

Question 34

Who makes the following cuvee? What is the cuvee? What varety(s) is it made from? Where does the fruit for this cuvee come from?

Answer 34

Trimbach. Cuvee Frederich Emilie. Riesling. The Alsace Grand Crus of Geisberg and Osterberg.