Alsace Flashcards
Name the noble grapes of Alsace
Riesling, PG, Muscat, Gewürztraminer
Which is the most commonly planted grape in Alsace ?
Pinot Blanc
Name the producer of Cuvee Clos St Hune
Trimbach
From which Grand Cru vineyard is Clos St Hune produced?
Rosacker
To which type of soil does Grès de Vosges refer?
Pink Sandstone
What is the minimum must weight for SGN for Riesling/Muscat? What did it used to be?
276g/l used to be 256g/l
. In 1975 in Alsace, which was the first vineyard to be classified as Grand Cru?
Schlossberg
Which grapes can a wine labeled as “Pinot Klevner” contain ?
PG, PB, PN, Auxerrois
What is the minimum percentage of noble grapes required for wines labeled ‘Gentil’?
50%
. In which Grand Cru vineyard is Sylvaner allowed?
Zotzenberg
. In the decade “2000’s”, name one “excellent” and one “poor” vintage
2007 – excellent 2003 – poor
What is the Minimum percentage of Pinot Noir required for Cremant d’Alsace Rose?
100%
Who is the producer of Clos des Capucins?
Weinbach
Hugel released which wines under Jubilee labels? What has replaced them?
Only from Grang Cru sites, replace after the 2009 Vintage with the 4 ‘Grossi Laue’ wines.
- Riesling (Schoenenbourg GC)
- Pinot Gris (Pflostig)
- Gewurtz (Sporen GC)
- Pinot Noir (Pflostig)
. True or False: Selection de Grains Noble need not be affected by botrytis
False
When did Alsace acheive AOC status?
1962 The last major French winemaking region to do so
What is the climate of Alsace?
Semi Continental. One of France’s driest and sunniest climates
Which direction do the best vineyards of Alsace face?
South, South East, or East
What percentage of Alsace AOP wine produced is white?
90%
Which varieties does Alsace AOP allow to be bottled varietally?
Riesling Muscat Pinot Gris Gewurztraminer Pinot Blanc (Klevner) Chasselas (Gutedel) Sylvaner Pinot Blanc
Alsace AOP wines must contain 100% of the printed grape variety True or False
True
In Alsace what is the name for the local pink variant of Traminer also known in the Jura as Savagnin?
Klevener de Heiligenstein
Where can plantings of klevener or savagnin rose be found in Alsace?
Around Heiligenstein in the Bas Rhin
Name the 5 communes that may bottle klevener de Heiligenstein or savagnin rose under the existing lsace AOP
Heiligenstein itself Bourgheim Gertwiller Goxwiller Obernai
What does the term Edelzwicker mean?
It means noble mixture but actually indicates an inexpensive blended wine that doesn’t need to indicate grape varieties or vintage
What does the gentil mean?
It’s a superior designation for blends requiring 50% noble varieties. Any other Alsace AOP grape can encompass the remainder and the base wines must be vinified seperately
What style of wine is made by Marcel Deiss?
Marcel Deiss is a staunch advocate of field blends as a way of emphasising Alsatian terroir
How many grand cru vineyards are there in Alsace?
51
Which 2 grand crus are allowed to blend?
Altenberg de Bergheim Blends: 50-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, max. 10% combined Chasselas, Muscat à Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc
- Chasselas, Muscat à Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc must have been planted prior to 2005
Kaefferkopf: (Gewurtz based) 60-80% with 10-40% riesling with no morre than 30% PG or no more than 10% Muscat allowed
what is the minimum potential alcohol for grand cru Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner in Alsace?
11%
What is the minimum potential alcohol for grand cru Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer in Alsace?
12.5%
What happened to the grand cru system in Alsace in 2011?
The actual number of grand crus went from 1 to 51 as each vineyard received it’s own appellation and specs
What is the smallest grand cru in Alsace?
Kanzlerberg 3 hectares
What is the largest grand cru in Alsace?
Schlossberg. 80 hectares
Why do some producers shun the grand cru system
Politics of grand cru selection may have outweighed the specificity of site Trimbach believes no where in the Rosacker vineyard is as good as their section in Clos ste Hune
What are the 2 designations created for late harvest wines in 1982
Vandange Tardives Selections de Grains Nobles
Under what circumstances can SDN and VT be printed on a label
These 2 terms can be printed on Alsace AOP or Alsace grand cru AOP provided the wines:
contain a single noble variety
pass a blind tasting panel
are not chaptalized
are vintage dated
must be hand harvested
What are the characteristics of SGN wines?
They are generally picked in tries and suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis
What are the characterisitcs of VT wines?
They may show botrytis but emphasise varietal purity. Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage
What are the minimum must weights for VT wines in Alsace?
244 grams per litre for Riesling and Muscat
270 grams per litre for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
What are the minimum must weights for SGN wines in Alsace?
276 grams per litre for Riesling and Muscat 306 grams per litre for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
Are there any red varieties allowed in Alsace AOP wines?
Yes only Pinot Noir
What appellation in Alsace allows the use of Chardonnay?
Cremant D’Alsace AOP
What wines are produced in Lorraine, what’s the name of the AOP
Cotes de Toul
- Blanc: Auxerrois and Aubin
- Vin Gris
- Principal Varieties: (85% Individual Max., both required) Gamay, min. 10% Pinot Noir
- Accessory Varieties: Max. 15% combined Pinot Meunier, Aubin, and Auxerrois
- Rouge: 100% Pinot Noir
Name the southern most GC of alsace
Rangen vineyard, the steepest vertical vineyard in Alscae The only site to be classified grand cru in it’s entirety Home to the prestigious CLos Saint Urbaine and CLos Saint Theobald vineyards Located along the Vosges fault line
Name the prestigious biodynamic producer in the Bas Rhin depertment of Alsace
Domaine Ostertag (clos mathius as top sight)
Where is Marcel Deiss located?
Bergheim, Alsace Instrumental in changing regulations to allow blends from Altenberg de Bergheim to have grand cru status
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos de Capucins’ (in Kayserberg)
Weinbach
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos de la Faille” (in Wintzenheim)
Albert Mann
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos Hauserer”(in Wintzenheim)
Zind Humbrecht
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos Himmelreich” (in Orschwihr)
Lucien Albrecht
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos Jebsal” (in Turckheim)
Zind-Humbrecht
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos Rebberg” (in Andlau)
Marc Kreydenweiss
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos Rebgarten” (in Andlau)
Marc Kreydenweiss
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos des Recollets (in Andlau)
Lucien Albrecht
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos Ribeaupierre (in Ribeauville)
Jean Sipp, formerly ‘Clos du Schlossberg)
Name an important producer from the ‘Clos Windsbuhl’ (in Hunawihr)
Zind-Humbrecht
Who makes the wine ‘Schoelhammer,’ and what vineyard is the fruit sourced from?
Hugel, Schoenenberg GC (village of Riquewihr)
Who owns the monopole ‘Clos Saint Theobold?’
Domaine Schoffit
