Alsace Flashcards

1
Q

Name Alsace’s noble varieties

A

Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Muscat

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2
Q

Where are the Vosges located and what’s their importance?

A

The Vosges Mountains are located in Alsace. They shelter from westerly rain/winds (rain shadows) –> lack of clouds results in sunny summers and dry autumns (grapes can achieve high level of sugar ripeness and wines will then be fuller bodied).

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3
Q

What’s the location of the best vineyards in Alsace?

A

The best vineyards are located on the steepest slopes with southern and south-east aspects.

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4
Q

What’s grés de Vosges?

A

local pink sandstone in Alsace

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5
Q

Types of soil found in Alsace’s steeper slopes?

A

schist, granite and volcanic sediment

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6
Q

How are inexpensive blends labelled in Alsace?

A

Edelzwicker

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7
Q

What’s a wine labelled Gentil in Alsace?

A

A designation for blends (requiring min 50% of noble grapes)

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8
Q

What label is of better quality - Edelzwicker or Gentil?

A

Gentil

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9
Q

Alsace wine requiring min 50% of noble grapes

A

Gentil

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10
Q

Is Edelzwicker a single variety wine?

A

Edelzwicker is typically a blend. Single varietal wines in Alsace have to indicate the varietal

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11
Q

Describe the expected notes of a Riesling from Alsace

A
Medium to full bodied, 
Dry, 
Medium alcohol, 
High acidity, 
Citrus/stone fruit, 
Pronounced steely character
LESS flower and FULLER than German Rieslings
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12
Q

On which soil, does Riesling matures better?

A

Granite

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13
Q

Describe the appellation system in Alsace

A

Alsace grand crus (51 grand sites )—-> produced from noble grapes only. Min alcohol—> 11% for Riesling and muscat , 12.5% for the other 2
AOC Alsace lieu-dit
AOC Alsace communale
AOC Alsace
Other: SGN / VT and AOC Cremant d’Alsace (key grapes Pinot Blanc, auxerrois, Pinot Gris, etc)

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14
Q

All Alsace Grand Crus are single varietals? True or False?

A

False - no longer required by law.
The grands crus: Altenberg de Bergheim and
Kaefferkopf may blend according to certain prescribed proportions

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15
Q

What’s VT?

A

In Alsace Vendages Tardives (VT) –> made of late harvest grapes, min sugar ripeness. Best wines use passerillage (leave some grapes after harvest). May show botrytis character but emphasizes varietal purity.

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16
Q

Mention the Alsace’s late-harvest wines

A

Vendages Tardives (VT) and Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN)

17
Q

What’s Selection de Grains Nobles?

A

A late-harvest wine in Alsace. Focus on botrytis rather than varietal character.

18
Q

Only red variety permitted for Alsace AOP wines

A

Pinot Noir

19
Q

Best known vineyard towns in Alsace

A

Riquewihr

Ribeauvillé

20
Q

What grape that is not a noble grape is allowed in what Grand Cru in Alsace?

A

Grand Cru Zotzenberg is allowed to contain Sylvaner

21
Q

Mention three Alsace Grand Crus

A

Schlossberg
Kaefferkopf (51st GC)
Altenberg de Bergheim

22
Q

Muscat notes

A

intensely aromatic, orange blossom, rose. L2M body, L2M acidity

23
Q

Gewurztraminer notes

A

Pungent aromatic spicy, lychees, roses and sweet banking spices / Full bodied, Oily texture, L2MA, HA

24
Q

Name the grape varieties found in Alsace

A
Noble grapes: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Muscat. 
Pinot Blanc (Clevner/Klevner)
Pinot Noir
Chasselas
Auxerrois
25
Q

What’s Crémant d’Alsace?

A

A sparkling wine from Alsace, produced by the traditional method and made of the following varieties: iesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and/or Chardonnay (Muscat and Gewurztraminer ARE NOT PERMITTED)

26
Q

Which of these grapes are permitted for Crémant d’Alsace: Muscat, Gewurstraminer and Chardonnay

A

Only Chardonnay.

Muscat and Gewurztraminer are NOT permitted.

27
Q

Pinot Gris notes

A

Rich, full bodied, high alcohol, more acidic than Gewurztraminer, similar color but less aromatic.
Pronounced flavour of fresh and dried fruit and honeyed character

28
Q

Which noble variety has the highest acidity?

A

Riesling

29
Q

Alsatian wines labeled by variety must contain what minimum percentage of the stated grape?

A

100%

30
Q
Select the most aromatic grape variety.
  A. Riesling
  B. Pinot Gris
  C. Pinot Blanc
  D. Gewurztraminer
A

Gewurztraminer

31
Q

Alsace borders which country?

A

Germany

32
Q

Alsace Riesling is more floral than German Rieslings?

A

No, Alsace Rieslings tend to be less floral and fuller than german wines

33
Q

Alsatian wines are required to be bottled in a____

A

Flute

34
Q

Which river separates Alsace from Germany

A

Rhine